Delightful Dahlias

Dahlias are on-trend and beautiful garden plants with a wide range of flower forms, heights, and an incredible colour selection from pastel to fiery bright. The flower size can range from 5cm to 25cm, with varying heights of 30cm-2m. Apart from their excellent looks, dahlias owe their success to them being so easy to grow. Most gardeners are content to have a lovely garden display, and many enthusiasts grow dahlias for showing. Dahlias get their name from Swedish botanist Dr Andreas Dahl. They are divided into different varieties categorised by the size and shape of their flowers.

Hybrid

Flowers with narrow curled petals but

smaller than decorative types.

Plants grow to 1.5m tall.

Cactus

Double blooms with pointed ray florets

Plants grow to 1.2m tall.

Single

A single row of outer florets.

Plants grow to 60cm tall.

Pompon

Miniature ball tightly packed flowers

in a wide range of colours.

Plants grow to 90cm tall.

Decorative

Large, heavy, double flowers 15-25cm

in diameter are produced on long stems.

Mature plants are 2m or more.

Collerette

Flowers have a distinct centre with a

space between petals.

Grows 60-75cm.

Growing
Dahlias can be grown from seed but are best propagated from divisions of the tubers when the plants have completely died down in early winter. These tubers are available now at Oderings for planting. The tubers should be planted 10-15cm deep with the sprouting eye pointing upwards. Spacing between plants depends on the variety, larger growing varieties space 75cm-1m apart, while smaller varieties space 30-50cm apart.
Dahlias need well-drained soil in a sunny position with protection from strong winds. They are gross feeders requiring well-prepared soil enriched with plenty of compost. Once the flower buds have formed, fertilise with Blood & Bone or regularly with a liquid fertiliser; if your soil is acidic, balance the pH by adding lime. Deep weekly watering with regular dead-heading will ensure a long flowering period over the summer and autumn months.