Dahlias: planting and care. Basic rules for growing and caring for dahlias - from spring to late autumn

Dahlias are rightfully considered one of the most decorative flowers due to their long flowering period from mid-summer until frost, their varied colors and many shapes. A representative of the aster family became an inhabitant of European gardens in the 17th century, after being brought from Central America. Europeans appreciated the beauty and grace of the plant, taking into account the fact that planting and caring for dahlias in the open ground does not require special skills or effort.

In the wild, the genus unites under its name about 30 species, which have become the basis for breeding work and the development of more than 15,000 varieties, which are divided into 12 classes.

Among the huge variety of shapes and colors, the following varieties stand out:

• Collared dahlias are varieties whose height ranges from 70 to 120 cm, with one row of outer petals covered by a second row consisting of shortened, twisted flowers of a different color. Noteworthy: Chimborazo, La Gioconda, Claire de Luna.
• Needle-shaped - varieties that stand out with petals twisted into a dense tube that resemble needles. Popular are Danny, Pirouette, Visit, Doris Day.
• Peony-shaped - varieties with multi-row inflorescences, the lower tier of which is represented by wide petals, and the center is short, twisted into a tube. Fascination, Symphonia are common.
• Globular dahlias - representatives have lush rounded inflorescences with a loose structure with a diameter of up to 15 cm. Doreen Hayes, Esmonde, Crichton Honey stand out.
• Simple dahlias are varieties with simple single-row inflorescences with a diameter of 10 cm, not exceeding 60 cm in height, among which Yellow Hammer, Princess Marie Jose, and Orangeade are common.

Dahlias: nuances of growing

An unpretentious flower will decorate the garden with long and lush flowering, if you take into account a number of features:

• ensuring the necessary soil composition;
• competent selection of seedlings and cultivation sites;
• timely preparation for winter;
• regularity of fertilizing and water procedures.

Planting in open ground

Planting work includes a number of activities important for the full development of the dahlia - selection of a site, its preparation and direct planting of tubers.

Soil and site preparation

When choosing a site, preference should be given to sunny places, protected from drafts, with fertile, loose soils. Acidity is not a very significant parameter, however, if there is an excess of it, the soil is limed, and if there is a deficiency, it is acidified with peat.

Site preparation is carried out in two stages:

• In the fall, when digging, compost is added at the rate of 3-5 kg ​​per 1 m2.
• In the spring, another portion of compost and a little wood ash is scattered over the dug up area, after which the area is harrowed with a rake.

Selection of planting material

The issue of choosing planting material must be approached responsibly: the success of crop cultivation depends on it.

When purchasing, the following is taken into account:

• timing - seedlings are purchased no earlier than mid-April;
• appearance- the tuber must be fleshy and strong, without visible damage;
• the presence of sprouts - they should be short enough.

How and when to plant?

After the soil has warmed up, you can begin planting the tubers in open ground. As a rule, planting is carried out in late spring - early summer.

During the procedure:

1. Holes are dug with dimensions of 40x40x40 cm, which are at least three times larger than the size of the tubers.
2. Manure is laid out at the bottom and covered with soil.
3. Then the tubers with sprouts are placed and closed so that the stem is buried 2 cm into the soil.
4. In case of planting a tall variety on at this stage additional strong support is installed.
5. Ground in tree trunk circle water generously and mulch with a 5 cm layer of sawdust and peat mixture.

Caring for dahlias

In order for dahlias to grow healthy and not waste energy fighting for survival, it is necessary to follow simple care requirements.

Watering the plants and hilling

Dahlias need abundant watering 1 or 2 times a week, depending on the weather, during which it is necessary to ensure that there is no stagnation of moisture in the roots, which are prone to rotting.

With the arrival of hot summer, dahlias are hilled after each watering, which allows them to retain moisture longer.

Loosening, weeding and mulching

To provide good level air permeability, one day after the next watering, the soil in the tree trunk circle is loosened, and weeds are removed. To reduce time and effort during these procedures, as well as to avoid rapid evaporation of moisture, the tree trunk area is mulched.

Feeding and fertilizer

During the period of active development, dahlias need regular feeding, which is carried out twice a month alternating mineral and organic fertilizers.

1. At the beginning of the month, ammonium nitrate is added at the rate of 15 g per 1 m².
2. In the second half - solution bird droppings, prepared in a ratio of 1:20.

Important! After the formation of the first buds, nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers are replaced with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers - 15 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate per 10 liters of liquid.

Shaping and garter

Stepsynching, which allows you to form beautiful bush of 2-3 powerful stems, carried out throughout the season as lateral shoots form. A mandatory procedure is to tie tall dahlias to a support installed during planting: strong winds or precipitation can break the hollow stem of the plant.

Advice! If the stem of a dahlia breaks, you should immediately support the damaged shoot with a branch, and then secure it well.

Such treatment in the form of splinting will save the plant, which will definitely thank the grower with its flowering.

Plant pruning

The dahlia bush is pruned to achieve high quality inflorescences, which will be much larger while maintaining only 2-3 shoots. After the formation of buds, no more than 2 pieces are left on each peduncle. It is mandatory to remove side shoots from tall varieties and faded inflorescences, which speeds up the budding process.

Transfer

When growing dahlias, we must not forget about observing crop rotation: representatives of the crop return to their original place of growth no earlier than after a three-year period.

Caring for dahlias in the fall: when to dig up tubers for the winter

When the first frosts arrive, the plant tubers must be dug up:

1. The stems are shortened to 10 cm in height and covered with foil to prevent moisture from entering, causing the development of rot.
2. After 2-3 days, on a dry morning, the plant is dug up at a distance of 30 cm from the central shoot.
3. The villas are built under a lump of earth.
4. The tuber is pushed out of the soil and carefully cleared of it.
5. After digging is completed, the tubers are washed to remove soil residues that may contain pathogens and pest larvae.

Carefully! Delay in digging up tubers, when short-term warmth returns after a cold snap, can lead to awakening of the buds, which is unacceptable.

Protecting plants from diseases and pests

Among the pests on dahlias, slugs and earwigs are often noted, which are attracted by the succulent stems and buds of the crop. To combat them, apply weekly folk remedy- wormwood decoction.

When attacked by aphids, thrips, mites and caterpillars, plantings are treated with a systemic insecticide as a protective measure.

Of the diseases that often affect dahlias, the most common is rot. The cause of the development of this disease is excess moisture, the avoidance of which is the best preventive measure.

Dahlia propagation

Dahlias reproduce generatively and vegetatively.

Seed method

If the owner land plot If you don’t have the time or desire to dig up and store tubers every year, you can grow annual dahlias, which are so called conventionally - the name implies the annual sowing of dahlia seeds, which are cultivated in the garden as an annual crop.

The immediate procedure for sowing a crop with seeds in open ground is carried out according to the standard scheme:

1. Seed material is sown in shallow furrows, then the crops are moistened.
2. After the seedlings have formed two pairs of true leaves, the seedlings are seated.

Tuber division

The procedure is carried out in the second half of April 1-1.5 months before planting in open ground:

1. The sprouted tuber is planted in a nutrient substrate so that it protrudes 2-3 cm above the soil level.
2. Plantings are kept in a well-lit place with a temperature of 18°C.
3. After the formation of buds, the tuber is divided into parts, each of which must have at least one bud with a root collar.
4. Then the divisions are returned to the same container where they are grown.
5. When side shoots reach a height of 10 cm, they are removed and the cuttings are planted in open ground.

Cuttings

Side shoots that are cut before planting cuttings can be used as cuttings:

1. The cuttings are planted in a container with nutrient soil.
2. The box is moved to a dark place, and the plantings are systematically watered.
3. After rooting, new specimens are planted in garden soil.

These plants are in great demand among gardeners. And this is quite understandable. Dahlias are beautiful and amazing flower. No one else garden plant you won't see one this big color scheme, various shapes, like these fabulous flowers. Dahlias, with their dense and long-lasting flowering, will decorate a front garden of any style, and bright flowering bushes look great both solo and as border lines in flower beds or as potted plants.

Features of growing dahlias of different varieties

Dahlias are dazzlingly beautiful and varied; there are 42 species of these beautiful perennial and annual plants. They are not at all demanding to care for, so even the most inexperienced gardeners can breed them. In order for the bushes of these flowers to be lush and attractive, you need to know the rules for growing them:

• Three ways to propagate flowers. Dahlias are propagated by dividing tubers, cuttings or seeds.
• Almost any type of soil is suitable for flower growth.
• Always plant flowers in the same place.
• Unpretentiousness. Planting dahlias and caring for them is not difficult.
• Flowers are watered rarely, but abundantly.
• To obtain fluffy bushes, perform pinching or pinching dahlias by removing 3-4 pairs of lower leaves.
• Plants begin to bloom 1-2 months after planting in the ground and continue until the second ten days of October.
• To prevent dahlia root tubers from freezing in the cold winter soil, they are removed from the soil and stored until it warms up.

Rules for planting dahlias at home

Colorful specks of blooming dahlias are a common sight for country and country houses. flower gardens and front gardens. But if you do not plant the root tubers correctly, there is a chance that the plant will not bloom. It would be a shame if expensive and high-quality planting material was used. To prevent this from happening, you need to know and use in practice some of the nuances and rules for planting dahlias.

Location

When choosing a site for planting dahlias, consider the following factors:

• Ideal for these colors are bright, sunny, spacious areas.
• It is permissible to plant dahlias in partial shade, where there is a possibility of light exposure for 6 hours a day.
• The flower does not like drafts, but the area should be well ventilated.
• Dahlias can be planted in the shade of larger plants, but there is a risk of loss of flowering quality.
• These flowers should not be planted in places with high humidity levels.

Preparing the soil and planting hole

It is advisable to think about planting dahlias in the fall, dig up the soil in advance, add wood ash, manure or garden compost. In spring, the soil is loosened with a pitchfork and generously fertilized with bone meal. Do not plant dahlias in the same soil where asters or other plants damaged by fungal diseases grew before them. To protect dahlia crown tubers, fertilize the soil with granular insecticides.

Depending on the size of the tuber, a hole is dug for planting flowers. In addition to the root itself, fertilizers will be placed in the hole. Approximate size holes: depth - 25-30 cm, diameter - from 30-35 cm. Fill the dug hole with water, add fertilizer. The distance between the holes must also be maintained correctly, approximately 50-90 cm.

Best time to disembark

Dahlias are very afraid of the cold and are sensitive to even minor frosts. Therefore, flower planting occurs in the third decade of April or May 1-20, when the danger of frost has passed. It all depends on the climatic conditions of your area. You can plant dahlias earlier, but at the first cold snap or frost you need to cover the plants with covering material.

Dividing dahlia root tubers in spring

Before planting, be sure to separate the dahlia tubers. This affects the formation of the bush, the strength of its growth and beauty. To get high-quality root tubers, follow these steps:

• In April, bring the dahlia tubers stored in storage for the winter into warm room, where the temperature is maintained within +18...+20 °C.
• Prepare pruning shears or garden shears or a sharp knife.
• Planting material carefully inspect, remove dry or diseased roots with pruning shears, and treat damaged areas with brilliant green.
• Using a knife, divide the stump of the tubers into two parts; the buds should remain on both halves of the stump.
• Slowly stretch the root in different directions to divide it in half. There should be buds on every part of the root, as well as on the plot.
• Sprinkle the cut areas with crushed activated carbon. Wait a while for the treated cuts to dry.
• Then, if the original size of the tubers allows, divide them in half again.

Planting dahlias in open ground

Planting flowers in the ground is allowed when the soil has completely warmed up. We make the hole for the plant three times wider and higher than the clump of roots, so that after the root tuber is completely lowered into the hole, there is still about 7 cm left. For tall flowers, immediately install a peg on which the future stem will rest. After planting dahlias, water them well with water. Sprinkle the soil around the seedling with a five-centimeter layer of fine tree bark mixed with peat.

Caring for dahlias

In order for flowers to grow well and bloom thickly, they need fertile soil, a lot of sunlight, and a sufficient amount of water. To get a beautiful, wind-resistant plant, you need to learn how to form bushes. During the period of flower growth, so that the dahlia inflorescences are large and bright, remove the growing shoots. Tie very tall bushes to a stake, otherwise the wind may break the stem.

Caring for dahlias includes:

• Watering. The plant needs systematic irrigation. Watering should be done so that the water moistens the soil to a depth of 25-30 cm. Overwatering, flooding, or stagnation of moisture around the flower will lead to its disease or death, since the roots of dahlias do not tolerate high humidity.
• Fertilizer and top dressing. During the growth process, dahlias are fertilized every two weeks. During the period when sprouts appear, they are watered with slurry diluted with water (calculation 1:10). With the appearance of buds, fertilizers containing potassium and superphosphate are applied (calculation: 30 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water). If the soil was well fertilized before planting dahlias, then it is possible to do without fertilizing. Whether there is a need to feed the plant, you will determine by its development.
• Garter and support for dahlias. These flowers have a fragile hollow stem, which can easily be broken by a strong gust of wind or rain, so you need to tie the flower up. Pegs made of wood or metal, arches, walls of a terrace or veranda, and fences made of decorative wood are used as support. This must be done when planting flowers, before the stem begins to grow.
• Pruning and shaping the bush. To get beautiful large buds, you need to leave no more than three shoots on the bush. Each peduncle should have 1-2 buds. Remove fading buds immediately with garden shears, otherwise the growth and formation of new inflorescences will be delayed. For tall dahlias, separate the lower side shoots throughout the flowering period. Leave shoots on low-growing, bushy plants to make them appear fuller.

Diseases and pests. The most common diseases of dahlias are viral leaf mosaic, gray mold, blackleg, bacterial cancer, white rot and smut. During the first disease, the leaves become deformed and acquire a yellowish color. Gray rot infects tubers during wintering. A flower infected with a virus is completely removed from the site. Blackleg affects cuttings or young flowers. In this case, the plant is treated with a fungicide. Bacterial cancer, smut and white rot affect the roots of the plant.

Among the pests that annoy plants are:

• Mice, rats. They may chew on tubers during storage.
• Aphids are “Enemy No. 1” of dahlias. Damages cuttings, lower parts of stems, buds.
• Spider mite, bedbugs. Leaves of flowers are affected.
• Penny slobber. It feeds on the cell sap of the flower.
• Thrips. Eating the tissues of leaves and flower petals, it makes passages there, disfiguring them.
• Slugs. Young stems of flowers are affected.
• Wireworms. They eat plant buds and harm root tubers.
• Medvedka. Damages the root of the flower.
• Earwigs. They eat the buds.

Digging and storing dahlias in winter

Dahlia is a heat-loving plant; a temperature of +1 degree is very low and dangerous for it. Therefore, in our country this plant is grown as an annual, and in winter the dahlia root tubers are dug up and stored until spring to be planted again. The following instructions will help you dig up the root of a flower correctly and not damage it:

• Around the plant with a shovel, within a radius of 30 cm from the stem, make a trench, bayonet deep.
• Begin to carefully dig under the roots with a shovel until you can push the root tuber out of the ground.
• Thoroughly clean the dahlia root from the earth and cut off the small roots.
• When you dig up all the tubers, under weak pressure water, carefully rinse them from the soil, then dip them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour to disinfect and cleanse them from microorganisms that carry diseases.

90% of success in growing dahlias depends on proper storage them in winter. Optimal temperature for good preservation of roots, 3-5 ° C is considered, and the required air humidity in a ventilated room, such as a basement, is 60-70%. Before sending dahlia tubers to winter, do the following:

1. Wash the dug up tubers so that there is no soil on them.
2. In sunny weather, the tubers need to be dried in the fresh air for about 4-5 hours or brought into a warm room.
3. Then sprinkle the roots generously with sawdust and carefully pack them in boxes for safekeeping.
4. Place them indoors for the winter.

Everyone wants to decorate their garden in the best possible way so that it will delight the eye with a variety of flowers for a long time. Such a colorful flower as the dahlia looks enchanting in gardens. A huge number of varieties, different in height, shape and color of inflorescences, will allow you to create dazzling flower beds in any area. Although the plant is unpretentious in terms of planting, there are still some difficulties. Watch the video tutorial below to learn more about dahlias, how to care for them, and how to easily grow beautiful, lush flowers.

A garden in which dahlias bloom always looks beautiful and attractive. Beautiful flowers do not lose their attractiveness until the very end of autumn. However, not a very large number of gardeners plant dahlias, since they are unfamiliar with the technology of growing dahlias from tubers and storing them.

Features of growing dahlias from tubers

The first reason for not wanting to grow dahlias is storing the tubers. Gardeners always doubt that they will be able to create all the necessary conditions for storing tubers until next spring. They believe that they can easily purchase tubers in stores, the cost of which is low.

In principle, this is exactly what they do in all European countries. Foreign gardeners do not store roots in winter time. When autumn comes, they dig up the tubers and throw them away. With the onset of spring they buying new dahlias, cultivation and care, which are carried out constantly.

They don't do that in our country. Late autumn The dahlias are carefully dug up, placed in a well-closing box, then the tubers are sprinkled with sawdust. Flower tubers are stored in a deep cellar.

With the onset of spring, the tubers of these flowers are taken out of the cellar and carefully examined. Rotten parts can be removed by cutting out with a sharp knife. Small wounds can be sprinkle with wood ash.

The first question that always worries gardeners is how to grow dahlias from tubers, when should you start sprouting flowers? Early varieties you can start “awakening” at the end of March. Late varieties are planted directly in open ground.

The earth must be well warmed up when frost is no longer expected. This usually happens in the last days of May.

When buying dahlia tubers in a store, you must make sure that each of them has living “eyes” that produce sprouts. Dahlia roots are sold by weight, regardless of the number of sprouts. Very often you can find dead tubers, all kinds of debris and dry stems in colorful bags.

In this regard, it is necessary take a good look at the root. It is very important that the neck has green buds, which will soon begin to grow.

Large tubers must be divided into several parts. If this is not done, the growing stems will begin to interfere with each other.

Undoubtedly, the bush will grow large, but the flowers will be small and inconspicuous.

Tubers that have been prepared planted in pots. The soil for dahlias can be:

1. Sand mixed with sawdust.
2. Coconut substrate.
3. A mixture of peat and sand.

For good growth It is necessary to moisten the soil well with water. Tubers are planted so that the neck with the bud is not too deep.

The tubers germinate within a few weeks. The kidneys finally wake up and appear green shoots. After the length of the sprouts reaches 15 cm, cuttings are allowed to begin.

The shoot, which has several internodes, is cut off and immersed in water. Usually a couple of drops of a growth activator are added to it. Gardeners often use epin for this.

A tuber with a cut stalk will awaken another “eye” and a new shoot will appear. By constantly cutting cuttings, you can get more than 30 new dahlias from one tuber.

If a tuber with a cut stalk has two eyes, it is also can be divided into parts. Each should have one eye.

After all operations, the sprouted roots and well-rooted cuttings are planted in the ground. When planting, the neck of the dahlia should have a slight recess so that it can breathe easily.

For convenience, each hole should have small pole, to which the bush can later be tied. Of course, the pole can be installed in the summer, but there is a danger of causing injury to the dahlia rhizome. In winter it will simply rot.

Soil preparation

If you are planning to start growing dahlias, then you need to start thinking about planting them with the onset of autumn. The soil must be dug well in advance. It needs to be fertilized garden compost or manure.

With the onset of spring, the soil needs to be loosened with a pitchfork and add bone meal. It is forbidden to plant dahlias if plants that were infected with fungal diseases grew in this soil. To protect dahlia tubers, the soil must be fertilized with granular insecticides.

Planting pit. The size of the recess depends on the dimensions of the tuber. In addition, the space for fertilizers is also taken into account. The hole should have approximately the following dimensions:

• depth – 25–30 cm;
• diameter – 30–35 cm.

The planting hole is watered with water and fertilizer is added. There should be a distance of at least 50 cm between the holes.

When to start planting dahlias

Dahlia tubers are afraid of even slight frosts. Usually, frosts completely disappear with the onset of May. Therefore, it is best to plant dahlias at the end of the month. Of course, these periods greatly depend on the climate of a particular area.

You can, of course, plant dahlias earlier, but with any, even the slightest cold snap, they need to be covered with some kind of material.

What care is needed for dahlias?

In order for the flowers to be stable in strong winds, it is necessary to form bushes. When the flower begins to grow, to obtain a bright and large inflorescence, you need cut off growing shoots.

Bushes that have reached great heights must tied to a pole so that strong winds do not break the stem. Proper flower care consists of several operations.

For good growth and dense flowering, flowers must have:

• Fertile soil.
• Sunlight.
• Much water.

Growing dahlias requires constant watering. The water should moisten the soil to a depth of more than 25 cm. If you overfill the water, the flower may get sick and die. The reason is very simple, high humidity, enemy of dahlia roots.

Fertilizer and feeding

When the plant begins to grow, it is necessary to feed it once every two weeks. Dahlias are watered with water and slurry.

When buds appear, the soil is fed using fertilizers that contain superphosphate and potassium. For ten liters of water, 30 grams of fertilizer is enough.

If fertilizers have already been added to the soil before planting dahlias, you do not need to fertilize. The development of the plant will tell you whether additional feeding is needed.

Garter and flower support

Dahlias have a hollow and very fragile stem. It breaks easily in strong gusts of wind, even streams of rain can break it. Because of this, the flower must be tied. Any material can become a support:

1. Wooden pegs.
2. Metal pipe.
3. Arches.
4. Veranda walls.
5. Wooden fences.

The garter must be done before the flower stem begins to grow.

Pruning and shaping the bush. For the buds to be large and beautiful, only three shoots are enough. Each peduncle should consist of 2 buds. All fading buds must be cut off with garden shears, otherwise the growth of new inflorescences will be delayed.

Growing tall varieties of dahlias requires the removal of side and lower shoots during the flowering period. If the plant is undersized, the shoots do not need to be cut to create splendor.

How to store dahlias in winter

Usually tubers stored in a box, where they are sprinkled with sawdust or sand substrate. It is best to store dahlias by sprinkling them with ash. It will protect the tubers from all kinds of diseases. The tubers should fit tightly to the sand. There should not be any empty space in the box.

To protect the tubers from drying out in winter, they can be stored in plastic film bags. In this case, the tuber and the film should be separated by a layer of sawdust or sand. This is necessary, since during storage, the tubers do not emit a large number of moisture. It settles on the film, the tubers begin to rot.

Storing tubers in plastic bag requires constant monitoring of the condition of the substrate. If the humidity is high, the bags must be opened and ventilate the contents well. If the substrate is very dry, it needs to be slightly moistened.

If a rotting area is found on the tuber, it must be cut off. Sprinkle the cut area with coal, crushed into powder. This tuber is left in the air for 24 hours to dry. It is then placed back into the plastic bag.

If you follow all the rules described above and adhere to technology, then growing dahlias will be commonplace, and good care for a flower, will allow you to decorate your garden with beautiful flowers that will delight the eye before frost begins.

18.12.2012

Dahlias, which even a beginner can grow, can decorate almost any area. But in order for the bushes of these flowers to be lush and beautiful, you need to know some features when growing dahlias. From today's article you will learn how to plant dahlias, how to care for them and, of course, how to store dahlias in winter.

The agricultural technology for growing this plant is quite simple. For planting dahlias should be chosen open areas protected from the wind and with enough light, as these flowers are light-loving.

This culture prefers humus-rich soil with a slightly acidic or neutral environment. In spring (April–May), dahlia tubers are planted in the ground. To do this, prepare holes no more than 30 cm deep and water them abundantly. Then rotted manure mixed with soil is added to the hole, the tubers are lowered and covered with soil. The soil layer above the root collar should be about 3 cm.

Immediately upon planting, provide support for your pet, if necessary. Typically, such support is necessary for tall and giant varieties, since they have a tall stem that can break from the wind. In the previous article, you could already familiarize yourself with how they are divided into species according to the type of flower and the height of the plant.

If you plan to plant several bushes nearby at once, then keep in mind that the distance between them should be as follows:

• between dwarf and low-growing varieties- 50 cm;
• between medium-sized, tall and giant varieties - 75 cm.

In about 60-90 days the plant will delight you with flowers. Flowering usually continues until the first autumn frosts.

Dahlia propagation

1. Tuber division
   Healthy tubers are cut into pieces at the rate of: 1-2 eyes - one section. The delenki are marked, tied with tags and planted in specially prepared boxes with a moist substrate (a mixture of sand with peat or sawdust). The cuttings are lightly covered with substrate, and the root collars are left open.
2. Propagation of dahlias by cuttings (stem cuttings)
   A cutting is a sprout with several internodes. The cuttings are planted in a moist substrate and covered with film. After the cuttings take root, they are transplanted into specially prepared small-diameter pots with nutritious soil and grown in them until planting in the ground.
3. Propagation by seeds
   This method is used mainly in breeding to obtain new varieties. And also for reproduction mainly annual varieties dahlias.

How to care for dahlias?

Caring for dahlias involves following the following agrotechnical practices: watering, weeding and regular loosening of the soil. Although weeding and loosening can be avoided in the soil around the plant.

Watering should be abundant, 1-2 times a week (of course, if you do not have a rainy season). Dahlias can be fed with an infusion of cow manure (1:10) no more than 3-4 times during the entire growing season (feed the first time after the first shoots appear, and then no more often than after 10 days, and preferably every 2-3 weeks). The last time you need to feed is no later than August 20th.

As soon as the first shoots appear, you should select 1-2 of the strongest ones, and it is recommended to remove all other shoots. This technique promotes the formation of strong shoots and abundant flowering. When the dahlias grow to 30-50 cm, tie them to the supports.

Some varieties, usually large-flowered, require pinching - removal of side shoots located in the leaf axils. Stepping needs to be done 2-3 times. The root collar must be protected from frost. Therefore, in the second half of August, the bushes are hilled to 10-13 cm.

How to store dahlias in winter?

When to dig up dahlias for storage? The first frosts will help you determine this. They are the ones who give the signal that it is time to dig up dahlias for storage. Usually this is the end of September - beginning of October.

Before sending dahlias for storage, do the following:

1. Trim the stems, leaving 10-15 cm. Label the plant so you know what kind of variety it is and what it looks like;
2. Dig up the tubers (preferably with a shovel) and wash the soil off them with water from a hose or watering can;
3. Dry the tubers for 4-5 hours in the fresh air (in sunny weather) or in a warm room. Dahlia tubers do not like frost;
4. Sprinkle the tubers with sand or sawdust, placing them in storage boxes. IN Lately Vermiculite has gained popularity and many gardeners advise using it;
5. Move boxes to storage area.

It is best to store dahlia tubers in ventilated areas with a temperature of +5...+7°C and air humidity not higher than 60–75%.

Diseases and pests

Diseases that affect dahlias include viral mosaic, oak mosaic, black leg, white and gray rot, leaf spotting and bronzing, and bacterial cancer. Diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The only thing effective remedy disease control: culling and burning of affected plants. Disease control and prevention measures also include soil disinfection and garden tools, pest control and crop rotation.

The main pests of dahlias are various insects (slobbering pennies, aphids, thrips, flower beetles, cutworm caterpillars, wireworms), slugs and nematodes. They affect above-ground and underground parts of plants. The main pest control measures are manual collection and their destruction. The eco-gardener's feathered assistants will also help you deal with insects, but they will also help you fight slugs. Reducing the number of pests is also facilitated by keeping the site clean, maintaining crop rotation, and growing marigolds between rows.

The secret to growing dahlias is to follow agricultural techniques, proper care and storage of root tubers. The variety of varieties allows you to use dahlias for decorating flower beds, landscaping balconies, creating flower arrangements and bouquets.

Growing dahlias is not a difficult task, but as you can see, there are some things to consider. You already know about the features that should be taken into account when growing dahlias, as well as how to store the tubers so that next year you will be able to grow from them beautiful flowers. Good luck!

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The process of growing dahlias is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. These plants are unpretentious in nature. However, about some important points One thing to always remember when growing these colorful flowers. So, an article about how to care for dahlias.

Dahlia is perennial, but winter frosts are destructive for its fragile shoots and delicate root tubers. Therefore, for the winter they are dug up and stored in frost-free rooms.

The plant is quite demanding sunlight. Dahlia cannot be planted in the shade, otherwise the shoots will stretch out due to lack of light and the bush will not be so decorative. Choose a sunny place for the flower, protected from cold drafts, but with good air circulation. Dahlias do not like overly wet areas. They are unpretentious to soil, however, they grow better on loose and fertile soils.

Root tubers are taken out of storage in the spring around mid-April. Dried roots and rotten areas are removed, and the cut is sprinkled with a crushed tablet of activated carbon. This is followed by a two-week germination of tubers. Having laid them out in wooden boxes, sprinkle with a small layer of moss or peat and place in a well-lit place. After the specified time, buds form on the root collar of the tuber. Before planting in the ground, the dahlia root tubers are separated.

The bed for planting dahlias should be dug up in advance in the fall, thoroughly fertilizing it with humus and ash. When planting tubers, maintain a distance between bushes - 50 cm for miniature varieties and 100 cm for tall large-flowered dahlias. Tall varieties will need support, so a wooden peg is driven in next to the planting hole to secure the plant stems. When planting, the root collar should be buried 3-5 cm below the soil level, the soil around the planting should be watered generously and mulched.

Dividing dahlia root tubers allows you to quickly obtain a large number of new plants, as well as significantly improve their health (a bush that is too thick degenerates over time and blooms poorly). Leave no more than two buds on the tuber.

A large mother tuber, if necessary, is cut into several sections with 1 or 2 buds, a small section of the root collar and 1-3 thickened roots. The cut area is treated with crushed charcoal and dried for several hours. If the weather permits, the cuttings can be planted immediately in open ground.

Tubers are planted in open ground only after spring frosts have passed. To get early flowering, dahlia root tubers are planted in mid-April in flower pots and put it in a warm, bright place. Within a month, the tubers form young shoots and around mid-May they are planted in a permanent place.

Dahlias, at the beginning of their growth, should be formed, leaving no more than three shoots on the bush. During the growing season, new shoots sometimes appear from the ground, which are subsequently capable of drowning out the main shoots. They should be removed promptly.

To get more inflorescences, you need to pinch the main shoot above the 4th pair of leaves. This method promotes the appearance of side shoots. Be sure to remove faded inflorescences - they draw nutrients from the tubers and spoil the appearance of the plant. In mid-August, dahlia stems at the base should be covered with 20-30 cm of soil in order to protect the tubers and root collar from freezing during the first autumn frosts.

Dahlias require regular feeding. During the summer period they are fed 3-4 times, depending on the fertility of the soil. The first time the bush is fed two weeks after planting in open ground, the second time during budding, the third time at the beginning of flowering. The nutrient solution is prepared in this way: 20-30 liters of mullein are poured with 50-70 liters of water and mixed thoroughly, left to ferment for 7 days. After that, 8 liters of fermented solution are mixed with 7 liters of ordinary water, add 20 g of ash and 15 g of any mineral fertilizers. The bushes are poured with this nutrient mixture depending on their size.

During active growth and budding, especially in hot, dry weather, dahlias will require additional regular watering.

with their own bright inflorescences dahlias can decorate any garden. They are used both in group and single plantings. Bushes with dark foliage look impressive against the backdrop of variegated leaves. perennial crops even before flowering. Low-growing dahlias look great in garden vases and portable containers.