Secrets of growing perennial dahlias in the open field. Digging and storing dahlia root tubers in winter

It is important for the gardener that he country cottage area looked bright and original. For this, they try to plant different varieties flowers differing in shape, flowering period and color palette... One of the most interesting plants for summer residents, dahlia flowers are considered. This culture is a long-flowering one, since its flowering period lasts from May to October. In addition, the palette of colors of these flowers is so diverse that even the most experienced growers can admire them. We will tell you more about the characteristics of this plant and when to plant dahlias later in the article.

The culture belongs to the Astrov family. The name of the dahlia comes from the Latin word Dahlia. The name of this flower was given by the botanist Karl Wildenau. The plant is named after Johann Georgi, a German botanist and geographer living in St. Petersburg. As mentioned above, the culture is considered to be long-blooming, which attracts summer residents, because everyone strives for his summer cottage to sparkle with bright colors for many months of the year. For the first time, dahlia tubers were grown in Mexico, but since the 18th century, the culture has also spread to Europe.

Growing a dahlia: highlights

Dahlia cultivation is carried out in several ways:

By dividing the tubers.
By cuttings.
Planting seeds.

Tuber division is the most popular method. To do this, you must properly extract and store planting material... To simplify the task of crop propagation, annual dahlias are allowed to be grown from seeds. They are sown into the soil at the end of spring. You can collect planting material at your site or buy dahlia seeds at any flower shop.

The first shoots can be expected only at the end of summer. Seeds can be germinated to speed up the flowering period. Annual varieties include such popular types - Coltness Hybrids, Rigoletto, Figaro, Redskin. In order to accelerate the germination of dahlias from seeds, you should properly prepare them for planting. To do this, at the end of March, the planting material is planted in containers with calcined sand. Then the landing containers are covered plastic wrap... In this form, they should be stored for 2 weeks at a temperature of 24 to 28 degrees. After this period, the planting material is planted in different pots with soil. The soil mixture is prepared as follows - two parts of the earth are mixed with one part of peat. Before diving dahlia seedlings, the soil is sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate. After such preparatory work, planting material is planted in the ground in May.

Dahlias: planting

Preparatory work

Before planting, you should prepare not only the soil, but also the flower bulbs. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:

The damaged and dried parts are removed from the tubers, the remnants of the dried root system are cut off. Places of cuts must be treated with a solution of brilliant green.
Next, the tubers are planted in planting containers with soil. The soil should include nutrient soil and peat. The planting material should be deepened into the holes so that the upper part protrudes 2.5 cm above the ground.
The landing containers are placed in a dry and bright place. In this form, planting material is kept for 14 days at a temperature of 19 degrees.
After 2 weeks, when the first buds appear, the tubers should be cut in half. The incision must be made so that a young bud that has hatched remains in each part of the bulb. If a lot of buds have formed, it is allowed to cut the onion into more parts. The main thing is that each of them has a young kidney.
Then it is recommended to germinate the tubers in a container. When the upper shoots reach 10 cm, they can be planted in the soil.

How to plant dahlias in the ground

The prepared planting material should be planted in the ground in late spring or early summer. If dahlias are planted in spring, you should wait until the time when the ground in the selected area warms up well.

The order of planting flowers in the ground:

Landing holes are made in the selected area. They must be of sufficient depth and width so that after the bulb is placed in the hole, there is 6-7 cm of free space on each side.
A layer of fertilizer is placed at the bottom of the planting hole. Manure or compost is suitable as top dressing. Next, a layer of soil is poured. A dahlia bulb is laid on top of the ground.
Sprinkle the onion on top with earth and then watered abundantly.
If tall varieties of culture are planted, then next to the planting holes, support posts should be placed, to which the sprouted shoots can then be tied.
From above, the soil is mulched with sawdust and bark. If necessary, the soil is additionally fertilized organic dressings or peat.

Dahlia care

Caring for dahlias consists of the following activities:

The soil in the area where the dahlias are planted needs mulching. This will help protect the growing culture from harmful effects slugs and snails, and also simplifies plant care. So, for example, mulched soil needs more rare weeding, loosening and watering than a site where this procedure has not been carried out.
Flowers should be watered once every 4-5 days. In a dry season, the frequency of watering can be increased to 2 per week. In addition, after watering, the land around the planted plant must be loosened. The only thing is, do not overdo it, as the plant does not like moisture stagnation. Due to excessive watering, rot may appear on the tubers of the crop.
As for fertilization, the crop should be fed once every 10-14 days. Mineral and organic mixtures, for example, mullein, bird droppings, ammonium nitrate, are suitable as top dressings. When the first buds hatch, add to the soil potash fertilizers and superphosphates. About 30 grams is enough for a bucket of water. potash dressings.
As mentioned above, for tall varieties of dahlias, support posts should be equipped. Supports will help protect the stem of the plant from strong wind and rain. If the stem of the tied culture still breaks, you can put a tire on it and fix the shoot to a strong branch.

The plant needs timely pruning. To do this, it is recommended to leave no more than 3-4 shoots on one bush, and no more than 2 buds on each peduncle. In addition to unnecessary shoots, you should also cut off those buds that have already faded. Lateral shoots are cut for the purpose of further propagation of the plant by cuttings.
In order to protect the plant from the harmful effects of pests, it should be sprayed with a decoction of celandine or wormwood. It helps to get rid of slugs, snails, earwigs. As for aphids, caterpillars and ticks, systemic insecticides and a soap solution will help get rid of them.
With the onset of the first cold weather, the tubers of the plant should be carefully dug out, the foliage and the elongated stem should be cut off (no more than 6 cm of the cutting is left). The remnants of the soil from the tuber should be washed off, as pathogens may remain in it that can infect the culture during the propagation process. In order to prevent the cuttings from decaying, it is recommended to immediately cover the cut tubers with aluminum foil.
Cut dahlia tubers should be thoroughly dried. Damaged places on the bulbs are treated with charcoal. Tubers are stored for further propagation in a dry and well-ventilated place, where the temperature does not exceed 5 degrees, and the air humidity remains within 65-70%.

Dahlias: varieties

There are many garden varieties and groups of dahlias, among which the following are considered the most popular:

Simple views. The varieties of this group reach a height of 50-60 cm. They bloom in small flowers, the average diameter of which is 9-11 cm. This type of plant has one row of flowers. The most popular varieties of this group are Yellow Hammer (bloom with yellow flowers), Princess MarieJose (bloom with pale pink flowers), Orangeade (flowers of this variety are bright red).
Anemone species. They are considered high-growing, since the varieties of this group reach 80-90 cm in height.This type of plant has several rows of flowers, the diameter of which is 10 cm. The most popular summer cottages of this group - Vera Higgins (bloom with bronze flowers), Lucy (bloom with purple flowers), Comet (flowers have a red-pink tint).
Collar types. Like anemone species, collar dahlia varieties are classified as high-growing. They can grow up to 1-1.2 m in height. They have one row of flowers, shaped like "twisted collars". The most popular varieties of this group are Chimborazo (bloom with pale red flowers), La Gioconda (flowers have a scarlet hue), Clairede Luna (flowers of this variety are bright yellow).

Peony varieties. They are distinguished by the presence of a large flower, the diameter of which is 15-16 cm. They are considered high-growing species, since they can grow up to 100 cm in height.Popular varieties of this culture group are Fascination (bloom with purple flowers) and Symphonia (flowers of this variety are bright red , magenta).
Decorative varieties... This includes varieties of culture that have double inflorescences. The most popular representatives are David Howard, Jocondo, Thames Valley.
Cactus species. They are considered high-growing, since the varieties of this group reach 1.4 m in height.The most popular representatives are Pirouette (flowers have yellow tint, the size of the inflorescences is very small), Visit (the flowers are bright red, the sizes of the inflorescences are large), Doris Day (the color is red, the inflorescences are small).
Hybrid varieties. This includes representatives of this culture, who in their own way appearance cannot be assigned to one group or another.

Dahlias: photo

Dahlias: video

Flowers dahlias (lat.Dahlia) the aster family are one of the most beautiful and long-blooming garden flowers, represented by the widest palette of colors and a variety of forms. They bloom from July until the very frost, and this is the most important, besides beauty, dahlia dignity. The first dahlia tubers were brought to Europe from Mexico at the end of the 18th century. The dahlia got its name in 1803 from the botanist Karl Wildenau, who named the dahlia plant in honor of the famous botanist, ethnographer and geographer from St. Petersburg, academician Johann Georgi. There are about thirty species and about 15,000 varieties of dahlias.

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Planting and caring for dahlias (in brief)

Landing: from the second half of May to the second half of June.
Digging: in the fall, after the first frost.
Storage: at a temperature of 3-5 ˚C and an air humidity of 60-70%.
Bloom: summer and autumn.
Lighting: bright sunlight.
The soil: any, but fatty garden loam of slightly acidic or neutral reaction is preferred.
Watering: plentiful, 1-2 times a week.
Top dressing: organic and mineral every two weeks alternately.
Garter, hilling, pinching: obligatory for tall varieties.
Reproduction: seeds, tubers.
Pests: slugs, earwigs, slobbering pennies, flower beetles, aphids.
Diseases: powdery mildew, bacterial cancer, overgrowth, smut, gray rot and a viral mosaic.

Features of growing dahlias

The shapes, colors and varieties of dahlia are so diverse that they can be used to decorate not only flower beds, but also border lines, as well as as salt, even potted, plants. Dahlias are dazzlingly beautiful, but at the same time they are completely unpretentious. The main thing that is required for their successful growth and lush bloom- choose the right landing site, ensure required composition soil, timely watering and top dressing.

You need to buy seedlings not earlier than mid-spring, and the tubers should be fleshy and strong, with already noticeable, but not tall sprouts. It is better not to take soft or dry tuber.

How to grow dahlias

Growing dahlias involves time-consuming digging and responsible storage of tubers, but if you are intimidated by these chores, you can grow annual dahlias from seeds. Annual dahlias They are just as beautiful and unassuming in culture as perennials, and their choice is wide enough: Coltness Hybrids up to 50 cm high with abundant non-double flowers of various colors; bronze-leaved Redskin; terry small Rigoletto; early Figaro ... You can, having bought seeds, sow them in open ground in mid-May, but then they will bloom only by mid-August. If you want to achieve more early flowering, you have to germinate the seeds.

To do this, in early April you will need sow dahlia seeds in greenhouses or plastic containers, using calcined sand as soil: seeds are poured onto a layer of sand, which are again sprinkled with sand on top, moistened well and covered with transparent polyethylene. You need to germinate the seeds for about ten days at a temperature of 25-27 ° C, then the sprouts must be dived into separate pots. The soil mixture should be water-absorbing and loose, you can buy it, or you can prepare it: one part of peat and sand and two parts of leafy soil. Three days before picking, the soil must be treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate (70 °) of a dark pink color. After picking, the seedlings are watered as the soil dries up. In mid-May, it can be planted in the ground.

Where to plant dahlias

You need to start preparation with choosing a landing site... The dahlia flower hates drafts, but requires a well-ventilated and well-lit place, so dahlias need to be planted in a sunny area, protected from the wind. The soil on the site must be well-drained, permeable and nutritious. Dahlias can grow in soil with a lack or excess of acidity, but a slightly acidic or neutral environment will be optimal for them. If the soil on the site is too acidic (pH 5-4), add slaked lime to it, but if the pH is more than 8.5, you can "acidify" the soil with peat.

In autumn, when digging, enrich the area allocated for dahlias with humus and compost (3-5 kg per 1 m 3). In the spring, before planting, sprinkle mature compost (not deciduous) and a little wood ash and fence with a rake. To save dahlias from diseases and prevent them from degenerating, it is advisable to change the planting site every year, giving the soil a rest from dahlias for at least three years. Do not plant dahlias where asters or plants that are susceptible to fungal diseases grew before them.

In the photo: Reproduction of dahlias by dividing the tuber

Preparing dahlia tubers for planting

In April, the roots of dahlia (tubers) should be prepared for planting: clean them of dry roots, remove damaged areas by treating all sections with brilliant green. Then the tubers are planted in a container with nutritious soil or peat so that the dahlia tubers protrude 2-3 cm above the surface, and they are kept for two weeks at a temperature of at least 18 ° C with good lighting. As soon as the buds appear, the tubers are cut into pieces so that each has a bud with a root collar. Sometimes one tuber gives five such parts. Tubers divided into parts need to be germinated for some time in a box, and then, after removing side shoots that have reached a height of 10 cm, plant in the soil. Cut shoots can be used as cuttings: plant in soil, place in a dark place and water well. The established cuttings are planted on permanent place... Tubers are divided and cuttings are made to increase the amount of planting material and prevent plant degeneration. If you do not have such a need, you can not divide the tubers.

Planting dahlias in open ground

Dahlias can be planted in the ground when the ground warms up, usually in late May or early July. The holes for the dahlias should be three times larger than the lump of roots (40x40x40), so that the roots of the dahlia sink into them completely and there is still 5-7 cm left.At the bottom of the hole, lay a layer of rotted compost or manure, then sprinkle the manure with earth so as not to burn the roots of the dahlia , lay the sprouted tuber and dig in so that a few centimeters of the stem are under the ground. If you have chosen a variety of tall dahlias, install and secure immediately a support for the future stem. Water the seedlings liberally after planting. cold water, and mulch the soil around them with a five-centimeter layer of fine tree bark or sawdust, having previously mixed them with peat or compost.

Dahlia care

How to care for dahlias

Mulching the site with dahlias, in addition to protecting plants from slugs, it will give you the opportunity to abandon such tedious work as weeding and loosening the soil, and also prevent the soil from drying out quickly on hot days. Dahlias should be watered abundantly 1-2 times a week (unless it rains), but do not let moisture stagnate in the roots: dahlia tubers are prone to decay. In extreme heat, hilling after watering helps to retain moisture. Before the next watering, you need to shake off the soil from the stems, water the plants, and then huddle again.

Fertilizing dahlias

In the process of growth, dahlias need to be fed every two weeks, alternating mineral fertilizers with organic: ammonium nitrate (15 g per 1 m 3), tincture of mullein 1:10 or bird droppings 1:20. With the appearance of the first buds, they begin to apply superphosphate and potash fertilizers at the rate of 30 g per bucket of water (enough for 8 bushes).

Support for dahlias

Since the dahlia have a hollow stem, and strong wind or rain can break it, it is necessary tie a dahlia to the support peg. If the stem does break, try putting a tire on it: attach a strong branch to the stem, secure it and support the stem so that it does not bent. Timely and attentive care of dahlias can save even a broken shoot, which will reward you with a beautiful bloom for your care.

Dahlia pruning

If you are not interested in the quantity, but in the quality of the inflorescences, do not leave more than three shoots in the bush, otherwise the inflorescences will be smaller in size and not so decorative. You need to leave 1-2 buds on each peduncle. Remove faded buds so that they do not delay the formation and growth of new ones. Try to remove lower lateral shoots from dahlias throughout the season. high grades, these shoots can then be used as cuttings. In undersized (pompon, cactus) and single dahlia bushes, side shoots can not be removed.

Dahlia pests

Young juicy dahlia stems attract slugs, and the buds attract earwigs, so when the first signs of pest aggression appear, treat the bushes in the evening with broths of wormwood or celandine about once a week. In hot weather, spray dahlias with systemic insecticides against thrips, aphids, ticks and caterpillars. Most of all pests of dahlias are fond of aphids. Try the tried and tested grandfather's way to combat it: spraying plants with soapy water.

Harvesting dahlia tubers

After the first frost dahlia tubers need to be dug, cut off the remaining foliage and pagons, leaving only five to ten centimeters of the stem. Some gardeners cut the stems and leaves a few days before digging up the tubers, but if moisture gets on the cut part, the base of the stem may rot, so after cutting off the stems, immediately cover the dahlias with aluminum foil. The tuber neck is particularly fragile, so start digging up the tubers in the morning, in dry weather, so that they have time to air dry and become less "brittle". In addition, soil residues are easier to remove from dried tubers.

Digging dahlia tubers

Dig in the plant on four sides at a distance of about 30 cm from the stem to cut the long, conductive roots, move the pitchfork under the earthen ball and push it out of the ground. Thoroughly scrape dirt off the tubers and turn them over to dry. When you dig up all the tubers, rinse them from a garden hose from the soil, which contains microorganisms that carry diseases. Do not be late in harvesting tubers, because after the first frost, warming may occur, and the buds sleeping in the tubers may wake up and begin to sprout, which is detrimental to plants at such a time.

How to store dahlias in winter

Proper storage of dahlias in winter is 90% of the success in growing them. Tubers left for winter storage should not dry out too much, because in spring they give rise to weak shoots. Insufficient drying leads to the fact that the roots rot during storage. If any mechanical damage is found on the tubers, they need to be pruned, and then sprinkled with charcoal. Root collars, so that they do not rot during storage, are powdered with ash or chalk.

It is best to store dahlia tubers at a temperature of 3-5 ° C at an air humidity of 60-70% in a well-ventilated area. A dry basement works well, but vegetables stored nearby can create high humidity, increasing the risk of rot and fungal diseases in tubers. You can put the tubers in a box on a layer of dry peat and sprinkle it with peat, you can use coniferous sawdust or sand instead of peat. If the tubers suddenly begin to dry out or wither, the insulating material is slightly moistened. If there is no ventilation in the basement, you will have to turn on the fan for half an hour three times a week.

In the photo: Storing dahlia tubers in plastic bags

If you don't have a basement or cellar and have to store dahlia tubers in your apartment, place the tubers in the coolest place (next to the balcony). You can put the tubers in plastic bags with insulating material (sawdust, sand, dry peat) and tie tightly. Some growers, wrapping each tuber in newspaper, put them in a plastic bag, which they put in cardboard box and put in cool place, for example, on a glazed loggia. Only in this case, you will have to monitor the temperature outside all the time so that a sharp cold snap or frost does not destroy your planting material.

Warm and humid rooms are least suitable for storing dahlia tubers, but you can store them even in such unsuitable conditions if you cover the tubers with paraffin. Melt the paraffin in a water bath, immerse the tuber in it for a second, let the film harden for a few seconds, and again lower the tuber in liquid paraffin. After the waxing procedure, place the tubers together with dry peat, sand or sawdust in a plastic bag and tie it tightly. Before planting, these tubers will need to be rubbed lightly to crack the film.

During the winter, do not forget to inspect the tubers in order to be able to eliminate the possible appearance of rot in time. The affected areas should be cleaned to healthy tissue and treated with hardwood charcoal powder or brilliant green.

Types and varieties of dahlias

Dahlias are classified according to the shape and structure of inflorescences, in modern culture there are 12 main classes of dahlias, but as new varieties appear, new classes appear.

So, the most popular varieties of dahlia:

Simple

Dahlias with one row of flowers, reaching a diameter of 10 cm, a height of 45 cm to 60 cm.Simple dahlias include varieties Yellow Hammer yellow, pink Princess Marie Jose, reddish-orange Orangeade

Anemone

From one or more rows of marginal flowers, elongated tubular flowers in the middle. Inflorescences reach 10 cm in diameter, in height from 60 cm to 90 cm. The most popular varieties are bronze Vera Higgins, yellow-purple Lucy, red Comet.

Collar

Dahlias of the same size, but taller - from 75 cm to 120 cm.They have one marginal outer row of flowers, on top of it there is a row of shorter and twisted flowers of a different color, looking like a collar: Chimborazo (red with cream), La Gioconda (scarlet with gold), Claire de Luna (yellow with cream).

Peony

Dahlias are slightly larger - from 12 cm to 15 cm, flat marginal flowers from two or more, in the center - tubular flowers. In height, they reach the same dimensions as collar. Lilac Fascination and Symphonia Crimson Dahlia are popular.

Dahlia flowers are luxurious ornamental plants with a fairly long flowering period. According to one old, very beautiful legend, in the old days this flower was grown only in the garden of the king, and it was guarded like the apple of an eye. But one of the gardeners took a chance and planted a beautiful plant under the window of his beloved. That gardener was imprisoned, but the flower, thanks to his courageous act, became known to people. There is another legend that says that a beautiful flower grew after the ice age on the site of an extinguished fire and became a symbol of the emerging life again.
Growing dahlias is a very exciting activity that will fill all your leisure time. This flower grows in nature only in some mountainous regions in Mexico. Once upon a time, root tubers, a flower, were used by the ancient Aztecs in cooking. The Europeans, on the other hand, did not like the taste of the root tubers, but they liked the lush beauty of the flower. In Russia, the flower is called a dahlia in honor of the botanist Georgi.

Site selection

For all their splendor, dahlias are actually completely undemanding flowers. Even in the shade of structures or tall trees, these flowers can bloom luxuriantly. But, if you plant a plant in the shade, then its flowers will be much smaller. If you want to grow strong plants that will bloom luxuriantly, then plant the tubers in a light partial shade. In the openwork partial shade, the flowering period of the bushes will be maximum.

The main condition that must be met when choosing a site is soil moisture. Flower tubers very easily rot from excess moisture, and therefore in lowlands where water stagnates, these plants should not be planted. Experienced florists a drainage layer is always made in the selected area so that water does not stagnate near the roots. Chipped brick or expanded clay can be used as drainage.
But plants are not demanding on the composition of the soil. And on depleted loam, and even on sandy soil, and on a fat, fertile black earth, flowers will bloom equally magnificently. But it is still advisable to add a little humus and compost to the ground in the selected area when digging in the fall, covering about 5 kg of fertilizer per square. In the spring, just before planting, ripe compost (only not deciduous) should be scattered on the ground and some ash should be added to the soil.
One of essential conditions in the cultivation of dahlias from tubers - this is an annual change of site. Although the dahlia is a rather capricious flower, and it is possible to protect it from disease and degeneration only by constantly changing the site for planting. You cannot plant these flowers in the place where asters grew a year earlier or plants that previously (even more than a year ago) were sick with a fungus. How to plant dahlias and what are the secrets in growing dahlias?

Planting dahlias in open ground necessarily begins with the preparation of root tubers.

In early spring, preferably in April, the tubers begin to prepare for planting - they are cleaned of dried roots, rotted, dried out areas are cut out on them, all scratches and damaged areas are treated with brilliant green.
Then the tubers must be planted in containers that are filled with a nutritious substrate or wet peat. After planting, the tubers should protrude 2-3 cm above the soil level. The containers are then placed in a bright room with an air temperature of about +18 degrees.
As soon as the first buds hatch, the tubers should be dug up and cut into pieces so that each has a strong bud. Usually, from one large root tuber, you can get about 5 parts with buds for planting. Then, for some time, the separated tubers are germinated in containers, in a warm room.
The emerging lateral shoots are cut off as soon as they reach a height of 10 cm. Only after such pruning can root tubers be planted in the garden.

Read also: All the secrets for the care and reproduction of the cypress Lawson Snow White

Do not rush to throw away the cut shoots - they can be used for cuttings. The cuttings are planted in a substrate, placed in a dark place and watered well. After a while, the cuttings can be planted in the garden.
Usually, the division of root tubers and cuttings are carried out in order to obtain more planting material. Also, dividing the tubers can reduce the degeneracy of varieties. If you do not need a large amount of planting material, then the tubers can not be divided.

You can propagate dahlias and seeds, not just root tubers. Dahlias grown from seeds will sprout very quickly, gain strength and be sure to bloom magnificently. But so that dahlias, when planting and leaving, are already in open ground you were pleased with abundant flowering, you need to know how to properly grow dahlias from seeds.

Growing dahlias from seeds is very simple:

about 7 days after sowing, shoots should appear together;
after 21 days, the seedlings must be dived into separate containers;
already at the end of May, young dahlias are planted in open ground;
by the fall, young plants have formed small nodules that can be planted for the next season.

Sometimes flower growers buy seedlings in stores, which is very convenient. It makes sense to acquire seedlings only before planting. Keep in mind that grown dahlias from tubers bloom more luxuriantly and are stronger.

Planting flowers

When to plant dahlias so that they have time to bloom magnificently? Planting dahlias in open ground is possible only in spring. But, if you are late, you can plant the tubers in June. When the threat of May frosts has passed and the earth warms up, sprouted tubers can be planted. If you plan to plant dahlias outdoors in early spring, then the plants should be sheltered from frost, although practice shows that there is no need to rush to planting.

When and how to plant dahlias? Experienced flower growers plant dahlias when there is no sun or in the evening.

Many growers do not know how to plant dahlias so that they form powerful bushes. The dahlia planting scheme is as follows: for low-growing flowers, it is enough to leave about 60-80 cm between the plants, for tall varieties, the distance between the planting pits should be about 100 cm.

In the prepared area for planting, holes are dug by the size of the tubers. Calculate the size of the hole immediately, because fertilizer needs to be poured onto its bottom. These flowers love rotted manure that has lain for a couple of years.
When planting, the base of the tuber is lowered into the hole, and its top should be 2 cm above ground level.
When planting, make sure that the root collar is not covered with soil. It is on the root collar that growth buds are located - new stems. If you deepen the root collar too much, then the root tuber may simply rot.
It is advisable to sprinkle the planted tuber with a layer of mulch or at least make a ring-shaped depression around the planting hole in which water will stand.
After planting, the plants must be spilled abundantly with water. Mulch with a layer of 5 cm of broken tree bark or sawdust, after mixing them with compost

If you will plant decorative tall varieties, then immediately upon planting, install a support to which you will tie up fragile stems.

Read also: Colchicum: when to transplant and how to care?

Care

How to properly care for dahlias? Ornamental varieties need enough painstaking care, but the time and effort spent will return to you in the form of lush, luxurious plants. Growing luxurious dahlias is a feasible task even for inexperienced flower growers.

Stepping

Grasshopping is the removal of excess stems. Although this is not the main thing in care, it is still worth pinning these flowers. If you want very large flowers and strong bushes, then no more than 3 stems should be left on each bush. Experienced growers do not recommend leaving many shoots on the bushes.

Growing sturdy plant specimens involves formative pruning. It is imperative to carry out formative pruning of bushes throughout the summer. The fact is that the bushes are intensively gaining green mass, while they do not form buds. For the correct development of the bush and abundant flowering, one central stem and about 3-4 branches should be left on each plant. Everything else must be deleted. For a tall dahlia plant, care also means removing the leaves from the tuber 45 cm up. This will allow the plant to channel more energy into flowering.

If you will be growing cut flowers, then caring for dahlias must necessarily include removing excess buds. On each shoot, the plant has a central bud and two lateral ones. Pinch the central bud.

Watering

If you want to grow luxurious bushes, then you need to know how to water dahlias correctly. It is necessary to water the dahlia flower regularly, but without fanaticism. Plants that are watered too abundantly can simply rot. When watering adult dahlias, it is necessary to soak the ground by about 30 cm - this will be quite enough. Water the plants as the soil dries up. The decorative dahlia is especially fond of watering during the dry season.

Top dressing

The first time you need to feed the dahlias even when planting tubers. When dahlias are planted in spring, fertilizers are immediately applied to the holes. You can add organic matter. The next top dressing is already done when the bushes begin to gain green mass. These flowers are very fond of fertilizers with nitrogen, respond well to the introduction of wood ash and superphosphate. It is recommended to feed the flowers every two weeks until the end of flowering.

Fertilizers are very convenient to apply during watering. This will greatly simplify the care of dahlias. You can also feed dahlias with manure, but only rotted.

How to feed dahlias so as not to harm? These flowers can react to fertilizers in different ways. It all depends on the lack or overabundance of one or another substance in the soil. It is not necessary to add ammonium nitrate or carbomide to the ground on which the plants grow. Plants can react badly to too much potassium salt. Dahlia feeding has not been done since August.

Garter support

The peculiarity of dahlias is that they have a hollow stem that can easily break from a gust of wind, so they must be tied to pegs. Many growers, even when planting flowers, put support pegs. When you dig the planting hole, immediately install the support, and only then plant the tuber. Wooden or plastic pegs will do as a support. Do not tie the stems to metal supports. The support must be driven quite deep into the ground so that it does not tilt during watering or due to rain.

If the shoot still breaks, try to "cure" it by applying a tire - attach a branch to the stem, and then tie the stem to the support. Planting and growing dahlias is a constant labor that will return in the form of lush blooming, powerful bushes.

Read also: Outdoor planting and care for Alyssum flowers

Preparation for wintering

Watering dahlias is stopped when the first cold autumn days come. At this time, you need to prepare for digging root tubers and laying them for the winter. Storing tubers is a very crucial stage in the care of these plants and the most laborious in the entire growing process. If you do not follow all the storage rules, then the planting material may simply disappear over the winter.

When to dig up the tubers? With the onset of the first frost, the shoots of flowers begin to turn black. This is a signal that it is time to dig up the flowers. At a height of 20 cm, pruning shears should cut off the entire aerial part of the flower. After that, the tubers are carefully dug out with a pitchfork.
How to care for dahlias stored for winter storage? When the tubers are dug up, all the soil from them must be cleaned. Then the stem is cut again by 7 cm. All tubers are washed in cool water, and then kept for half an hour in a weak solution of manganese. After the destruction of bacteria in potassium permanganate, the tubers should be air-dried. Only after these procedures can the tubers be stored. Then next year you will have gorgeous flowers.

It is necessary to store tubers in winter at a temperature of +5 degrees and at an air humidity of about 60-70%. The room should be well ventilated and dark.

The tubers are put in boxes with peat or sawdust. For storing root tubers, it is good to use a basement or cellar.
If there is no basement and cellar, then the tubers should be placed in plastic bags with wet sawdust or peat, put in a cardboard box and put in a cool place, for example, on a loggia.
Throughout the winter, the tubers must be inspected in order to stop the spread of rot in time. If you
find a rotting area, then you just need to cut it off with a knife and treat it with charcoal powder or brilliant green.

Application in landscaping

If you decide to plant several varieties of these flowers in a group plant, pay attention to the dark-leaved species. Especially decorative varieties with rich cherry-colored foliage, which have white flowers. Blue dahlia with bronze foliage looks great. Dark-leaved varieties are usually used to create dark spots in flower beds. Be sure to plant dark-leaved dahlias, the cultivation of which is the same as the cultivation of other varieties.

Very often, these flowers are planted in multi-colored groups in small areas. Dahlias white, yellow, pink, maroon form one bright, summer mix of flowers in a flower bed.
The blue dahlia looks very nice in a double border next to a yellow daisy.
Perfect neighbors for these flowers are begonias, alissums, perilla.

All amateur flower growers know how beautiful blooming dahlias are, how much effort it takes to admire them in autumn. Separate types represent the pride of their owners.

Preparing for transplant

Before planting dahlias, it is necessary to carry out a number of advance procedures. At the first autumn frosts, dig up the tubers. First, you need to cut off all the foliage and leave 10 cm of the stem, and carefully pull the rhizome out of the ground, shake off the remnants of mail. Throw out rotten or diseased roots, and place the remaining roots in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20-40 minutes. After that, they must be rinsed. running water and dry well outdoors.

Should the dahlia tubers be divided into smaller ones?

It is better not to separate the tubers for the winter. Separation is possible only if they have grown very much. Dahlia tubers must be placed in a box of sand and moistened periodically. Heavy watering can lead to rotting. If the cellar is damp, then peat, sawdust, perlite are suitable for storage, or you can simply purchase the Gardener mixture. It will help preserve not only dahlia tubers, but also other root crops.

How to plant dahlias correctly? You probably asked this question more than once before landing. There are several conditions, observing which, you can grow beautiful flowers. Dahlias are usually planted in April. The principle of operation is the same as for winter storage, i.e. check for rot, sand cleaning and potassium permanganate treatment.

Now, if necessary, you can divide the tubers, they simply disintegrate if they are pulled into different sides... Root wounds must be treated with brilliant green. Then the tubers must be germinated, for this it will be enough to put them in the sun and cover with lutrasil (white nonwoven fabric). It will prevent the plant from drying out or freezing, depending on the weather conditions.

Another tip: before planting dahlias in a permanent place, you can use earth, sand or peat - everything that was placed in the box. For the final landing in the ground, the end of May is approaching. The pits are 40 cm deep. Dahlias love the sun. It is advisable, before planting dahlias, to take into account that the places from last year

better not to use. They can store bacteria and microorganisms that will simply kill the tubers. Having dug a hole, fill it with water, wait for it to be absorbed, put the tuber there, fall asleep and water it abundantly. A small layer of peat and sand poured over the top of the pit will help retain moisture in the soil.

Before doing the right thing, you also need to make sure that the pit is large enough, since it is unacceptable for a flower when tubers protrude above the ground or there is not enough soil. The next step is to use mullein solution. Nitrogen should not be used very often (this will lead to overgrowth of foliage and a decrease in the number of flowers).

Before planting dahlias, gardeners choose a few of the largest stems, while cutting off the rest. Such measures will help improve flowering. It is imperative to tie up the main stem. As soon as the stems have grown by half a meter, it is necessary to cut off everything lower leaves, this will help improve air exchange with the tubers. Watering the dahlia requires no more than once a week at the root (until the fall). If slugs are seen on the bush, you can easily neutralize them with black pepper, scattering it around the plant.

18.12.2012

Dahlias, the cultivation of which is within the power of even a beginner, are able to decorate almost any site. But in order for the bushes of these flowers to be lush and beautiful, you need to know some of the features when growing dahlias. In 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 agrotechnology of growing this plant is quite simple. For planting dahlias, you should choose open areas protected from the wind and with enough light, as these flowers are light-requiring.

This crop 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 with a depth of no more than 30 cm and water them abundantly. Then rotted manure mixed with earth 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 landing, provide a support for your pet, if necessary. Usually 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 the species are divided by the type of flower and by the height of the plant.

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

between dwarf and undersized 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 lasts until the first autumn frost.

Dahlia breeding

Dividing tubers
Healthy tubers are cut into pieces at the rate of: 1-2 eyes - one division. The parlors are marked, tied with tags and placed in specially prepared boxes with a damp substrate (a mixture of sand with peat or sawdust). The plots are lightly covered with a substrate, and the root collars are left open.
Propagation of dahlias by cuttings (cuttings of stems)
A stalk is a sprout with several internodes. Cuttings are planted in a moist substrate and covered with foil. After the cuttings take root, they are transplanted into specially prepared pots of small diameter with nutrient soil and grown in them right up to planting in the ground.
Seed propagation
This method is mainly used in breeding to obtain new varieties. And also for reproduction mainly annual varieties dahlias.

How to care for dahlias?

Caring for dahlias consists in observing the following agrotechnical techniques: watering, weeding and regular loosening of the soil. Although weeding and loosening can be eliminated with the soil around the plant.

Watering should be abundant at a frequency of 1-2 times a week (of course, if you do not have a rainy season). Dahlias can be fed with infusion cow dung(1:10) no more than 3-4 times during the entire growing season (feed for 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 20.

As soon as the first shoots appear, 1-2 of the strongest should be selected, and all other shoots are recommended to be removed. This technique promotes the formation of strong shoots and abundant flowering... When the dahlias grow up to 30-50 cm, tie them to the supports.

Some varieties, usually large-flowered, need pinching - the removal of lateral shoots located in the leaf axils. Passionking must be carried out 2-3 times. The root collar must be protected from frost. Therefore, in the second half of August, the bushes are spud by 10-13 cm.

How to store dahlias in winter?

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

Before you send dahlias for storage, you should do the following:

Cut off the stems, leaving 10-15 cm. Label the plant to know what it is and what it looks like;
Dig up the tubers ( better with a shovel) and wash off the earth from them with water from a hose or watering can;
Dry the tubers for 4-5 hours on fresh air(in sunny weather) or in a warm room. Dahlia tubers do not like frost;
Sprinkle the tubers with sand or sawdust in storage boxes. Recently, vermiculite has gained popularity and many gardeners are advised to pour it with them;
Move the crates to the storage room.

It is best to store dahlia tubers in ventilated rooms with a temperature of + 5 ... + 7 ° C and an air humidity of no higher than 60-75%.

Diseases and pests

Of the diseases affecting dahlias, there are viral mosaic, oak mosaic, black leg, white and gray rot, spotted and bronze leaves, bacterial cancer. Diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The only thing effective remedy disease control: culling and burning of diseased plants. Measures for the control and prevention of diseases also include disinfection of soil and garden tools, pest control and observance of crop rotation.

The main pests of dahlias are various insects (drooling pennies, aphids, thrips, flower beetles, scoop caterpillars, wireworms), slugs and nematodes. They affect ground and underground parts of plants. The main pest control measures are manual collection and their destruction. Feathered assistants of the eco-gardener will also help to cope with insects, but it will help to fight slugs. The cleanliness of the site, the observance of crop rotation, and the cultivation of marigolds in the aisles also contribute to a decrease in the number of pests.

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

Growing dahlias is not a difficult task, but, as you can see, there are a few 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 beautiful flowers from them. Good luck!

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