|
Dahlias are easy to grow. Plop the bulbs in a hole in the ground, cover with soil, give them sunshine, water, and fertilizer, and you'll have drop-dead gorgeous blooms soon.
Dahlias are colorful, gorgeous, and impressive. From giant to miniature, dahlias are guaranteed garden show-stoppers. Giants, for example, can be up to 10" wide and more than 5' tall. Dahlias come in many colors, including red, pink, orange, yellow, white. Some dahlias are multi-colored, while others are a solid blast of brilliant color.
Dahlias are old. They are derived from wild plants found growing in Mexico. The first reports of dahlias originated circa 1570-1577. Dahlia seeds arrived in Spain in 1789, and were successfully flowered in 1790. Cultivation of dahlias in England began shortly thereafter; dahlias arrived in the United States with settlers.
Dahlias need space, particularly if you're growing the giant versions. So when you're planting, be sure to give dahlias plenty of room -- at least 30 inches between rows and 3 feet between plants.
Dahlias are organized and competitive. There are several organizations around the globe dedicated to the growth, classification, propogation, and exhibition of dahlias.
Dahlias like rich soil with good drainage; they're also heavy feeders and require frequently fertilizer. When planting, work a time-released fertilizer into the soil. Consider supplementing with a water-soluable fertilizer throughout the summer every two weeks.
Dahlias like sunlight, and need a minimum of half a day with good sunlight.
Dahlias are 75% water, and require a lot of watering. In fact, they require at least an inch of water a week until they begin to emerge from soil; after they begin blooming, water requirement grows to a minimum of 2 inches a week. Soaking dahlias every 5-7 days helps them grow better. And it's advisable to water early in the day so they can dry by evening.
Dahlias are diversified. In fact, there are such a large range of dahlias that it can be difficult to make sense of the diversity. There are single-flowered, anemone-flowered, collerette, waterlily, decorative, ball, pompon, cactus, and semi-cactus dahlias. They can be miniature, small, medium, large, or giant. Regardless, growing dahlias can easily become a lifelong enjoyment.
|
| |
