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They were first brought to Europe in the XNUMXth century from Mexico. Today, these long flowering plants from the Astrov family adorn the gardens of many flower growers. We are talking about dahlias or Dahlia. As a rule, perennial flowers are planted on the plots. This is due to the fact that they are unpretentious and take root well in the expanses of land. This article will discuss how and when to plant dahlias, and will also provide information about the assortment and the features of caring for them.
Plants bloom from mid-summer until frost. There are approximately 30 types of dahlias in the world and about 15000 varieties. Visual photos and instructive videos will also be provided to your attention.
Main characteristics
Dahlias have pairs of sitting, simple leaves. The height of hollow stems can reach a height of 2–2,5 m. The plant has a well-developed root system. Perennials have tuberous, fleshy and thickened roots.
The above-ground part of the plants dies off every autumn to the root neck. The stem part can be smooth or rough, with branching or straight. Most species and varieties have a pinnate type of leaves, however, there are plant species with pubescent leaves.
A distinctive feature of dahlias is the presence of inflorescences-baskets. The middle flowers are brown-red or golden yellow, reed type.
Color classification
Thousands of varieties of dahlias are classified by several species. The shapes and colors of plants can be very different, which will allow you to create a real fairy tale on your site. You can plant tall plants or mini flowers.
collared
This species is distinguished by the presence of petals of different sizes. In the middle they are tubular and short, and on the outer part they are flat and long.
Needle
They have thin petals tightly twisted into a tube. The length of the petals depending on the variety may be different. Subspecies of needle plants – semi-needle. The petals of such flowers resemble graceful cones.
Globular
Differs in round lush inflorescences, with fleshy, tubular and large petals.
pompon dahlias
These are relatives of the spherical type of flowers. They have fluffy inflorescences with slightly twisted petals. However, pompon dahlias are smaller in size than ball dahlias. They have denser inflorescences.
Nymphaeaceae
Flowers have flat inflorescences, which is very different from other types of dahlias. The middle of the flower is fluffy due to tubular petals. The flower of the plant is bordered by a series of flat and wide petals.
anemoid
Reminiscent of the collared look of dahlias. In the middle – short tubular petals, and around – flat and wide.
Peony
Flowers are distinguished by lush inflorescences, resembling peonies in appearance. Each inflorescence has several rows of oval petals, and in the center is a group of twisted, tubular, short petals.
Dahlias differ not only in shape, but also in color. Due to the accumulation of anthocyanin pigments in the plant, a new color appeared – red-black. Breeders have the goal of bringing out the blue dahlia. Although at this stage – it’s just a pipe dream.
Peculiarities of growing
Due to the variety of varieties, colors and shapes of dahlias, they can be used to equip flower beds, as well as border lines. They are also grown as solo and potted plants.
Generally speaking, the plants are unpretentious, although for their planting, you should choose the right planting site. With proper watering and timely feeding, dahlias will delight your eye with lush flowering throughout the season. Plants can be grown from seedlings, which must be purchased no earlier than mid-spring. Healthy tubers are firm and fleshy. Buy seedlings with low sprouts on tubers.
When to plant dahlias in open ground?
For abundant and long flowering, dahlias should be planted in partial shade. Soil moisture should also be taken into account, since in a waterlogged environment, plant tubers will rot. Best of all, dahlias take root in drained soil – in black soil, loam or sandy soils.
How to prepare tubers
To prepare the tubers that you have left after the winter should be in April. To begin with, they need to be cleaned of dried roots. Treat damaged areas with green paint. Planting is carried out in a container with nutrient soil or peat. In this form, dahlias should be stored at 18ºС for two weeks. Tubers should protrude 2–3 cm above the surface.
After the buds appear on the tubers, they need to be divided. Each division should have a bud with a root collar. Such delenki should remain in containers for some time. Before planting dahlias in open ground, remove side shoots from them, which can reach a height of about 10 cm.
We invite you to watch interesting videos on how to prepare plant tubers for planting:
How to prepare the soil and plant tubers
In order for dahlias to be strong and healthy, the soil for planting them should be prepared in the fall. To do this, you need to add compost and humus to the soil, after which the site is dug up. In the spring, before planting, non-leaf mature compost and wood ash should be scattered over the ground. Smooth out this layer with a rake.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the instructions from which you will learn how to plant dahlias correctly.
- The roots of the plant should be completely immersed in the holes. They should leave room for fertilizer.
- At the bottom of the holes, you need to pour a little rotted humus or manure, and then lightly cover it with earth so as not to burn the roots.
- Bury the tuber of the plant so that the shoot remains a few centimeters above the surface.
- After that, the seedlings should be watered and sprinkled with mulch (it can be peat mixed with sawdust or compost with tree bark).
- When planting tall plants, immediately install a support. This must be done immediately, because after a few months, you will not be able to drive a peg into the ground so as not to damage the root system. You can use several pegs for one seedling, which will allow you to fix even the most voluminous bush.
It has been noticed that growing dahlias from tubers is the most effective way to breed these plants in open ground.
Features of growing from seeds
To grow strong and beautiful dahlias from seeds, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with several features of this process:
- Soak dahlia seeds in a light solution of potassium permanganate. The water should be light pink in color. So, you disinfect the seedlings.
- Sowing should be carried out in the last decade of February or early March.
- Spread the seeds of plants in a suitable container, lightly sprinkle them with earth and cover with polyethylene or glass.
- In order for seedlings to appear as early as possible, maintain a certain temperature in the room, up to 15ºС.
- After the emergence of plant sprouts, remove the glass.
- You need to water the sprouts with a spray bottle to prevent the soil from drying out.
- Before 2-3 mature dahlia leaves appear, dive and transplant the plant into separate containers.
- Transplantation in open ground can be carried out in late May – early June.
How to properly grow and care for dahlias when sown from seeds, you can learn more from the video:
Features of care
Caring for dahlias involves mulching the area. So, you can get rid of the germination of grass, loosening the soil. In addition, mulch protects dahlias from pests such as slugs.
Since plant tubers can rot due to excess moisture in the ground, they need to be watered abundantly during the dry season infrequently, only 1-2 times a week. To preserve moisture in extreme heat, hilling can be carried out after watering. Before watering, the earth is raked from the stems, watering is carried out, and then the bush is again spudded.
Stepson process
Removing extra stems – this is pinching. Although planted dahlias do not have to stepchild. However, this event promotes the development of strong stems and voluminous buds. Leave 2-3 stems, and remove the rest.
It is necessary to carry out repeated pinching throughout the season, repeating as necessary. Timely remove all sprouts that appear at the base of the leaves of plants.
Application of fertilizers
In order for the planted plants to develop well, they need to be fed regularly. The frequency of fertilization is once every 2 weeks. Alternate with organic fertilizers with mineral fertilizers. As a top dressing, you can use ammonium nitrate in the proportion of 15 g per 1 m3. In addition, a tincture of bird droppings in a ratio of 1 to 20 and mullein in a ratio of 1 to 10 is suitable.
After the first buds appear, you need to feed the plants with potash fertilizers and superphosphates in the proportion of 30 g of the drug per bucket of water. This solution should be watered bushes. The indicated proportion is enough for 8 dahlia bushes.
You can learn about how dahlias are planted and cared for in the open field from the video:
How to use the support
Dahlias have hollow stems, as a result of which gusty wind and rain can break the bushes. Therefore, plants need to be tied to support pegs, which, as mentioned earlier, are installed in the ground at the stage of planting dahlias with tubers. The stem should be tied to a peg.
If a stem is broken on a plant bush, then a tire can be put on it. To do this, attach a branch to the stem of the dahlia, it is desirable that it be strong, secure it and support the stem so that it does not lean. If you provide timely care for dahlias, they will delight you with abundant flowering throughout the season. Usually, broken plant shoots are restored when splinting.
Pest Control
Slugs are the first enemies of dahlias. The fact is that these pests love to feast on the young and juicy stems of the plant. In addition, dahlia buds also suffer. They are struck by earwigs. To combat them, it is necessary to carry out timely treatment of plants with decoctions of wormwood and celandine. The procedure should be carried out once every 2 weeks and only in the evening.
Dahlias will bloom beautifully and for a long time if you take care of them in the heat. So, to protect plants from aphids, caterpillars, mites and thrips, they need to be sprayed with systemic insecticides. There are also folk ways to deal with insects: spraying dahlias with soapy water.
There are also viral diseases of dahlias that cannot be treated. Among them are mosaic and spotted wilt. To avoid infecting healthy plants, dig up diseased dahlias and burn them with tubers. Perhaps this is all that can be said about how to care for dahlias so that they can bloom all season.
In autumn, plant tubers must be dug out of the ground again and folded for storage. This is due to the fact that the tubers do not withstand frost.
To summarize
If you follow the recommendations outlined in the article, then your site will be full of beautiful dahlia flower arrangements.