Dahlia Cultivation

Land for dahlias should be well dug and manured in the autumn and a complete fertiliser applied at the rate of 75-100g (3-4oz) per square metre, about two weeks before planting. If you have the facility of a heated greenhouse you can take delivery of mini plants from April onwards. On receipt plants should be potted on into 4-5” pots taking care to shade from direct sun for the first few days. Grow on, being careful not to over water in the early stages. Cuttings potted in April may require to be potted on again to keep them growing on strongly prior to planting out from the end of May in southern counties to early to mid June in the Midlands, North and in Scotland.

SPACING

Plant firmly after thoroughly watering the plants leaving a slight depression to help direct future watering towards the roots. Stake and tie at once. If growing for exhibition giant, large and medium flowered varieties are best planted in a two row bed 60cm x 60cm apart with a space of 1.2m (4ft) between the beds. The suggested spacing for small and miniature flowered Dahlias is about 50cm x 50cm (20”x20") with about 1m (40”) between the beds. This spacing should allow plenty of room for development and adequate access for attending to the plants as they grow.

STOPPING

Plants should be ‘stopped’ when established by taking out the growing

tip, usually early-mid June, although later flowering varieties may need stopping earlier to give them a chance to flower in time to exhibit. Generally giants and large should be stopped at four pairs of leaves, mediums at five or six pairs, and smalls, miniatures and poms at six - eight pairs of leaves from the base of the plant. This system should have the effect of producing sufficient stems from which the required number of blooms can be grown per plant, ie: giants - three to four; large - four to five; mediums - six to eight; and smalls and miniatures - eight to twelve. If too many stems are produced then carefully select the strongest stems and remove those over and above the required number.

GROWING ON AND FEEDING

Be sure to water during hot dry conditions, preferably in the evening, and apply a recommended balanced fertiliser at manufacturer's recommended rate. In the early part of the season from June through July a high feed in nitrogen is recommended e.g. Chempak No. 2. This will help promote healthy leaf and stem growth. From August onwards, switch to a high potash fertiliser such as Chempak No. 4 or even Tomato food. The higher levels of potash will help in flower colour, stem strength and root growth. Keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars, earwigs, slugs and thrips. Good general purpose sprays include Bug Clear or Provado Pest Free although there are many products available. Please follow manufacturer's instructions carefully.

DISBUDDING

Disbudding to produce long stemmed quality blooms should commence as soon as shoots develop on leaf axils. As a general guide, the first two-three pairs of buds or growths below the terminal bud should be carefully removed. The number of growths retained or removed will influence the ultimate size of blooms, so you would do well to keep records for future reference, especially for exhibition purposes. Dahlias for garden display - A brilliant display for the border right up until the Autumn can be achieved using all of the above recommendations with just a few amendments. For spacing allow 50-60cm (20"-24”) between plants on all varieties, except bedders where 30-40cm (12"-15”) is ideal. Instead of disbudding, allow plants to grow with all shoots intact. As each terminal bud develops, flowers and passes its best, carefully remove to allow the side buds to develop and flower. Continue removing old flowers throughout the season. With such treatment, long lasting colourful Dahlia borders can be created by grading varieties according to height, but incorporating your own colour scheme. Further impact can be made by using the vast diversity of form that the Dahlia provides.

LIFTING AND STORAGE

About mid-November or after the first frost, Dahlias should be carefully lifted, all fibrous roots removed, and stems cut down to within about 10cm (4”) of the tubers. The tubers should be carefully dried off and treated with a fungicide such as ‘Yellow Sulphur’. Be careful to label each tuber as you lift them and discard any which have produced shallow (daisy eyed) flowers and any which had mottled foliage or stunted growth, as this could be virus. When dry and treated, store in a frost proof place until required for propagation or planting out the following season. Check periodically whilst in store for dampness on tubers and stem which could lead to rotting of the tuber. It is also important not to let the tubers become too dry.

DAHLIAS are available in the following forms:-

MINI PLANTS - These are rooted Dahlia Cuttings available from April to mid May they require growing on under glass (min 10C) prior to planting out.

POT GROWN PLANTS - Grown in the pots for customers with no facilities for growing on, i.e. ready for planting out. Available mid May - June. U.K. Mainland only. Please contact the nursery direct if you require pot grown plants.

TUBERS - Small compact Dahlia Tubers - ideal material for propagating purposes.

DAHLIA AND CHRYSANTHEMUM FIELDS are open for viewing at the Heddon Nursery during the flowering season (End August - Frosts) This is an ideal opportunity to view all varieties from the catalogue plus a number of varieties grown on trial.

CATALOGUES are automatically sent to all previous seasons customers.

An ADVANCE LIST is sent end August and our MAIN CATALOGUE of DAHLIAS AND CHRYSANTHEMUMS is sent between Christmas and New Year.