Annual dahlias: growing from seed, when to plant. Dahlias planting and care in the open field when to plant dahlias photo in the garden How to sow dahlias for seedlings

Thanks to the incomparable flowers of the most beautiful color and variety of forms, the dahlia genus deserves a prominent place in any garden. Few flower growers do not admire the magnificence of this plant. The history of the appearance of the dahlia is connected with the legend that the dahlia appeared on the site of the last fire that died out during the onset of the ice age. And the first to germinate after the arrival of heat, marking the victory of life over death, and heat over cold.

Intensive selection work has led to the creation of a huge number of varieties - now their number is in the tens of thousands. This flower has two official names - Dahlia (most common in England) and Dahlia.

The Aztecs worshiped this plant, considering it an incarnation, the warriors depicted it on their shields and clothes, wore it as an amulet, believing that it gives them strength and courage. The aborigines used the tubers for food, and the hollow stems were used in the construction of water pipes. Dahlia is considered a symbol of all-conquering life, stamina, freedom, impregnability, pride. The Japanese consider it a symbol of greatness. The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico.

The dahlias we admire today were obtained by crossing the Mexican species Dahlia coccinnta and Dahlia variabilis. These are herbaceous perennial plants, the roots of which have powerful tuberous thickenings with a supply of nutrients. The stems are hollow, branching, pinnately divided, opposite, green-blue leaves on elongated petioles. Flowers are collected in inflorescences-baskets, blooming from summer to the first slight frosts. Reed flowers are flat, spatulate, ribbon-like, rolled into a tube of various colors; tubular - yellow or orange.

Depending on the size of the inflorescence, dahlias are divided into giant (diameter more than 25 cm), large (up to 25), medium (20-25), small (10-15) and miniature - up to 10 cm.

Growing dahlias from seeds

Sowing directly into the ground

Considering that these plants are very thermophilic and do not tolerate even short-term light frosts, they can be sown in the ground only after the 20th of May, in order to be sure that the night frost will not destroy the seedlings.

However, there is a significant drawback here: in this case, you can see it not earlier than August.

Therefore, many gardeners still arrange a mini-greenhouse or greenhouse for these flowers and sow already in the twentieth of March. You can use old window frames or stretch a film over the arcs.

The prepared bed should stand for a couple of days after digging, so that the earth settles.
The furrows are stuffed shallow, the distance is 60 cm.
In a row we sow less often, the plants need space, thick seedlings break through or transplant after, leaving a distance between the bushes of at least 60 cm.
After sowing, the earth is leveled with a rake, filling the furrows.
We water well, you can sprinkle the bed with a thin layer of rotted humus to prevent the formation of an earthen crust.

Often not necessary, natural moisture should be enough for several days. But if the weather is hot, make sure that the earth does not dry out.

Growing dahlias for seedlings at home

When planting dahlia seeds immediately on the garden bed, flowering will not occur until mid-August. When planting seeds at home for seedlings, an earlier start of flowering is achieved. Growing in this way usually does not cause any trouble for flower growers. The only point to be taken into account is that dahlia seedlings do not tolerate even mild frosts.

It is convenient to grow dahlias with seeds for decoration of borders, discounts. Plants grown from seeds form a small tuber by autumn. Therefore, you can save the copy you like and land it next season to admire it next summer. Dahlia seeds ripen well - they can be harvested and saved for planting next year.

Annual dahlias are sown for seedlings in April, but if you want to get nodules of a perennial variety, you need to sow in early March.

Prepare containers that provide drainage. If using food packaging, be sure to make holes in the bottom.
Fill the containers with nutritious loose soil rich in organic matter. Remember, simple garden soil will have a bad effect on the health of seedlings: during care, it tends to become very compact. Therefore, it is better to buy a special mixture for flowers. Well, or not be too lazy by adding rotted organic matter, peat and sand in equal proportions to the garden soil.
Sowing is done shallow, 1-1.5 cm. It is advisable to sow less often, leaving a distance of 2-3 cm between the seeds.
When small dahlias release 2-3 true leaves, they are carefully dived into separate cups. You can use a fork, a teaspoon or any other tool convenient for you. The main thing is not to damage the tender roots and move them with a clod of earth.
Then just water and provide sufficient lighting.
When warm weather sets in, we arrange seedlings for walks outside: we accustom them to the wind and the sun. We gradually increase the time and by the end of the second week of hardening, our seedlings should be outside for a full day. Such hardened seedlings will not hurt after planting and will quickly be accepted.

When to plant dahlias outdoors

At the end of May, when there is no longer a threat of night frosts, seedlings and tubers are planted in a flower bed. In some regions even earlier, it all depends on the weather. Dahlias bloom 60-90 days after they sprout, depending on the variety.

Planting seedlings of dahlias in spring in the ground

Planting seedlings of dahlias in the ground- a joyful stage for the gardener. Finally, the flowers will go to the flower bed. Here I would like to give some advice:

Try to avoid strict rows, landing will look unnatural, too stiff. It is better to combine dahlias with rudbeckia bushes, or asteriscus, imitating natural randomness.
Give more space for each bush, the distance to other plants is at least 60 cm.
The wells are prepared in advance, they are made wider and deeper than the seedling cups, it is advisable to pour a little humus on the bottom.
Seedlings are planted, carefully removing a clod of earth so that the earth does not crumble from the roots.
They are placed vertically in the hole, trying to maintain the existing level of the root neck.
Sprinkle with earth, moisturize abundantly.
It is advisable to mulch the root space with any material at hand: fresh grass, sawdust, needles.

Planting dahlia tubers in spring

Before planting, dahlia tubers should be prepared: washed from the ground and kept in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for about half an hour. Then the tubers are laid out in boxes with sawdust treated with boiling water and germinated at room temperature until sprouts appear.

After the tubers have sprouted, they should be divided before planting to allow the bushes to develop fully in the new season.

How to divide the tubers before planting, look at the video:

After the tubers are ready for planting, we begin the process itself. Prepare deep holes, approximately 30 cm deep and 40 cm in diameter. Pour humus to the bottom, mix with garden soil. Spread one division of tubers in each hole, cover with earth, the distance from the tuber to the surface of the earth is about 5-8 cm.

For details on planting dahlias with tubers in the spring, see the video:

Reproduction of dahlias by dividing tubers

Tubers are prepared for planting in advance. First they are placed in wet sawdust or peat.
After the sprouts appear, they are carefully divided with a sharp knife into several parts, so that each has sprouts.
The sections are dried and sprinkled with ash or activated charcoal. After that, they are again placed in sawdust for rooting.
As soon as warm weather is established without, they are planted in pre-prepared holes.
1/3 of a bucket of humus or compost is added to each well.
The delenka is placed in the hole so that the sprouts are at the surface of the soil.
Water well and cover with compost.
The root neck should be at ground level.

Propagation of dahlias by cuttings

At the end of February, dahlia roots are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and placed in boxes, half covered with a light nutrient substrate, watered moderately.
Cuttings are taken after 3-4 weeks.
Processed with root and planted in individual cups.
To speed up rooting, you can cover the plantings with polyethylene.
Rooting occurs within two weeks.
In early June, they are planted in groups or rows at a distance of 60 cm.

Growing conditions

Dahlias prefer sunny areas. They grow excellently in partial shade, but are much taller than plants planted in the sun.
Deep shade negatively affects development and flowering.
They love sufficiently moist soil - for this, the land under plantings should be mulched with semi-rotted sawdust or mowed grass. This will prevent moisture from evaporating and prevent weeding.
Top dressing is carried out in cases where organic components were not introduced into the soil during planting.
Use liquid complex fertilizer every two weeks.
A support must be placed under tall varieties - this will protect the stem from breakage during bad weather and strong winds.

No more than 3 shoots should be left on each bush. To get more on the central peduncles, you should cut off all the side shoots. It is imperative to remove faded buds to allow young ones to develop. The fewer buds, the larger the flowers.

After the first frost has damaged the bushes, they should be dug up. Cut the stem at a height of 15-20 cm from the ground and carefully dig out the root, trying not to damage it in the process. Very often, liquid accumulates inside the hollow stem and this causes the plant to rot during storage. Therefore, the tuber is turned upside down, allowing the liquid to flow out. After that, you can dry the tubers outdoors during the day, weather permitting. Then they are transferred to storage in a dry basement.

Diseases and pests

Dahlias are quite resistant, but waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed, which contributes to the development of diseases and the attack of slugs. Against aphids and mites, periodically irrigate your plants with tar water. When infected with a viral mosaic, light spots appear on the leaf plates, yellowing along the veins. Such plants should be culled. If uncharacteristic growths are found on the tubers, which indicates a bacterial cancer, the infected tubers are destroyed.

Types of dahlias with photos and descriptions

Dahlia tree Dahlia arborea- a species with a powerful woody stem, reaching a height of 2 m. It has simple lilac baskets.

Dahlia coccinea The leaves of this species are pinnate with pointed lobes. Baskets are simple and small.
The species Dahlia juarezii has a stem about 1 m high with deeply cut dark malachite leaves and multi-colored inflorescences. cacti-like dahlias originated from it.

Dahlia changeable Dahlia variabilis- has simple baskets with red reed and yellow tubular flowers.
All these species, originally from Mexico, laid the foundation for a variety of varieties that our flower growers so loved. They absolutely do not tolerate even the lightest frosts and are grown as annuals in our strip. But dahlia tubers overwinter well in dry, cool rooms like potato tubers. To do this, they are dug up and re-planted in the spring.

There is a division of dahlias according to the shape of the inflorescence

Anemone. Srednerosly group with semi-double inflorescences outwardly similar to anemones.

collared. The tubular petals of this plant are shorter than those of other species. The middle of the inflorescence is made up of small tubular petals with a collar of one row of large flat petals of contrasting colors.

Peony. Outwardly similar to peonies. The most extensive and colorful view.

Lotus or Nymphaeaceae. All varieties of this species are terry and the largest.

Decorative. The most common variety, including the largest number of varieties.

Ball-shaped and pom-pom-shaped. Similar to each other and differ in size. Both have double flowers, resembling a ball, consisting of many petals. Pompon-shaped, the diameter of which does not exceed 5 cm. Spherical - 8-15 cm. Both species are tall.

cactus. The most original variety, their inflorescences consist of long narrow, folded petals, sometimes dissected at the ends.

Application

The medicinal properties of dahlias allow them to be classified as medicinal plants. Decoctions of these flowers normalize metabolic processes, are useful for the cardiovascular system. Tincture of rhizomes is used as a prophylactic against diabetes. Fresh leaves are applied to the skin to treat acne. Rhizomes are used in crushed form as a mask for aging facial skin. Tuber powder is rubbed into the base of the hair follicles to strengthen the hair.

Low-growing varieties are used for borders, flowerpots, balcony boxes. Most varieties are used in free compositions or group plantings. And especially spectacular, profusely flowering - in single plantings. Varieties with long, strong flower stalks are used for cutting and stand well in water for more than a week.

Dahlias have always been loved by our flower growers. Some of them collect entire collections - their flower beds attract attention with an abundance of flowering dahlias. The abundance of planting material on store shelves, sufficient unpretentiousness, lush flowering put dahlias among the most popular plants in our areas.

Growing annual dahlias is not difficult at all. Planting these annuals and caring for them will be within the power of even inexperienced flower growers. In addition, growing annual dahlias has its own advantages:

Unlike perennial varieties of dahlias, annual varieties grow well from seed. The difficult task of digging and storing tubers until spring disappears. It is enough to buy the seeds of the species you like and plant them in the spring.
Growing seedlings allows you to get flowering plants in June.
The flowering of annual varieties is lush and long (lasts until the very frost).
In terms of cost, dahlia seeds are much cheaper than tubers, and more plants can be grown.

What is the difference between varieties of annual dahlias

Depending on the variety, annual dahlias differ in height, flowering time, shape and size of the inflorescence.

Low-growing varieties with a height of 15-20 cm to 45-60 cm.
Medium-sized varieties grow up to 1-1.2 m.
Dwarf varieties begin to bloom much earlier than higher varieties.
The shape of the inflorescences are simple, semi-double, terry, cactus, pompom.

On bags with seeds, the manufacturer gives a description of the variety, the timing of sowing and flowering. Based on this information, it is easy to choose the right variety depending on the planting site. For growing annual dalia on the balcony, in pots and flowerpots, and for decorating borders, and foreground mixborders, dwarf varieties are suitable, which are distinguished by early and intense flowering on compact bushes.

Popular varieties of undersized dahlias: Cheerful guys, Figaro, Dandy, Bambino, Vasilisa, Piccolo, etc.

Higher distances can be planted in flowerbeds and mixborders, in discounts, along the fence and wall. Medium-sized annual dahlias: Bright pom-poms, Cactus mix.

There are two options for growing annual dahlias:

Sowing seeds directly into the ground.
Growing through seedlings.

Sowing seeds in open ground

Annual dahlias can be grown by sowing seeds directly into open ground. Dahlia do best on light, breathable, neutral or slightly acidic soils. Pre-planting land preparation can be carried out in autumn or spring. Introduce rotted manure, humus, compost into the area for dahlias. Coarse-grained sand and ash will help improve the structure of heavy earth.

When to plant. When determining the sowing time, it must be taken into account that sprouts appear within a week. Therefore, it is possible to plant seeds in open ground when there is no threat of frost.

Landing. Seeds are buried by 1-1.5 cm with an interval of about 30 cm. Since some seeds may not germinate, it is better to plant 2 or 3 seeds at once side by side. Subsequently, if friendly shoots are obtained, you can leave one, the most powerful plant, and transplant the rest to another place.
Water the crops, mulch or cover with a film to retain moisture.

Growing seedlings of annual dahlias

Growing annual dahlias through seedlings allows you to get flowering plants as early as June. In the first half of March, you can start sowing seeds.

A light substrate is poured into a plastic container with drainage holes with a layer of up to 5-7 cm. You can buy ready-made soil or cook it yourself by mixing 2 parts of soddy soil with 1 part of humus and 1 part of sand. Instead of sand, perlite or vermiculite is sometimes added.

We sow seeds. Before sowing, it is advisable to shed the earth with a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin to prevent fungal diseases. Distribute the seeds on the surface and cover with a layer of soil up to 1.5 cm. Gently water the crops and cover with a film. In a warm, bright place, seedlings will appear on the 5-7th day.

How to care for seedlings. As soon as the sprouts hatch, the film must be removed and provide good lighting and an optimal temperature of about 20 degrees. If there is not enough light, it is necessary to organize additional lighting. In poor light, the seedlings are strongly drawn out.

Watering should be moderate as the soil dries. Dahlias cannot stand waterlogging, which can lead to the development of the disease - black leg.

Pick. In the phase of two true leaves, dahlias dive into separate pots, deepening the plants to the cotyledon leaves.

Two weeks after picking, seedlings can be fed with complex fertilizer. Repeat feeding after ten days. Top dressing should be carried out on moist soil so as not to burn the tender roots of young plants.
Above the third pair of true leaves, you need to pinch the top. As a result, side shoots will grow, the bushes will be more lush.

Planting dahlias in open ground

Before planting in the garden, seedlings must be hardened off. Plants begin to take out to fresh air, increasing the residence time. As soon as the threat of frost has passed, dahlias can be planted in a prepared place.

The site for planting dalia should be sunny with light fertile soil. Humus or compost can be added to the planting hole, mixed with the ground. Water the seedlings well for two hours before planting. It is necessary to transfer plants to the planting hole along with a clod of earth so as not to injure the roots. So the bushes will take root faster.

The distance between plants depends on the variety. For undersized dahlias, the gap is 30 cm, for higher species - 50 cm. Planted plants should be watered and mulched.

Caring for annual dahlias

Annual dahlias are undemanding in care, which consists in watering, weeding and top dressing.

Watering

Dahlias do not like prolonged waterlogging, so you need to water the plants as the soil dries out. In dry, hot weather, watering can be increased up to twice a week. After watering, it is desirable to mulch the soil. Mulching helps retain moisture longer, and the soil surface does not form a crust.

Weeding

Weeding is necessary to keep the area around the dahlias clean. Weeds take moisture and nutrients from plants, access to light worsens. Weeding is best done on the second or third day after watering, while simultaneously loosening the soil. Loosening improves the air permeability of the soil and reduces the evaporation of moisture.

top dressing

At the beginning of the growing season, our dahlias need nitrogen to grow green mass. Therefore, if organic fertilizers were not applied to the planting hole when planting seedlings, you can feed the plants with mullein infusions (2 liters of infusion per 10 liters of water). Top dressing is carried out a week after transplantation. The day before fertilizing, the flowers must be watered.

During the period of budding and flowering, dahlias need phosphorus-potassium supplements. Suitable potassium sulfate and superphosphate or a complex fertilizer with a low nitrogen content. Two top dressings are enough: during the budding period and at the beginning of flowering.

With an excess of nitrogen, dahlia bushes begin to "fatten", i.e. increase green mass at the expense of flowering. In addition, such plants are more susceptible to infection by fungal diseases.

Timely removal of fading inflorescences allows you to prolong the flowering of dahlias, because. the plant does not waste energy on seed maturation and begins to produce new buds.

As you can see, caring for dahlias is simple and not complicated at all.

Growing dahlias in pots and vases

For growing annual dahlias in pots and flowerpots, dwarf varieties are excellent. Bushes of dwarf dahlias grow no more than 40-50 cm. Flowering begins in June and continues until autumn frosts. Many low-growing varieties of dahlias have been bred, suitable for growing in pots and containers, which grow in a low, compact bush with abundant flowering.

Pots should be spacious (at least 5 liters) with good drainage holes to drain water. At the bottom you need to pour a layer of expanded clay. The soil for planting is light, breathable, neutral or slightly acidic. Good results are obtained by adding hydrogel, vermiculite, perlite. These additives accumulate excess moisture, and then release it as the soil dries.

Before planting, it is advisable to shed the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin to prevent diseases.
Caring for dahlias planted in flowerpots is somewhat more difficult than in open ground. Care will consist in more frequent watering, top dressing, timely removal of faded baskets. Fertilizers are applied after watering every two weeks. It is convenient to use complex liquid fertilizers. In August, all feeding is stopped.

In autumn, before the onset of frost, dahlias can be brought into a warm room, and for some time they will delight with their flowering.

How to save tubers

Annual dahlias grown through seedlings, under good conditions, have time to form tubers in a season. In autumn, after the first frost, these tubers can be dug up and stored in a basement or other room with a temperature of about 5 degrees.

Undersized dahlias form small nodules that can dry out in storage. Therefore, it is better to store them covered with earth, peat or sawdust. Some gardeners store the tubers in the pots that the dahlias have been growing in all summer. But it must be taken into account that after a couple of years the tubers begin to degenerate, and the variety will need to be updated by sowing seeds.

Seeds can be collected independently, leaving a few faded baskets to dry completely. But dahlias grown from such seeds are likely to be unlike the mother plant.

Annual dahlias in garden design

Due to the variety of colors and shapes, annual dahlias can be planted both in separate groups, creating bright spots among the greenery of the garden, and together with other annuals. Here it is important to choose a successful combination of colors of inflorescences and avoid excessive variegation.

Dahlias go well in flowerbeds and mixborders with delphinium, phlox, lobelia. Asters, kosmeya and zinnias of suitable colors can also make a pleasant company.

Cactus-like and pompon dahlias, growing up to 1 m tall, will look good in the background of a flower bed or mixborder. Ornamental sunflowers can be planted next to them.

Dwarf varieties are suitable for decorating a border, a border and the foreground of a mixborder. The undersized marigolds and marigolds with their yellow-orange color palette will be a great addition to them.
Dahlias planted in pots, flowerpots can be placed on terraces and verandas, near garden benches and arbors.

Diseases and pests of annual dahlias

Annual dahlias can be affected by fungal and viral diseases. The most common: gray rot, white rot, fusarium, blackleg, viral mosaic.
Pests such as aphids, scoop caterpillars, slugs and snails love to feast on juicy green shoots and delicate petals of annual dahlias.
To protect your flowers from diseases and pests, it is important to follow the rules of growing and carry out preventive treatments of plants.

An interesting video about caring for annual dahlias

Dahlias must not only be dug up in time, but also stored during the winter. How best to do this in an apartment, read this article.

Dahlia is the queen of autumn flowers. It continues to bloom until late autumn, when other flowers have withered. In addition, the dahlia is not a difficult plant to care for. Today, many summer residents, along with perennials, began to plant annual dahlias, the cultivation and care of which do not cause much trouble.

Did you know? Dahlia has been known since the days of the Mayans and Aztecs. Its stems were used as water pipes, and its roots were used for cooking. In Europe, these flowers appeared in the XVIII century.

How to choose seeds for planting

The choice of seeds for planting annual dahlias depends on the preferences and desires of the gardener. If you want to get flowers early, choose undersized varieties. Such plants do not spend much energy on growth and bloom earlier than others. Some of the most popular varieties are:

Gardeners select seeds for planting, focusing on the shape and appearance of flowers. Many grow dahlias for sale, so it all depends on the demand for certain types of flowers.

How to choose a variety of annual dahlias

In order not to make a mistake in choosing a dahlia variety, decide for what and where you will plant them. There are many varieties of these plants on the market today. they differ in height, color of flowers, timing of flowering, shape of petals and buds. In order for the flower bed to look harmonious, pay attention when buying seeds to the height of the plants and the timing of flowering.

Exploring the packaging

When buying seeds, be sure to read the color information on the package.(in one package you can often find a mix of different varieties - the same height, but different colors). If you want to plant dahlias along the border, choose undersized varieties (their height is up to 45 cm). For flower beds, dahlias are suitable a little higher - up to 60 cm.

When to plant dahlias for seedlings, planting scheme

In order for your plants to develop well and accelerate the flowering time, you should know how to plant dahlias for seedlings:

sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in early April;
seeds are sown in special boxes or containers for seedlings;
the soil should consist of peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 1 with the addition of natural atomizers (perlite);
seeds are planted in the soil: pour a layer of moistened sand onto the bottom of the container, on which the seeds are evenly spread;
pour a thin layer of prepared soil mixture on top;
cover with a film and put for 7 days in a warm place (25 ° C).

After the emergence of shoots, the film is removed from the container and the seedlings are sprayed with a spray gun. When the first three leaves appear at the seedlings, it should be swooped down by transplanting into special peat pots (cups). The soil for transplantation should consist of soddy soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.

Important! A week before picking, the soil should be warmed up at room conditions and disinfected with a solution of manganese (heat the solution to 70°C ). Treatment with a solution of potassium permanganate should be carried out 2 weeks before picking seedlings to restore normal soil microflora.

Picking should be carried out carefully so as not to damage the root of the plant. To do this, use special tools. Seedlings are planted in the ground to the first leaves, after which they are carefully sprinkled with earth. After picking, seedlings are watered from a spray bottle.

Dahlias are planted in mid-May.

How to plant dahlias

So that your efforts are not in vain, and the flowers are well accepted and adapted in the open field, you should know when to plant dahlia seedlings. If you plant dahlias correctly, they will grow stronger and bloom faster.

Planting germinated seeds in the soil

Planting germinated seeds in the soil is carried out in mid-May. The weather is already warm, there is no risk of sudden frosts or cold snap. Before planting in open ground, seedlings must be hardened off. To do this, during the week, take the dahlias outside for 5 minutes, gradually increasing the time spent outdoors. At the same time, gradually reduce the temperature in the room with seedlings so that it becomes the same as on the street.

Important! If you grew seedlings in clay pots, water them thoroughly before planting in the ground. This will help to quickly and easily take out a young plant without damaging the roots.

Place for planting annual dahlias

Dahlias are heat-loving plants, so a sunny side of the site without drafts and wind will be a good place to plant them. If you plant flowers in a shady area, they will begin to stretch, and the color will become pale. It is not recommended to plant them under trees or near sprawling shrubs.

Annual dahlias: planting scheme

Dahlias normally tolerate a transplant from a greenhouse to open ground. In the southern regions, flowers are planted in May, in the northern regions - in early June.

A place for landing should be prepared in the fall. The earth should be dug up, fertilized and marked for beds or flower beds.
In the spring, at the chosen place, you need to dig holes and add some ash and compost to them.
Plant seedlings in the holes to a depth of 6-8 cm (deepening to the first leaves).
Watered with 4-5 liters of water and spud bush.

After the seedlings have been planted in open ground, mulch the soil for better plant development.

How to care for annual dahlias

Unlike perennials, at annual dahlia planting and care happens much easier. After the seedlings have begun, you need to fertilize several times and do not forget about watering.

Watering and feeding the plant

Water dahlias as the soil dries up and after top dressing. It is enough to do this 3-4 times a week in the morning. It is impossible for the water in the holes to stagnate, this can cause root rot.

Fertilizing plants is carried out twice before the appearance of flowers with universal fertilizers. With the advent of flowers, fertilizers should be used, which include phosphorus and potassium. Ashes can be used for fertilizer, as they contain a lot of potassium and will help the plants gain strength.

Plant pruning rules

In order for the plant to please us with an abundance of flowers, it should be cut. This must be done constantly, and during flowering, even more extra shoots should be removed. Pruning dahlias is carried out for thinning the bush, the prevention of fungal diseases and pest control. If this is not done, then the plant will overgrow with shoots without flowers, grow and will have a unkempt and sloppy appearance.

Pruning is done with a blade or pruner. Places of cuts are sprinkled with charcoal for disinfection. Do not prune in the open sun or in wet weather. This can lead to drying of the plant or, conversely, to its decay.

Pest and disease control

Dahlias can suffer from diseases and pests if not properly cared for. If you know how to care for dahlias, correctly plant and disinfect the soil, take preventive measures and deal with the problems that have arisen in time, then the plant will not suffer. Dahlia suffers from fungal diseases: white rot, fusarium wilt, gray and brown rot, etc.

Selection of varieties of annual dahlias.
Sowing seeds in open ground.
Growing seedlings of annual dahlias.
Planting dahlias in the ground.
Caring for annual dahlias.
Growing annual dahlias in pots and flowerpots.
How to save tubers.
Dahlias in garden design.

Unlike perennial varieties of dahlias, annual varieties grow well from seed. The difficult task of digging and storing tubers until spring disappears. It is enough to buy the seeds of the species you like and plant them in the spring.
Growing seedlings allows you to get flowering plants in June.
The flowering of annual varieties is lush and long (lasts until the very frost).
In terms of cost, dahlia seeds are much cheaper than tubers, and more plants can be grown.

What is the difference between varieties of annual dahlias

Depending on the variety, annual dahlias differ in height, flowering time, shape and size of the inflorescence.

Low-growing varieties with a height of 15-20 cm to 45-60 cm.
Medium-sized varieties grow up to 1-1.2 m.
Dwarf varieties begin to bloom much earlier than higher varieties.
The shape of the inflorescences are simple, semi-double, terry, cactus, pompom.

Popular varieties of undersized dahlias: Cheerful guys, Figaro, Dandy, Bambino, Vasilisa, Piccolo, etc.

Higher distances can be planted in flowerbeds and mixborders, in discounts, along the fence and wall. Medium-sized annual dahlias: Bright pom-poms, Cactus mix.

There are two options for growing annual dahlias:

Sowing seeds directly into the ground.
Growing through seedlings.