The First Dahlias of the Season are Blooming
Here at my Bedford, New York farm, we already have lots of gorgeous, bright, and colorful dahlias blooming in the garden.
My dahlia garden is tucked behind my vegetable greenhouse in an area exposed to full sun and protected from strong winds. When in bloom, dahlias provide some of the garden's biggest and most spectacular flowers in a variety of different sizes, forms, and colors. However, because dahlias are native to Mexico, they are not winter-hardy and tend to split in freezing temperatures or mold in soggy, wet soil. In most areas outside the warmest regions of the United States, dahlia tubers must be dug up and stored or covered before the cold season. A couple of years ago, we started covering the entire bed with burlap and a thick layer of hay. And it's proven to be a great solution for protecting the plants so we have superlative dahlias blooming right now.
Enjoy these photos.
-
- Here’s a photo of my dahlia garden less than three weeks ago. We had just mulched it. All the plants are lush and green, but at this time, there were no blooms yet – not one.
-
- Dahlias thrive in rich, well-drained soil with a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0 and slightly acidic. Over the winter, the entire area was covered with hay and protective tarps. This area is also blocked by my large vegetable greenhouse. It has served us quite well in this location…
-
- … And just like that, two and a half weeks later, we have all these blooms. Dahlias grow more blooms when they get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. This spot was previously used for growing grapes, but it has now turned out to be a perfect place for our dahlias.
-
- For the most part, dahlias are at their best from late summer through fall, when many other plants are starting to fade, but our flowers are already looking spectacular so early in the season.
-
- The array of flower colors, sizes, and shapes is astounding. Dahlias come in white, shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, shades of purple, and various combinations of these colors – every color but true blue. Do you know… in the 19th century, a London newspaper offered a pound, or a little more than a dollar, to the first breeder to create a blue dahlia? Interestingly, the reward was never claimed, but there have been many attempts that are near-blue. Like many flower varieties, there is also no pure black variety—only dark red and dark purple.
-
- And here is one in burgundy standing so tall.
-
- Dahlias are named after 18th-century Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. He actually categorized dahlias as a vegetable because of their edible tubers. The tubers are said to taste like a mix between potatoes and radishes.
-
- Dahlia plant leaves grow segments that are ovate to oblong to lanceolate in shape. The leaf margins may be lobed or dentate. Leaves may be green, reddish-purple, or purple-black depending on the variety.
-
- Dahlias are classified according to flower shape and petal arrangement. This one is a bright corn yellow with a bold yellow center.
-
- This is a single dahlia with just one row of petals surrounding the center disc. They range from a charming single, daisy-like flower to the popular double varieties which can be two-inch-pompons to 12-inch dinner plate size. They are divided into 10 groups: single, anemone, collarette, waterlily, decorative, fall, pompon, cactus, semi-cactus, and miscellaneous.
-
- Pompon dahlias yield masses of intricate, fully double blooms measuring up to two-and-a-half inches across. This dahlia is a pretty light pink to salmon color.
-
- Currently, there are about 42 species of dahlia, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. A member of the Asteraceae family of dicotyledonous plants, some of its relatives include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia.
-
- This cactus variety is called ‘Park Princess’ with tightly rolled rich, vibrant pink petals. It is a prolific re-bloomer and an excellent cut flower.
-
- The majority of dahlia species do not produce scented flowers or cultivars, but they are brightly colored to attract pollinating insects.
-
- Dahlias are very attractive to bees and hummingbirds.
-
- The genus Dahlia is native to the high plains of Mexico. Some species can be found in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador & Costa Rica as well as parts of South America where it was introduced.
-
- Here is an elegant dahlia which produces large blossoms with fully double, slender, deep pink petals with creamy throats that produce a frilled effect-hence the name Fimbriata meaning frilly.
-
- This dahlia is named ‘Bashful’ with its dark burgundy petals, hot pink tips, and golden stamens in the center of the flower. The three-inch flower blooms on a plant that grows to two-and-a-half feet by the end of the season. This is a great dahlia for bedding, containers, and cut flowers.
-
- Dahlias continue to produce an abundance of flowers through late summer until the first frost. I am looking forward to lots and lots of arrangements.
-
- When arranging, always strip off all the leaves that would be below the water line in the vase. This is true for all flower arrangements, not just dahlias. When leaves stay underwater, they decay and release bacteria that shorten the vase life of the flowers. And change the water daily so they look fresh and last longer.
-
- These dahlias are creamy yellow with bold yellow centers.
-
- There are just so many flowers that have opened beautifully – this a pale light orange with prettily formed petals.
-
- Nearly every plant is showing off at least one bloom. I am so pleased with how these flowers are doing this year. Dahlias are herbaceous perennials, but often grown as annuals.
-
- This dahlia bud is just about to open. When the flowers grow, they emerge small and pale at first. And gradually they get larger and more detailed.
-
- The key to maintaining dahlia tubers for the winter is making sure they stay dry, have good air circulation, and are in a cool, dark spot. Covering them with bales of hay to protect them from the winter elements worked so well for us. Click here to see the blog on how we did it. And keep checking this blog to see more of these beauties blooming in the coming months.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
