My Dahlias Are Still Going Strong
Tucked away in a bed behind my large vegetable greenhouse, this year's dahlias continue to bloom with gorgeous colors and forms.
Dahlia is a genus of tuberous plants that are members of the Asteraceae family and are related to the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia. They grow from small tubers planted in the spring. And from late June through October, if the weather is mild, these flowers give off a breathtaking show with blooms ranging from small to giant dinner-plate size. I grow a rich variety of dahlias - I like the big ones best - but they're all so pretty to look at, and so easy to maintain.
Enjoy these photos.
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- With autumn officially starting in just a few days, many of the summer flowers are past their prime or already gone, but turn this corner behind my big glass vegetable greenhouse, and there is still a gorgeous show of dahlia flowers blooming. This area provides just the right conditions for these dahlias – full sun, protection from winds, and just enough heat to allow them to winter in place covered with hay bales and tarps.
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- There are about 42 species of dahlia, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. The genus Dahlia is native to the high plains of Mexico. Some species can be found in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica as well as parts of South America where it was introduced.
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- I have decorated my home with so many different dahlias this year, but there are so many still to enjoy.
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- Here at my farm, we see the first blooms in June and they last right up until the first frost. One year, we were still picking dahlias on Halloween.
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- Dahlias were first recorded by Westerners in 1615, and were then called by their original Mexican name, acoctli. The first garden dahlias reached the United States in the early 1830s. Today, dahlias are grown all over the world.
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- Dahlias vary in height, leaf color, form, and shape. This is because dahlias are octoploids, meaning they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes, whereas most plants have only two. Flowers come one head per stem. The blooms can be as small as two-inches in diameter or up to one foot across.
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- Here in the United States, dahlias are considered a perennial in hardiness zones 8 and higher. in colder regions, zones 7 and lower, dahlias are treated as annuals. We’ve been lucky here at my farm. It is in USDA hardiness zone 6b and our dahlias come back every spring.
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- The Dahlia is named after the Swedish 18th century botanist Anders Dahl, who originally declared the flower a vegetable, as the tubers are edible.
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- Dahlias come in white, shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, shades of purple, variegated and bicolor – every color but true blue.
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- Here is another white dahlia with a tinge of light pink in the center.
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- Here is one in dark burgundy. Like many flower varieties, there is also no pure black variety—only dark reds and dark purples.
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- This large bloom is burgundy with white tips. Consider their size at maturity when planting. They grow best in rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Amend heavy clay soil with aged manure or compost to lighten and loosen the texture for better drainage.
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- Dahlias also do not tolerate cold soil. Plant when the soil reaches at least 60-degrees Fahrenheit after any danger of frost has passed.
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- The majority of dahlia species do not produce scented flowers or cultivars, but they are brightly colored to attract pollinating insects.
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- This dark pink dahlia looks great in arrangements. To prevent wilting, cut only in the early morning or late afternoon. And only cut them after they open to mature size – dahlias will not open after cutting. Once cut, place the vase in a cool spot and out of direct sun. They should last about a week.
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- Dahlias are common wedding flowers, not only for their looks but also for their symbolic meaning. During the Victorian era, dahlias were a symbol of commitment and everlasting union. They are also used to represent inner strength, creativity, and elegance.
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- Another fact – before insulin, the tubers of dahlias were used to balance blood sugar due to their high fructose content. The petals were used to treat dry skin, infections, rashes, and insect bites.
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- Always wait until the foliage has turned brown before digging them up at the end of the season. This is important so that the plant can gather energy for the following year. It will store starches in the tuber which will fuel initial sprouting in summer. The best time is a couple weeks after the first frost when they’re well into dormancy yet haven’t been harmed by the cold.
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- For more blooms, one can deadhead as the flowers fade; deadheading keeps the flowers blooming for months.
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- I always enjoy visiting the dahlia garden to see what new blooms appear. There are so many different kinds of dahlias and every one of them pretty.
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