Fuzzy Wuzzy Dahlia

Dahlias 101

Cactus flowered dahlia 'Striped Vulcan'.

There are so many different types of dahlia flowers. Some are simple with just a single layer of petals surrounding a centre of golden stamens, whilst others are packed with petals. There's many flower shapes depending on the shape and size of the petals and how they are arranged, such as pompon, catcus and dinnerplate dahlias. Plant sizes vary from dwarfs that are only a foot tall to others that grow over 6 feet. Note that the size of the plant doesn't have anything to do with the size of the flower. The Jill Pompom series has flowers only a few inches wide on plants over five feet tall. Before purchasing dahlias it's a good idea to check the size of the plant as well as the flowers. 

Striped Vulcan, with 4 to 6 inch cactus flowers with pointed petals and grows 44-52" tall.

Art Nouveau is a decorative border dahlia with 4 to 5 inch flowers that only grows to 16 inches.

Hollyhill Zarina bears 4 to 6 inch cactus flowers that grows from 4 to 6 feet.

Seattle, a dinner plate dahlia with flowers up to 8 inches that grows from 36 to 48 inches tall.

'Bishop of Dover' bears 4 inch single petal flowers that grow to 40 inches.

Dinnerplate dahlia Lucky Number, bears huge flowers up to 10 inches wide on tall plant that reach 60 inches.

Red Jill pompom dahlia grows to 48 inches with many 3 inch blooms.

Star Elite cactus dahlia with flowers from 4 to 8 inches, on 3 to 4 ft plants.

Golden Sceptre has 3 inch pompom flowers and grows 32-36" tall.

Aitara Bronwyn, a fringed (laciniate) dahlia bears 8 to 10 inch flowers on stems 4 to 6 ft tall.

Mystery Day dinnerplate dahlia grows 32-40" tall with flowers up to 10 inches wide.

Fuzzy Wuzzy is a decorative dahlia with 3 to 4 inch flowers on stems up to 40 inches.

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Care, Sun & Staking
For dahlias to be the very best they can be, plant them in well-drained moist soil, slightly acid soil (6.0 to 6.5) where they will receive at least 8 hours of direct sun per day. In hot climates, they appreciate afternoon shade. Lack of sun results in weaker plants. Stems elongate towards the light and flowers are smaller and fewer. Grow tall dahlias in protected areas away from wind. 

Most dahlias benefit from some sort of support. They have hollow brittle stems that easily bend and break under top heavy flowers. Peony and tomato rings work for some medium sized dahlias, but for anything taller, there are a few other options.

• Place a few inexpensive small wire trellises around a plant and secure them into the ground. Tie the dahlia stems to the trellises as they grow. Dollar stores have inexpensive wire ones in numerous sizes. 
• Bamboo stakes and twine are inconspicuous supports. Secure 3 or 4 bamboo stakes into the ground around the plant. Wrap sturdy twine around the bamboo stakes, the dahlia plant and a few of the stems, to secure even further.
• Or tie each stem with their own individual stake. Keep tying the the stakes as stems grow.
• Keep stakes and twine handy as stems grow and are deal with wind and rain. 

Numerous colours of the Jill dahlia series are supported by trellises.

The dwarf dahlia 'Red Pygmy', is just the right size for a border.

Lucky Number dahlias must be staked as they grow to 5 feet with heavy flowers 10 inches wide.

Dahlias make great cut flowers.

Blossoms: Dahlias blossoms are wonderful cut flowers. Select ones that are just opening up and avoid blossoms that are losing petals. Forget any tight buds as they tend not to open.

To grow huge flowers, remove all the side and top flower buds except for one on each stem. Or go for one large flower on one stem - if you dare! Don't forget to stake! 

​Remove dead flowers regularly to encourage more flowers and to tidy up the plants.

Use scissors to remove spent flowers at the base of their stem.

Planting Dahlias

• The earlier dahlias are potted up, the sooner they will flower. Start them in February and March and don’t delay if they have already sprouted.
• ​Wait to plant dahlias outside until soil temperatures reach 15°C(60°F) and the danger of frost has past.
• Divide large clumps by separating it into smaller clumps. Note that although the clumps of tubers look like a jumbled mass, attached to each stem are a circle of tubers. New plants actually form on top of each other. All you have to do is look closely for a stem that's attached to some tubers and separate it from the rest. Gently hold onto a stem and wiggle it free from the others. There's usually one spot that is joined to the mother plant. Just severe it from the mother tuberous mass with hand pruners. The result is number of tubers with at least one stem and/or a bud at the top of the tubers. 

Note that dahlias grow on top of each other.

To divide dahlia tubers easily, pull individual plants apart by tugging on the stems.

Wiggle the dahlias apart and cut where necessary.

Only tubers with a stem attached and at least one bud, will grow.

• Soak the stored tubers overnight before planting, especially if they are shriveled. They should plump up as they absorb the water.
• Discard any rotten ones or cut off any diseased parts from healthy tubers. Discard any that don't have a stem or bud at the top of the tuber as it will not grow. 
• Plant in pots using potting soil and label, with the eyes facing up.
• Cover with a 2 to 3 inches of soil and water.

Plant tubers in individual pots in early spring to hasten flowering.

Wait to plant in the garden to prevent slugs and snails from devouring the tender new foliage.

• Keep them outside in a sunny, frost free area or a heated greenhouse.
• If it’s still freezing outside, place them inside a frost free, but cool location such as a garage or basement.
• Once their leaves poke out of the soil they'll need more light. Move them outside on frost free days or supplement their lighting with grow lights.
• You can keep them outside if there is a light frost, but do cover them with a frost blanket, sheet, tablecloth etc.
• Don't forget about them as they will need to be watered and monitored. 
• Plant in the garden when the danger of frost has past. 
• Incorporate some bonemeal and compost into the soil before planting. 
• Avoid giving plants too much nitrogen so avoid growing them in soil that has lots of animal manure, and avoid high nitrogen fertilizers (1st number highest), including fish fertilizers. Too much nitrogen encourages taller, more succulent stems with fewer flowers and rot. 
• Easy on the water. Tubers are prone to rot where soils don't drain well. 
• Slugs & snails love dahlias so grow them in pots so new foliage isn't eaten. Once foliage matures, then plant them in the garden. Other solutions include copper mesh surrounding the stems at ground level, slug bait hotels and for more slug controls click here.

These dahlias are ready to plant outside.

Storing
Unless you live in a warm climate, USDA Zones 9 to 11, you should dig up dahlias and store them in a dry, dark, frost free but cool location. It’s touch and go for dahlias grown in Zone 8. Oftentimes they are fine if left in the ground overwinter, but if the winter gets too cool, too wet for too long, they will not survive. It is very disappointing when they don’t pop up in spring. There are a few other reasons why digging them up every fall and potting them up before planting them outside prevents them from being devoured by slugs and snails. It also makes it easier divide them and gives you the opportunity to redesign your garden with all your lovely dahlias.  
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Wait until frost kills the tops, or when they start to decline cut all stems back to 4 inches. Wait a week then dig them up with a garden fork and label. Knock off the soil or rinse them off with a soft spray from a garden hose. Remove any dead, diseased and damaged tubers. Place in a dry frost-free area to cure for a week. After the tubers have dried, cut back the stems to 1 inch and place into cardboard boxes that are ¼ filled with sterile dry media such as vermiculite, peat moss, sawdust or clean potting soil. Lay the labelled tubers right side up in the box without overcrowding. Dust each dahlia with a good coating of cinnamon to prevent fungi. Add the media ensuring that all the tubers are buried. Store in a cool 5 - 10°C (40-50°F), dry area such as a garage or basement. Check every monthly for any mushy or dry shriveled tubers and discard. 

DIg up dahlias after the first frost or when they begin to yellow.

Cut stems to 6 inches, wait a week, then dig up tubers with a garden fork.

Set tubers in a dry dark, frost fee place to cure for a week.

Cut stems back to an inch.

Line a cardboard box with newspaper, 1/2" of vermiculite or clean, dry potting soil, Dust with cinnamon.

Lay the dried tubers in the box without them touching each other. Dust with another layer of cinnamon.

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Cover the tubers with vermiculite.

Fully cover the tubers.

Top with a few layers of newspaper and store in a frost free but cool location.

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