Dahlias seeds planting and care. Annual dahlias from seeds and their cultivation as seedlings. Is it necessary and how to pinch dahlias “Jolly Fellows”

The dahlia can safely be called the queen of autumn flowers. This beautiful plant decorates gardens and flower beds until the first frost - at a time when their other inhabitants have already faded. Its cultivation has not only decorative, but also practical purposes - large, bright flowers attract bees, so if you plant them next to vegetable beds, pollination is guaranteed. In addition, dahlia is enough unpretentious culture, which, if you follow certain rules, is very easy to grow on your own plot.

There is a beautiful legend regarding the origin of this flower. Millions of years ago, when the Earth experienced a period of severe cold, people struggled to maintain warmth, but the last fire eventually went out. Grew up in his place beautiful flower, whose petals resembled flames. He easily survived the Ice Age, and when he returned to the planet sunlight, began to multiply, and since then has symbolized the all-conquering life force.

If we talk about scientific facts, then the birthplace of the dahlia is considered to be Central America (Peru, Chile, etc.), as well as the southern regions of the North. These flowers have been known to man since the times of the Aztecs and Mayans - the plants grown by the Indians reached six meters in height, so their stems were used as water pipes. One more thing useful property dahlias, which the aborigines knew well, is that their tubers can be eaten (although this only applies to wild plants growing in warm regions).

Dahlia seeds came to Europe in the 18th century - they were brought to Madrid as vegetable crop. However, the taste of the tubers did not impress the inhabitants of the Old World, but the beauty of the flowers won the heart of the Spanish king. Since that time, a real boom in growing this plant began. Its seeds were worth their weight in gold, and simple gardeners who grew the flower quickly became millionaires.

Description

The dahlia belongs to the Asteraceae, or Asteraceae, family. Its plants can be annual or perennial, and many gardeners prefer the first type. The fact is that this heat-loving flower cannot overwinter in the middle zone, so the tubers have to be processed and stored until the next sowing. This creates certain difficulties, since during the winter they are often affected by diseases and dry out, so growing annual dahlias is much easier.

In terms of their decorative properties, they are completely no different from their perennial counterparts. These are low (about 80-120 cm) plants, the diameter of the flowers is about 10-12 cm, and 10-15 flowers can bloom on one stem at once. They bloom in June-July and retain their bright colors until late autumn.

Popular varieties of annual dahlias

Growing dahlias begins with the choice of planting material, which depends on the wishes and preferences of the gardener. So, if you need to get the first flowers as early as possible, it is recommended to pay attention to low-growing varieties, because the taller the plant, the later it will bloom. The most popular varieties of annual dahlias include:

"Cheerful guys" This is the most widespread variety of dahlia, which can often be seen in gardens and city flower beds. It belongs to the dwarf forms, and reaches about 70 cm in height, and received its name due to the varied and bright colors of the flowers. The flowers of “Jolly Fellows” can be double or semi-double, with petals of predominantly cream, yellow and burgundy shades, the stems and leaves are elastic, bright green;
Annual dahlia “Jolly guys”
"Figaro". It is a compact plant, no higher than 30 cm in height, but its small size is more than compensated for by its many advantages. Firstly, this variety is the earliest of all annual varieties of dahlias, and, secondly, its flowers are distinguished by an unusually bright, intense color;
Dahlia "Figaro"
"Anwin's Drift Hybrids". Low, up to 60-70 cm plants with semi-double flowers of various shades. The bushes are spreading, with dense foliage, the color of which can vary from soft green to purple. Up to 10 inflorescences can bloom simultaneously on one bush;
. The plants have fairly tall (70-120 cm) stems with graceful small flowers that slightly resemble pompoms in appearance. At least 16 plants bloom simultaneously on one bush, and on some their number can reach 40. The flowers of this variety are long and well preserved, so it is especially recommended to grow it for later cutting;
"Hest Dandy". A mixture of low (35-55 cm) dahlias, which are of the collar type. Bushes are dense, with a large number foliage on which from 6 to 15 flowers can bloom at the same time. The petals have a red, crimson or purple color and a small white border inside. The variety is suitable for creating flower beds and flower borders, growing in containers and for cutting.
Variety "Dandy"

Growing seedlings

For sowing seeds, you can choose any time in early spring, the optimal period is March and early April. If you need to obtain material for subsequent reproduction, this must be done earlier.

The first stage is preparing containers for seedlings. They need to be filled with planting mixture (a sand-peat-perlite mixture is best), and small holes must be made in plastic containers.
Preparing containers for seedlings - making drainage holes
At night, the seeds are sometimes placed in warm water with the addition of aloe juice (2 to 1), but this is not necessary.
Sow the seeds in the prepared soil, sprinkling lightly on top.
Cover the container with polyethylene or glass and place in a warm, well-lit place.
The first shoots appear within two to three days, after which the coating can be removed, but do this very carefully so that the bright rays do not burn the young leaves.
After the seedlings have grown a little, they need to be transplanted into separate containers (dahlias definitely need space, otherwise they will only grow in height). For replanting, it is best to use a mixture of peat, sand or turf soil into which to transplant the sprouts, deepening them into the soil to the first lower leaves.
As soon as the young plants take root, they need to be fed with any complex fertilizer, taking half the dose recommended in the instructions.
Dahlias grow quite quickly - as soon as they become tall enough, they should be pinched at the level of the fourth leaf.

If everything is done correctly, the result of the work will be strong, strong shoots that can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Video - Sow dahlias in a snail

Transplanting seedlings

Young dahlias should be replanted after warm weather sets in, otherwise the last frost may kill the plants.

In order for the seedlings to acclimatize better, in about two weeks they need to begin to “accustom” to natural conditions. In sunny weather, it is taken out into the fresh air, first for five minutes, then for ten, gradually increasing the time the seedlings stay outside. The landing process itself is as follows:

You can plant dahlia seeds directly in open ground. This is done no earlier than the end of May - the seeds are sown, covered with film and cared for in the same way as any other annual crops. True, the first flowers in this case will appear only towards the end of summer.

Seedling care

Unlike perennial plants, caring for annuals is quite simple. As soon as the seedlings are established, they are fed with complex fertilizers and immediately watered to avoid burning the root system. Next, the planting needs to be fertilized two more times - before the flowers appear and after, and as soon as the plant blooms, you need to use fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium (fertilizers with nitrogen are recommended to be used in minimal quantities).

Plants need to be regularly hilled, weeds and faded inflorescences removed, but it is recommended to water them additionally only during dry periods - the rest of the time natural precipitation is enough for them. We must not forget that dahlias are very sensitive to low temperatures, and if late frosts are expected, it is better to cover them with a special non-woven fabric at night.

Diseases and pests

The most common diseases of annual dahlias are gray and white rot, as well as fusarium. A sign of the former are brown spots, which over time grow to large sizes, after which the damaged areas dry out and fall off. Fusarium affects exclusively the roots, as a result of which the plants rot at the very base. There are no effective measures to combat these unpleasant phenomena, so the easiest way to prevent them is: do not plant flowers in wet and swampy places, do not over-wet the soil. In addition, you should regularly inspect the planting and get rid of diseased specimens so that the disease does not spread to neighboring ones.

As for pests, aphids, slugs or bugs can settle on dahlias. They are fought with the help of insecticides, as well as the destruction of infected plants. Slugs can be driven out by scattering sawdust or red pepper between the stems - the mollusks will not be able to move along them, and will soon leave their favorite place.

Based on all of the above, we can say that growing dahlias is not a difficult, but very exciting activity. At proper care these plants will please the eye bright colors from the beginning of summer until the frosts.

Video - Growing dahlias

Dahlias are perennial plants, so you should not believe those who claim the existence of annual varieties. Although this rule does not work in our country, since in the middle zone winters are so severe that dahlias immediately die. Therefore, in our latitudes they have to be grown as annual plants.

However, even in this case, dahlias are able to remain perennials. Only needed in the fall dig up their tubers and, waiting for spring, plant them again.

Annual dahlias are one of the common plants that can be found in any flower shop. And every amateur gardener has the opportunity to choose any preferred method of growing them in the open ground - through seedlings or seeds.

Landing

The most common way for gardeners to grow annual dahlias is to plant seedlings in open ground. But first you need to choose a place where annual dahlias will grow, and carry out certain activities.

Choosing a planting site and preparing the soil

It is recommended to plant dahlia seedlings in a well-lit place, and the selected area should be dominated by soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. During preparation, it is necessary to dig up the area and at the same time add humus to the soil. To make the soil more loose, sand is added to it.

Landing Features

Experienced gardeners most often grow annual dahlias by planting them as seedlings. And they do this for a reason, because they know that in this case the first flowers will begin to bloom in June. This way the whole process can be described in two steps:

First, boxes with soil are prepared in which seedlings are grown;
When the weather is favorable, young plants are transplanted into open ground.

It is recommended to fill seeding containers with a mixture prepared from peat, sand and perlite. Before sowing seeds, it is necessary to water the soil thoroughly. If plastic containers were chosen for growing seedlings, then you need to make holes in them. After placing the seeds on the surface of the soil, they are sprinkled with a mixture of sand and soil. After this, the crops should be carefully watered with a spray bottle.

Usually the process of growing seedlings takes place without any complications. The seeds have excellent germination, and young plants quickly take root after picking.

However, it must be taken into account that watering should be moderate, otherwise, due to waterlogging of the soil, the seedlings may get sick.

You can plan to sow seeds for seedlings at different times, but it is preferable to do this between March and April.

You can increase the survival rate of seedlings if in the first days keep her with cover. To do this, you can use a special thin covering material or, as is more often practiced by most gardeners, dark plastic bottles, in which you need to make holes for air intake.

In the conditions of the central zone of our country, it is best to sow seeds in open ground at the end of May. If there is a greater delay in sowing, the first dahlia flowers will bloom no earlier than in August. After sowing, the bed must be covered with plastic film, which is not removed until the seedlings appear.

Reproduction

“Veselyye Laty” prepares seeds of annual dahlias in the fall, when they reach the maturity stage. For this pick seed pods, in which the seeds are located. They reach maturity approximately 30 days after the dahlias wither.

The collected seeds must be placed in a cool, dry place to dry. After this, they need to be poured into paper packages and stored in them until spring.

Care

Annual dahlias are unpretentious plants, so they can easily do without feeding. Therefore, even if they are planted on infertile soil, even here, without special care, they will be able to please the gardener with no less abundant flowering, as when grown in areas rich in organic matter.

However, there is one requirement that every gardener should be aware of: moisture stagnation is unacceptable in the place chosen for planting dahlias, so if necessary, you will have to increase the moisture permeability of the soil.

Dahlias do not need to be watered too often; their need for water increases only on dry days.

Pest and disease control

Dahlias "Jolly Fellows" are no different from other flower plants, so it is necessary to constantly monitor their condition in order to promptly identify signs of damage from diseases and pests.

The use of dahlias in landscape design

Dahlias “Jolly Fellows” are in high demand as ornamental plants, with the help of which such elements are decorated landscape design, How flower beds and ridges. Often used as part of group plantings consisting of plants of different varieties. Dahlias, which are grown as single plants, look no less impressive.

To decorate borders, ribbons and small ridges, low-growing varieties of dahlias are most often used, since these are the plants that do not create shade for each other. These flowers look attractive when planted in tubs or flower pots.

Conclusion

Almost every domestic gardener is familiar with dahlias. These bulbs are very popular in our country due to their pronounced decorative properties. AND they can be grown in almost any area. Due to their unpretentiousness, they practically do not require special care, so you can use almost any free space to create a flower bed with dahlias.

Most often, they are grown using the seedling method, which allows them to wait for flowering in the first year after transplantation. However, it must be borne in mind that in our climate, dahlias cannot be grown in the usual way, so they need to be dug up in the fall and stored indoors until spring.

Beautiful dahlias

Dahlia- a flower that Russian flower growers love very much. This is an unpretentious, beautifully flowering plant that deserves a special place in every area.

Dahlias are perennial and annual. Perennials reproduce by tubers, which have to be planted every spring and dug up in the fall, but that’s not all, these tubers must be stored in certain conditions so as not to spoil. If all this red tape doesn’t suit you, then real salvation is annual dahlia.

Annual dahlia is the same dahlia, but does not require the above-described manipulations with tubers. Such dahlias reproduce by seeds.

The homeland of the dahlia is South America . When this plant was brought to Europe, it was used in cooking. And only in 1815, thanks to the efforts of Belgian gardeners, this plant received the status garden flower. Since then, breeders from all over the world have begun to work on creating different varieties and species of this flower plant, and now there are more than ten thousand species.

Choosing varieties of annual dahlias

Annual dahlias are short and medium-sized, therefore, it is worth paying attention to this. Low-growing ones are planted in mixborders in the foreground or background, and they can also be used in monoflower beds; by the way, such flower beds with dahlias look great. Medium-sized ones are used for planting in the middle ground.
Low-growing varieties of dahlias bloom earlier. And this must be taken into account.

Annual dahlia flowers vary in color, petal shape and fullness. Flowers can also be large or small. Joint plantings of different varieties and types of dahlias look very good.

We sow the seeds of an annual dahlia for seedlings

At all, sowing dahlia seeds You can immediately plant it in open ground, but then the plant will bloom only in August. Therefore, if you want to get beautiful flowers much earlier, you need to sow seeds for seedlings. This needs to be done from the end of February to the end of March - beginning of April.

Seeds are sown in a box with soil prepared in advance. The soil can be taken from the site or bought at the store, universal or special for flower crops. It is advisable to calcine the soil in the oven and sprinkle it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate - these procedures will prevent diseases that are dangerous for seedlings. The seeds themselves do not need to be processed, but you can soak them in a growth regulator or complex mineral fertilizer - this will speed up seed germination and make the seedlings stronger.

Seeds are sown in small containers filled with prepared soil. The seeds should not be placed too close, the ideal is 2-3 centimeters from each other. The seeds are planted shallowly, only 1-1.5 centimeters.

For the fastest germination of seeds, the container with seeds is covered with plastic film. A greenhouse effect is created, which allows you to create the ideal temperature for germination: 22-25 degrees. The box is placed in a warm place.

Seedlings appear in six to seven days. The main thing is not to miss this moment and open the film in time. Otherwise, the seedlings will not have enough light, and they will begin to stretch out, or they may simply rot due to excess moisture and condensation.

Picking annual dahlia seedlings

The seedlings dive when the second true leaf appears. They are planted one at a time in separate pots. The pots should be 10-12 centimeters in height - this will allow the root system to develop well. In order to avoid damaging the roots when transplanting into open ground, the pots must be peat. In general, picking is simply necessary if you want your dahlias to bloom as quickly as possible, because picked seedlings form the first bud at the end of May.

How to care for annual dahlia seedlings?

High-quality seedlings can only be obtained with good care. Only strong plants will withstand all the difficulties that await them in the open ground.

Initially, you need to provide the seedlings with enough light, otherwise the plants will simply begin to stretch out, thereby weakening.

Also, the place where the seedling box is located must be regularly ventilated, but without creating drafts.

It is necessary to ensure that the humidity level is maintained. Carry out regular watering. It is better if a spray bottle is used for this purpose - this will prevent soil erosion. But stagnation of water is also unacceptable. Therefore, you need to water only when the soil dries out.

Two weeks after the emergence of seedlings, they need to be fed with a universal fertilizer for seedlings or a special one for seedlings of flower crops, then this procedure is repeated, but only once a week.

In order to dahlia seedlings planted in open ground have not died, they need to be hardened off. You can start hardening from the end of April. To do this, the pots with seedlings are taken out for 5 minutes into a room with a temperature of 12-15 degrees. The time is gradually increased.

Planting annual dahlia seedlings in open ground

Annual dahlia seedlings

Plant prepared annual dahlia seedlings in open ground only possible when the soil will warm up well and the threat of frost will pass. In the central and southern regions - this is mid-May, in Siberia dahlias are planted V early June.

To annual dahlias If you are pleased with their abundant flowering, you need to take care of the choice of planting material for planting them. Dahlias Very love warmth, light and sun, therefore they need to be planted in well-lit places. Annual dahlias can withstand a little shade, but with significant shade the plant looks sick and weak, blooms poorly, and the flowers themselves become small and stunted.

Another condition for abundant flowering is good, nutritious soil. The plant does not make any special soil requirements for gardeners, but it would not hurt to create drainage.

Before planting dahlia seedlings in open ground, they are watered generously and waited for two hours. This method will reduce damage to the root system, and therefore shorten the survival period.

How to care for an annual dahlia in open ground?

Dahlia annual- This plant is unpretentious, but it also requires attention and care.

Watering. Dahlia does not like stagnant moisture, so watering should be moderate as the soil dries. You need to water with warm water at the root early in the morning or late in the evening - this way you will protect your plants from sunburn and don't let them cook.

Feeding. Like all flowering plants, annual dahlia requires additional feeding. You can feed with special complex fertilizers and growth regulators. Particularly many nutrients are required during flowering. During this period, potassium fertilizers are applied once a week and phosphorus fertilizers are applied once every two weeks.

Also, we must not forget about constant weeding and loosening.

Varieties of annual dahlia

Variety of annual dahlia “Jolly Guys”

This plant has a huge number of varieties and species, so every gardener will find something suitable for himself.

Most Popular a type of annual dahlia is “Jolly fellows”. Plants of this species are small: up to 70 centimeters in height. The flowers are single-row, non-double, but very brightly colored, which makes these flowers cute. The flowering period is very long: from June to September-October (or even November).

There are also semi-double, double, cactus-shaped, pom-pom, spherical flowers. Each species has an unimaginable number of colors.

Annual dahlia is a plant that deserves special attention. Its unpretentiousness, long flowering, variety of shapes and shades make this annual flower one of the best to grow in your garden. This plant will go well with almost any annuals and perennials. The annual dahlia will not get lost even among asters and petunias.

Great( 8 ) Badly( 1 )

Choosing a variety 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 preserve tubers.
Dahlias in garden design.

Growing annual dahlias is not difficult at all. Even inexperienced flower growers will be able to plant and care for these annuals. In addition, growing annual dalias has its own advantages:

Unlike perennial varieties of dahlias, annual varieties grow well from seeds. The difficult task of digging up and storing tubers until spring is eliminated. It is enough to buy seeds of the type you like and plant them in the spring.
Growing seedlings allows you to get flowering plants as early as June.
The flowering of annual varieties is lush and long-lasting (lasts until frost).
The cost of dahlia seeds is much cheaper than tubers, and more plants can be grown.

What are the differences between varieties of annual dahlias?

Depending on the variety, annual dahlias vary 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 taller varieties.
The shape of the inflorescences can be simple, semi-double, double, cactus, or pompom.

On the seed bags, the manufacturer gives a description of the variety, sowing and flowering dates. Based on this information, it is easy to select the desired variety depending on the planting location. For growing annual dahlias on the balcony, in pots and flowerpots, and for decorating borders and the foreground of mixborders, dwarf varieties are suitable, which are distinguished by early and intense flowering on compact bushes.

Popular varieties of low-growing dahlias: Merry guys, Figaro, Dandy, Bambino, Vasilisa, Piccolo, etc.

Taller dalias can be planted in flower beds and mixborders, in ridges, along fences and walls. Medium-sized annual dahlias: Bright pom-poms, Cactus mixture.

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. Dalia grow better on light, breathable, neutral or slightly acidic soils. Pre-planting land preparation can be carried out in autumn or spring. Add rotted manure, humus, and compost to the area under the dahlias. Coarse sand and ash will help improve the structure of heavy soil.

When to plant. When determining the sowing time, you need to take into account that sprouts appear within a week. Therefore, you can plant seeds in open ground when there is no threat of frost.

Landing. The seeds are buried 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 side by side at a time. Subsequently, if the shoots are amicable, you can leave one, the strongest plant, and transplant the rest to another place.
Water the crops, mulch them or cover them with film to retain moisture.

Growing seedlings of annual dahlias

Growing annual dalias 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 in a layer of up to 5-7 cm. You can buy ready-made soil or prepare it yourself by mixing 2 parts of turf soil with 1 part humus and 1 part sand. Instead of sand, perlite or vermiculite is sometimes added.

We sow seeds. Before sowing, it is advisable to spill the soil 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. Carefully water the crops and cover with film. In a warm, bright place, seedlings will appear in 5-7 days.

How to care for seedlings. As soon as the sprouts hatch, the film must be removed and good lighting and an optimal temperature of about 20 degrees must be provided. If there is not enough light, you need to organize additional lighting. In poor lighting, the seedlings become very elongated.

Watering should be moderate as the soil dries. Dahlias cannot tolerate waterlogging, which can lead to the development of a disease called blackleg.

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

Two weeks after picking, the seedlings can be fed with complex fertilizer. After ten days, repeat feeding. Fertilize 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 and the bushes will be more lush.

Planting dahlias in open ground

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

The area for planting dalia should be sunny with light fertile soil. You can add humus or compost to the planting hole and mix it with soil. Water the seedlings well two hours before planting. Plants should be transferred to the planting hole together with a lump of earth so as not to injure the roots. This way the bushes will take root faster.

The distance between plants depends on the variety. For low-growing dahlias, the gap is 30 cm, for taller species - 50 cm. Water the planted plants and mulch them.

Caring for annual dahlias

Annual dahlias are undemanding in care, which consists of watering, weeding and fertilizing.

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 to twice a week. After watering, it is advisable to mulch the soil. Mulching helps retain moisture longer, and a crust does not form on the soil surface.

Weeding

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

Top dressing

At the beginning of the growing season, our dahlias need nitrogen to grow green mass. Therefore, if organic fertilizers were not added to the planting hole when planting seedlings, you can feed the plants with mullein infusions (2 liters of infusion per 10 liters of water). Fertilize a week after transplantation. The day before applying fertilizer, the flowers should be watered.

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

With an excess of nitrogen, dahlia bushes begin to “fatten”, i.e. increase green mass to the detriment 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 ripening seeds and begins to produce new buds.

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

Growing dahlias in pots and flowerpots

Dwarf varieties are excellent for growing annual dahlias in pots and flowerpots. 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 developed, convenient for growing in pots and containers, which grow as a low compact bush with abundant flowering.

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

Before planting, it is advisable to spill 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 of more frequent watering, fertilizing, and timely removal of faded heads. Fertilizers are applied after watering once every two weeks. It is convenient to use complex liquid fertilizers. In August, all feeding is stopped.

In the fall, before frost sets in, dahlias can be brought into a warm room, and they will delight you with their flowering for some time.

How to preserve tubers

Annual dahlias grown through seedlings, under good conditions, manage to form tubers within a season. In the fall, 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.

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

You can collect the seeds yourself, leaving a few faded baskets until they dry completely. But dahlias grown from such seeds will most likely be different from the mother plant.

Annual dahlias in garden design

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

Dahlias go well in flower beds and mixborders with delphinium, phlox, and lobelia. Asters, cosmos and zinnias in suitable colors can also make pleasant company.

Cactus-shaped and pompom dahlias, growing up to 1 m tall, will look good in the background of a flower bed or mixborder. You can plant decorative sunflowers next to them.

Dwarf varieties are suitable for decorating borders, borders and the foreground of mixborders. An excellent addition to them would be low-growing marigolds and marigolds with their yellow-orange color palette.
Dahlias planted in pots and flowerpots can be placed on terraces and verandas, near garden benches and gazebos.

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, cutworm caterpillars, slugs and snails love to feast on the juicy green shoots and delicate petals of annual dalias.
To protect your flowers from diseases and pests, it is important to follow the growing rules and carry out preventive plant treatments.

Interesting video about caring for annual dahlias

Is it possible to store tubers of annual dahlias?

Actually, growing annual dahlias is not particularly difficult; by autumn they grow small bulbs (tubers), and then the question arises: how can they be stored in winter for planting next year? After all, the color you like may not come out of the seeds next year, since the shade of the flowers is not transmitted by the seeds.

The most popular varieties of annual dahlias:

“Jolly guys” - bushes of this variety reach 90 cm in height. The flowers bloom large and not double.
"Minion mischung" bush height is 50 cm, blooms with small, non-double flowers.
"Rigolleto" - bush height 50 cm, blooming buds are semi-double and small in diameter.

It is, of course, possible to preserve the root of a bush you like, but this will require certain skills, since annual plants are more difficult to preserve in winter due to their too small tubers. And because of their small size, they quickly lose moisture. Therefore, we need to find a storage method in which thin tubers will feel good.

IMPORTANT! The place and method are selected so that thin tubers do not lose moisture and remain hard and elastic.

How to preserve tubers of annual dahlias until spring?

Annual dahlias are stored in the same way as perennial dahlias, but to avoid large drops of tubers, you need to carefully monitor the humidity in the place where the tubers are stored. Therefore, when digging up dahlias, the tubers are divided into 3-4 groups and they try to preserve these groups in various available ways, choosing for them what will be best for them in the conditions of the grower’s specific place of residence. Even storage in the basement will work well in one case, but in another case the tubers will die. This depends on various parameters:

basement temperature in winter;
from humidity;
from too dry air at elevated temperatures.

IMPORTANT! Select a storage location for tubers by experimenting with different places and methods, which is why they divide the tubers into different groups in order to decide in one winter period without large falls of rhizomes.

Digging up dahlias

Before you start storing tubers, you need to dig them up correctly. At the first sub-zero temperatures, the foliage and stems of the plant turn black and must be cut off, leaving a stump no more than 5 cm high above the ground; this is done during a period when there is no rain, so that the main stem of the plant does not begin to rot.

When digging a bush, you need to dig it up from all sides so as not to damage the thin roots and only then remove everything from the ground. Having dug up the rhizome, shake off the soil and remove spoiled tubers so that they do not damage the rest.

IMPORTANT! The tubers that have been selected for storage are washed well in warm water and soaked for a couple of hours in a pink solution of potassium manganese. This is a procedure for disinfecting tubers.

Methods for storing annual dahlias

Storing tubers in the basement– to prevent thin tubers from drying out, you will need cardboard boxes and sand. Sand can be replaced with sawdust. First of all, the basement must have certain conditions during the winter:

Air humidity should be 60%.
The air temperature should be within +3-5 degrees.

A 4 cm layer of sawdust or sand is poured into the bottom of the box, and dahlia tubers are laid out in one layer in such a way that they do not touch each other. There can be up to 5 such layers in a box, the main thing is that the height of the box itself allows it. After which the boxes are lowered into the cellar.

IMPORTANT! It is more convenient to store in one layer, as it is easier to check the safety of the tubers.

Can annual dahlias be made perennial?

Since the birthplace of this beautiful perennial flower is Mexico, the plant cannot survive the conditions of our winters on its own. And therefore he needs to be overexposed until the onset of stable heat. Therefore, if you save the resulting tubers until spring, the annual dahlias will become perennial. Of course, provided that the gardener has the desire and a place where he can preserve the thin tubers of annual dahlias.

The appearance of tubers in annual dahlias

Annual dahlias, if well cared for in nutritious and loose soil, can grow tubers by autumn. Don’t be surprised, you should try to save them until the next warm season, and then they will delight your lush flowering almost a month earlier from seed-planted annual dahlias.

While the autumn favorites, perennial dahlias, hold their unshakable position, annual dahlias are beginning to regain their former popularity. Easy to grow and unpretentious, these “alternative” dahlias allow you to grow a colorful addition to your garden and potted arrangements with minimal effort. Growing dahlias from seeds, allowing you to admire the annual form of your loved one garden plant, even beginners can do it. After all, this is one of the simplest crops to sow for seedlings and soil.

Features of propagation of dahlias by seeds

Confusion with the classification of dahlias often leads to the fact that annual dahlias are considered one or more separate species of the genus Dahlia. In fact, it is more about a special method of cultivation and agricultural technology. Annual dahlias are any dahlias that are grown from seeds and are not stored for the winter., but are cultivated purely as annual plants, the same garden or variable dahlias that are grown by digging up for the winter in a perennial crop. Species dahlias are almost never found in cultivation today, and even if dahlias were bred specifically for growing from seeds, we are talking about complex hybrids, the origin of which is almost impossible to determine. But as a result of long-term selection of small plants better suited for growing in pots and containers, annual dahlias clearly stand out from their long-term competitors in their abundance, duration of flowering and their compact size.

Annual dahlias (on packages with seeds may be designated simply as Dahlia, Dahlia hybrids, Dahlia x hybridum, Dahlia cultorum, Dahlia pinnata or the outdated synonym Dahlia variabilis) are quite powerful, but not large, beautifully flowering herbaceous plants. Their roots are thickened, fleshy, and even when grown from seeds, tuberous “cones” are formed at the end of the season. Most modern varieties have heights ranging from 20 to 50 cm, although large selection seeds allows you to find higher options. Dahlias are characterized by branched, hollow inside, straight and rigid stems. The leaves are dense, arranged oppositely, large, pinnate or entire, broadly lanceolate or diamond-shaped with a sparsely serrated “toothed” edge. Edge is an optional but common characteristic of dahlia leaves. The color of the leaves varies depending on the variety, but is usually quite bright. Typical inflorescence baskets for representatives of the genus Dahlia (Dahlia) consist of large reed and small tubular flowers. The degree of flower terry, color, and size vary depending on the varietal characteristics.

Annual dahlias bloom from mid-summer, continuing their parade until they suffer from the first severe frosts. From sowing to flowering, a period of at least 50-60 days usually passes. It is worth paying attention to the duration of the growing season and flowering dates. special attention: despite the fact that annual dahlias have a tendency for shorter forms to flower earlier and taller ones to bloom later, in modern varieties this rule is sometimes violated.

All annual dahlias reproduce in the same way. Today it is customary to divide dahlias into dwarf or balcony varieties and “regular” or garden dahlias. The name of the legendary variety “Jolly Fellows” has long become synonymous with any annual dahlias, but the range is far from limited to this variety mixture. Representatives of different varieties, groups and classes of dahlias do not differ from each other in the technique of growing from seeds.

Methods for growing annual dahlias:

Sowing into the soil.
Sowing seedlings

Self-collection of dahlia seeds and their choice for sowing

Abundant fruiting is one of the reasons why annual dahlias are considered easy to grow and “budget” plants, an excellent alternative to a perennial crop. After flowering is completed, the fruit achenes ripen, from which, after drying, a generous harvest of seeds can be obtained. And although they will produce offspring with a wide range of characteristics and will not allow exactly preserving the characteristics of the mother plant, self-collection of seeds is still very popular.

On average, you can collect seeds from bushes a month after the flower heads have finished flowering, cutting off the achenes whole. Dry the dahlia baskets in a ventilated and dry place at normal room temperatures. You can remove the seeds only after the achene is completely dry.

Dahlia seeds can also be stored at room temperatures. Heat and high humidity, as well as light, are indicators from which they should be protected. Dahlia seeds are perfectly preserved in simple paper bags.

When buying dahlia seeds in a store, you should pay attention to three parameters:

On the doubleness of the inflorescences.
Coloring nuances.
To the height of the plants (the higher the variety, the longer the growing season and the more limited possibilities its use in garden design).

Dahlias can hardly be called elite plants; their seeds are available and found everywhere. In choosing quality seeds, it is enough to exercise the usual care. If you are buying rare varieties and mixtures of varieties or new varieties, then it is better to choose producers who have proven themselves with other new plants. When choosing seeds, pay close attention to the recommended uses, especially if you want to grow dahlias in borders or containers rather than in beds.

Sowing dahlias in the soil

Despite the later subsequent flowering, sowing dahlia seeds directly at the growing site remains the most popular, and, perhaps, the most in a simple way growing annual dahlias. By simplifying the growing process as much as possible, the option of sowing dahlias in the soil allows you to obtain adapted, strong dahlias that bloom towards the end of summer, well adapted to the conditions of the growing location. In the middle zone, this method requires a more careful selection of varieties with the shortest growing season, which can bloom 2 months after sowing (otherwise, flowering may be very late, and you may not enjoy it at all).

When choosing a place for annual dahlias, it is worth remembering their extreme sun tolerance. Warm, sunny, protected areas will allow these plants to fully reveal their beauty. Annual dahlias will not die in partial shade, but abundant, long-lasting flowering can only be observed in bright areas. Dahlias grow best in nutritious, high-quality loams, but they also adapt very well to other slightly acidic or neutral, loose, fertile soils. The main thing is to prepare the site for sowing in advance by adding organic (compost, but not manure) and mineral fertilizers, wood ash to the soil, and thoroughly treating the soil.

The timing of sowing in the ground is determined only by weather conditions.. Dahlias are cold-resistant, but still not frost-resistant, so there is no need to rush to sow them into the soil. Traditionally, dahlias are sown in May, in favorable weather - at the beginning or middle of the month, in the middle zone - in the third decade. It is better to focus on forecasts for each individual season and wait until stable warm weather sets in.

There is nothing complicated about sowing dahlias:

The surface of the “bed” for sowing dahlias is leveled. Shallow grooves are created at a distance of 20-30 cm. In a small area, sowing can be done in individual holes located at the optimal distance for the selected variety.
Dahlia seeds are laid out sparsely in prepared rows. Place 2-3 seeds in the holes.
The seeds are carefully covered with soil and the bed is watered abundantly.
If possible, cover the dahlia crops from above with a film, which will prevent the soil from drying out, speed up germination and protect young shoots. As soon as friendly sprouts appear, the shelter is removed.
The seedlings are allowed to strengthen and grow for 2–3 weeks.

Unlike many annual plants, it is not at all necessary to thin out dahlia seedlings in the classical sense, with the removal of weak plants. Excess plants can be transplanted and used as seedlings without losing a single seedling. Of course, if there are too many seeds and there is no need to preserve the plants, then you can simply pull out the excess seedlings.

Growing dahlia seedlings

Dahlias in annual culture are often called too simple a plant to complicate your garden life by growing their seedlings. After all, even when grown by sowing directly into the soil, dahlias bloom magnificently and live up to their autumn reputation. But if you want to get more early flowering, starting not in August, but in July or even June, to enjoy full, long-lasting flowering in the conditions of the middle zone, or have acquired rare varieties that have special value and prospects, then you can use the classic seedling method.

Soil and containers for sowing dahlias

Dahlias are traditionally sown in large, low containers or boxes. Drainage holes are required. You can sow not in pots or containers, but in the soil of greenhouses or greenhouses.

For growing dahlia seedlings, any universal substrate suitable for growing vegetable and flower seedlings is suitable. A light, loose and medium-nutrient soil mixture with high water permeability can be mixed independently. Peat with sand in a ratio of 3 to 1 is also suitable for sowing seeds (but not for diving). It is better to further disinfect the soil before sowing seeds. In addition to the substrate, for growing dahlia seedlings it is better to prepare drainage in advance (at least calcined sand).

Sowing dahlia seeds

Dahlia seeds for seedlings are sown in April, in a favorable sunny spring, or (when it is possible to provide additional light to the seedlings) - during March. Earlier sowing carries the risk of plant loss due to lack of light.

Before sowing, dahlia seeds, especially those collected independently, are best treated with fungicides. They can be soaked for several hours in a warm solution of potassium permanganate or treated for 10 minutes in a weak solution of aloe juice or any systemic fungicide. After pre-planting treatment, dahlia seeds must be dried by spreading them on paper or a napkin.

There is nothing complicated about sowing itself:

If the container is not low or the drainage holes are small, add a layer of drainage to the bottom of the container. The containers are filled with prepared soil, without compacting it, but carefully leveling it and moistening it with a spray bottle.
The seeds are carefully laid out on the surface of the soil, trying to leave a distance sufficient to ensure that the roots of individual plants are not damaged during the dive (from 3 to 4 cm). The seeds are sprayed again with a fine spray bottle.
The seeds are covered on top with a thin layer of soil or sand (thickness from 3 to 5 mm). It is better to use sifted substrate.
The containers are covered with glass or film on top.

Conditions for germination of dahlia seeds

It is advisable to place containers with sown dahlia seeds in the brightest light possible. Shoots will appear at normal room temperatures, but in hot conditions, at an air temperature of 25 degrees, the first shoots appear within 5-6 days.

The containers are ventilated daily until the first shoots appear. The cover from the seedlings is gradually removed.

Growing dahlia plants

Fast-growing dahlias require regular watering to maintain stable soil moisture. You need to spray the seedlings carefully, since excessive dampness can lead to the loss of seedlings as a result of the spread of diseases. For dahlias, it is necessary to maintain the brightest possible lighting.

Picking dahlia seedlings and caring for young plants

Thanks to active growth, dahlia seedlings can be picked within 10-15 days after the first shoots appear. It is better to plant dahlia seedlings into individual containers. If possible, these plants use peat pots or containers that can be removed from the plant without destroying the earthen ball. Diving is carried out at the stage of 2 - 3 true leaves, trying not to contact the roots. If the seedlings are elongated, you can deepen them to the first (cotyledon) leaves. After transplanting, it is advisable to water the seedlings with weak solutions of fungicide to prevent diseases.

Caring for young dahlia seedlings comes down to regular, careful watering to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged or completely dry out. Dahlias are usually not fertilized, but to speed up adaptation before transplanting, you can add a growth and rooting accelerator to the water for irrigation. If plants are grown for a potted garden, then you can start fertilizing as early as the second or third week after planting to accelerate growth and flowering. Pinching the tops helps stimulate the growth of side shoots. For container culture, pinching is carried out over 4–5 pairs of leaves. The stepsons of annual dahlias are not removed.

Hardening of dahlia seedlings

For dahlias, it is important to first adapt the plants to the abundance of fresh air and conditions in the garden. Seedlings are hardened off for at least 1-2 weeks, starting to take the plants out into the fresh air during the day from the beginning of May.

Transplanting dahlias into soil and containers

You can transfer annual dahlias to the garden, plant them in balcony compositions, potted gardens or in the soil when severe return frosts have disappeared. It is not necessary to wait until June for this summer plant: replanting can begin as soon as the soil warms up to 10 degrees Celsius. Usually, plants brought out in the first two decades of May, if they have been hardened off for 2 to 3 weeks, feel very good in the garden and quickly resume growth. Of course, you always need to adjust the recommendations you receive based on the weather.

When planting seedlings of annual dahlias, maintain a sufficiently large distance between the bushes. Plants are constantly growing, and even for containers it is worth leaving a distance of 20-60 cm, depending on the maximum height of the variety itself. For “continuous” plantings, it is better if the distance between plants does not exceed 40 cm, but it is always better to calculate the minimum distance yourself: should it be? expected height of the bushes.

Planting in the soil is always carried out in individual holes with a depth of 20 to 30 cm. If possible, it is better to mix the excavated soil with complete mineral, organic fertilizers (except for fresh manure) and a small amount of wood ash. If the soil is heavy or too light, its composition can be adjusted. Dahlia seedlings do not tolerate replanting very well; it is better to minimize contact with the roots. If the plants are removed from the containers, the seedlings should be watered abundantly before planting. Plants are placed in holes, leaving the root collar flush with the soil or slightly deeper for elongated plants. Complete planting with abundant watering. Mulching after planting allows you to speed up the adaptation process and simplify care for both container and ground dahlias. To protect against return frosts, it is better to prepare non-woven materials to cover plants if necessary.

Caring for young dahlia plants

Potted and container annual dahlias, especially in the first months after planting, require careful care. For them, it is necessary to provide systemic watering, maintaining a consistently high substrate humidity, but avoiding excessive dampness. Fertilizing is carried out with a standard frequency for summer growers - once every 2-3 weeks, using complex fertilizers or alternating organic and mineral supplements. On hot days, spraying with warm water will help keep dahlias fresh look And beautiful leaves until the end of the season.

After planting in the soil, it is also better for dahlias to maintain stable humidity, avoiding prolonged drying out of the soil and providing maintenance watering during drought. In the future, it is enough to water only when there is not enough rainfall or on particularly hot days. Fertilizing for plants on fertile soils may not be necessary, but 2-3 such procedures during the summer will allow dahlias to bloom more luxuriantly (they are carried out 2-3 weeks after transplantation, at the budding stage and a month after the start of flowering). It is better to avoid excess fertilizer in the soil, because excessive fertilizing will cause the growth of greenery to the detriment of flowering. From the first month of planting, it is worth taking care of two more components of caring for annual dahlias:

Loosening the soil, which is best done after each watering or heavy rainfall.
Weed control.

For both potted and annual dahlias growing in the ground, watering should be reduced in early autumn, carrying out careful water procedures if necessary and avoiding waterlogging of the soil. The last feeding for annual dahlias is carried out in August.

Removing spent heads, unless you want to collect seeds from them for the next season, allows you to extend flowering for a longer period. Pruning for annual dahlias is not carried out even after planting in open ground.

Growing perennial dahlias from seeds

Annual dahlias do not have to be thrown away. If you like a certain variety, you notice the interesting color or shape of the flowers of individual plants, then you can dig them up and save them, planting them next season as perennial dahlias that overwinter outside the soil. The main secret of transforming an annual dahlia into a perennial one is to dig up the tubers in time. Selected plants should not be left in the ground until they may die from frost. At the end of September or beginning of October, the root cones of the plants are carefully dug out, carefully dried, cleaned and stored in a cool place, along with “adult” perennial dahlias. Due to their modest size, tubers of “annuals” are prone to drying out, so they should be checked more often during storage, while at the same time avoiding places with very low air humidity. For better preservation, it is preferable to choose plants obtained through seedlings. After all, they form larger and stronger tubers than dahlias sown in the soil.

If the first wintering is successful, the tubers are treated in the same way as ordinary dahlias. The rhizomes of annual dahlias, which are still small, can be used for forcing, for potting, and for growing in soil in a regular perennial crop. They are planted at the same time as regular dahlia tubers.

The seed propagation method can be used “not by chance”, but in the selection of varieties to replenish the collection of non-double dahlias or obtain large quantity planting material at minimal cost.