I'm planning to plant some dahlias in the garden when I can, but how do you take care of them? do you have to take the bulbs out before winter, or can you leave them in the ground?
Inbal Bland (01.08.07)
Val: Dahlias are very easy to grow. You can start the tubers off in a pot to make sure they're growing before you put them out in the garden. Plant them out in a sunny spot with nice moist soil.
If you live in the southern part of the UK you shouldn't need to lift them over winter if recent winters are anything to go by. The biggest risk is slug damage as the new shoots emerge in spring, so mark the plant's position with a cane and be prepared to fight back.
If you're in the north, you can lift the plants in late autumn, after the first frost has caused the foliage to die down. Cut the stems down to about 15cm (6in) and leave the tubers upside down for a few days so the stem can't bleed back into the tuber (which can cause rotting). Store them in a frost-free place and make sure they don't dry out completely. Replant in spring.
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