Dahlia Mary Evelyn

Plant your dahlias in the springtime in deeply worked soil enriched, for example, with crushed horn or dehydrated blood. Place your tuber in the planting hole and crumble the soil well to fill it in without any air pockets. Your dahlia should be covered with 6 cm (2in) of soil. At the end of planting, pour one litre of water. Water regularly during the first 6 weeks to aid in rooting. Dahlias are sensitive to cold. They need to be overwintered. In November, the first frosts will blacken the foliage, which is the time to dig them up. Carefully unearth the tubers. Remove as much soil as possible. Let the foliage dry so that the tuber can replenish its reserves. When the foliage is dry, cut the stems to 10 cm (4in) from the tuber. Spread your bulbs in a box on newspaper. Store away from frost in a dry, cool, and dark place.