Collection of Oriental Spice Dahlias

Plant your dahlias once all risk of frost has passed. Plant in deeply worked soil enriched with crushed horn or dehydrated blood, for example. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to fill it up without causing any air pockets. Your dahlia should be covered with 6cm (2in) of soil. At the end of planting, pour one litre of water over the soil. Water regularly for the first 6 weeks to aid rooting. Dahlias are sensitive to cold, so they need to be overwintered. In November, the first frosts will darken 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 10cm (4in) from the tuber. Spread your bulbs in a box on a newspaper. Store in a frost-free, dry, cool, and dark place.