Dahlia Classic Swanlake

Plant your dahlias during the warmer days in soil that has been deeply worked and enriched, for example, with bonemeal.  Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to fill without any air pockets. Your dahlia should be covered with 6 cm (2in) of soil. At the end of planting, add one litre of water. Water regularly during the first 6 weeks to help with rooting. Dahlias are sensitive to the cold. They need to be overwintered. In November, the first frost will blacken the foliage, which is the time to uproot them. Carefully dig up 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 10 cm (4in) from the tuber. Spread your bulbs in a crate on newspaper. Store in a frost-free, dry, cool, and dark place.