Dahlia Anne Claire

The 'Anne Claire' decorative Dahlia is easy to cultivate in all regions. Here are some simple rules to follow to enjoy its beautiful and generous flowering. Plant the tubers in the sun after the last frost. A rich, moist, and well-drained soil will be greatly appreciated. Avoid any stagnant moisture that promotes tuber rot. Amend your soil with compost (in case of poor soil) and sand (for drainage) if necessary. Work your soil deeply and enrich it with crushed horn or dehydrated blood, as desired. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well around it to fill any air pockets. Your dahlia should be covered with about 6cm (2in) of soil. Water abundantly at planting and regularly during the first six weeks to aid rooting.

Dahlias are sensitive to cold, so they must be overwintered. In November, the first frost blackens 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 tubers can replenish their reserves. Then cut the stems to 10cm (4in). Spread your tubers in a crate on newspaper. Store them in a frost-free, dry, cool, and dark place, such as a garage or attic. In southern regions, close to the coast, which experience few freezing days per year, it is possible to leave them in place. In this case, simply cover the ground with a thick mulch (leaves, straw, etc.).

Pinch the stems early (from the 3rd or 4th week after planting) to make your dahlia more compact and branching, and therefore more resistant to bad weather (wind, rain). To do this, use your nails to cut the terminal shoots just above the previous leaves. Otherwise, you always have the option of staking, but the aesthetic result may not be the best taste.

Slugs and snails are very fond of these young shoots. Protect them!