DAHLIA SMARTY

DAHLIA FOR THE BEES & BUTTERFLIES

These single dahlias are ideal for encouraging bees and other pollinating insects into the garden. A wonderful addition to the mixed herbaceous border, the flowers are also excellent for cut arrangements. They are excellent for pots as well as the garden. Flowering from june till late autumn providing food for bees and other insects.

GARDEN TIPS

Dahlia tubers can be planted outside after frost, or started off in pots under glass in early spring. Plant them horizontally approximately 12cm deep, making sure the 'eyes' are uppermost.

Allow enough room  between each tuber so the plants can grow and spread to their full size without being over-crowded. When  staring growth, provide a high nitrogen liquid feed each week in june, then a high potash fertilizer like our organic tomato feed every week from july to september. In mild areas, you can leave them in the ground, but protect the crown wit a generous layer of dry  mulch like straw. In colder areas like midlands and north carefully lift and clean the tubers once the first have blackened the foliage and allow then to dry