Dahlia Orfeo

Plant your 'Orfeo' dahlias in the spring in deeply worked soil enriched, for example, with blood, fish and bone. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to fill removing 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 for the first six weeks to help with rooting. Dahlias are sensitive to cold. They need to be overwintered. In November, the first frost will blacken the foliage, which is the time to dig them up. Carefully remove the tubers, taking off as much soil as possible. Let the foliage dry so that the tuber can replenish its reserves. Cut the stems to 10 cm (4in) from the tuber when the foliage is dry. Spread your bulbs in a box of newspaper. Store away from frost in a dry, cool, and dark place.