Dahlia Berner Oberland

Plant your dahlias in the springtime in deeply worked soil enriched, for example, with blood, fish and bone. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to refill without 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 during the first six weeks to help with root development. Dahlias are sensitive to cold temperatures. 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 in a frost-free, dry, cool, and dark place.