Dahlia Perle d'Heemstede

Plant your dahlias during the warm days after frost in a deeply worked soil, enriched for example with crushed horn or dehydrated blood. Place your tuber in the planting hole and crumble the soil well to fill it in 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 6 weeks to help with root development. Dahlias are sensitive to cold. They need to be overwintered under shelter. In November, the first frost will blacken the foliage, this is the time to dig them up. Carefully remove 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 box on newspaper. Store away from frost in a dry, cool, and dark place.