Dahlia Gallery De la Tour

Plant your dahlias during the fine weather in deeply worked soil enriched, for example, with crushed horn or dehydrated blood. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to fill without 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 during the first 6 weeks to help with rooting. Dahlias are sensitive to cold, so they need to be overwintered. In November, the first frosts will blacken the foliage, indicating it's time to dig them up. Carefully remove the tubers. Remove as much soil as possible. Let the foliage dry, so the tuber can replenish its reserves. When the foliage is dry, cut the stems to 10 cm (4in) from the tuber. Spread your bulbs out in a box on newspaper. Store in a frost-free, dry, cool, and dark place.