Dahlia Grand Prix

Plant your 'Grand Prix' dahlias during the warm days in deeply worked soil enriched, for example, with blood, fish and bone. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to fill without air pockets. Your dahlia should be covered with 6 cm (2in) of soil. At the end of planting, pour a litre of water. Water regularly for the first six weeks to aid in rooting. Dahlias are sensitive to cold. They need to be overwintered. In November, the first frosts will blacken the foliage, signalling it's time to dig them up. Carefully remove the tubers. Remove as much soil as possible. Let the foliage dry out so that the tuber can replenish its reserves. Cut the stems 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.