Dahlia Fire and Ice

Plant your 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 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 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 remove them. Carefully dig up the tubers. Remove as much soil as possible. Let the foliage dry 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.