Dahlias: the Divas of August

    Dahlias are the great divas of the August garden.

Just when vegetation is moving into the dry, exhausted slump of summer, these blowsy blossoms make their dramatic entrance.

With bold colours and shocking forms, I first fell in love with dahlias at a Calgary farmer's market. A retired teacher had planted a field of dahlias and brought buckets of these stunning flowers to market. He convinced me to try growing my own.

In spite of their showy attributes, dahlias' requirements are minimal:  start indoors in March, then move to a sunny location and water when needed. That's it.

To store over winter, let potted begonias mature by withholding water after the first hard frost. Dig them up leaving a small stem and remove as much soil as possible. Turn tubers upside down to drain the stems and allow the soil to dry.   Write the name/colour right on the tuber with a permanent marker, place in dry peat moss or vermiculite and leave in a cool, dark place.

Come spring, these Carmen Mirandas will be ready to prepare for another dramatic appearance on the late summer stage. Bravo!

   The gardener's guide to growing dahlias / by Rowlands, Gareth.