Experiment with your dahlias

■ We had greatest success this year with the ‘Mignon Mixed’ annual dahlias that we gave away as free seeds in May.

■ I sowed and grew several plants and they flowered for months, attracting lots of bees and butterflies.

■ When I came to dig them up I noticed that many of the roots had developed into traditional dahlia tubers, which is where the plant stores the sugars necessary for growth the following year.

■ Although these were annual plants, I harvested the tubers and am overwintering them in a tray of sandy compost to re-plant next year.

■ I’ll let you know how I get on!