DAHLIAS TOP THE

COLOUR CHARTS

My dahlias have really benefited from the high rainfall we had earlier in

the summer, which boosted their growth in

my thin, dry soil. My favourite – the deep purple

‘Thomas A. Edison’ – stands out beautifully against my newly painted

exterior windows and doors. The French grey

with a hint of violet – a Zinsser paint bought from Brewers – works well with

my favourite strong magenta-toned planting.

I left most of my dahlias in

situ last winter but lifted one clump for insurance.

While chatting to Louise Danks, who manages the National Collection (she

grows 1,700 different varieties and 22 species),

she stressed that it is the winter wet they don’t like.

With our unpredictable winter rainfall, it is always worth lifting the odd

clump. She, like me, always gives dahlias a thick mulch (I do 8in) in

early winter, both to feed and protect. Slugs

can be a pain – I use ferric phosphate pellets

if necessary.

The advantage of lifting

dahlias is that you can force them on earlier; the disadvantage is that you

can lose them if you let them dry out too much.

I tend to put tubers in a crate, throw compost on

top and check them for moisture content now and again – they should be kept

just very slightly moist.

Dahlias have been growing in popularity over the past 10 years. My niece Jessica recently sent

me photos of hers: she’s a novice gardener, but they looked amazing. They are

one of the easiest, but showiest plants to grow.

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