Growing and storing

Dahlias need sun and well-drained soil enriched with manure or garden compost. When they come into flower, feed fortnightly with a high-potassium fertiliser (such as tomato feed). Water weekly, drenching the roots. In winter, if you live in the south and have well-drained soil, you can leave the tubers in the ground, protected by a deep mulch layer. If not, dig up and store in a frost-free place.