It is always a bit tricky to grow Dahlias (Dahlia) up here in the north. They would need a longer summer to bloom well.
This year I decided to buy ready grown plants instead of trying to grow them by myself. At least this way I am able to be sure that I can see the blooms.
Found two that I liked from the store and brought them to the summer cottage. They are very different from each other but were the ones that caught my eye.
Just made it on time to the summer cottage to see the Sunny Boy (Dahlia ‘Sunny Boy’) to bloom before the frost got its hands on it.
Sometimes I wonder why do I bother to grow dahlias up here in the north. The summer is too short and they barely start to bloom and then they are gone. I guess the answer is simple. The blooms are just stunning.
I guess I need to start buying them cultivated in stead of trying to grow them from root balls. This way I could enjoy them all summer. The thing just is that growing plants is part of the fun and when buying them fully grown you loose that part of the enjoyment.
It will still be few months before dahlias start to bloom up here in the north.
Luckily there are fully grown available in the stores. Bought two of them to the balcony to brighten the day.
Have to admit that only planted few roots this year. Simply do not have good space for them available this season. Last summer was not good for them and most did not have enough time to bloom.
Topmix Red seems to be a early bloomer which is perfect for our short summers.
The variety is quite short but blooms are beautiful.
The shade of red is also darker than I expected.
Have planted several dahlias again this year but it will take months before they start to bloom.
When on a Sunday walk happened to notice a cute little dahlia decided to have one in my balcony.
Just loved the color and the small size of the plant. The problem I always face with the dahlias I buy is that they tend to stop blooming at some point.
This time decided to try to fertilize the pot well and see if that would solve the issue. Time will tell.
It is Sunny Boy’s time to bloom. The blooms are a bit smaller than I expected but that is due to the long dry season we are having.
Thunder storms are now cooling the air and giving us incredible shows. Also bringing the much needed rains.
Autumn is now close and soon we will miss these warm and sunny days.
The first dahlia started to bloom. We are early this summer. Usually dahlias start around mid August.
Not quite sure what will I have blooming later in the autumn. Seems that the long period of high temperatures has made everything to be unbelievably early.
Well at least I have plenty of watering to do.
The first dahlia just started to bloom. I have been waiting for this. They always add color to the autumn garden.
It has been rainy but it seems to suite the dahlias well. They are growing strong after a slow start.
Do not have that many varieties this year. There is always a limit how much you can and have time to plant each year.
My Verdi Glory finally started to bloom in the balcony. It took from the dahlia three months to start the show but it has finally started.
This summer has not been a good one for dahlias. Just the opposite of the last summer that made all the dahlias thrive. At least all mine seem to suffer from various matters like heavy rain fall, mold and pests.
Well maybe next year will be better. Must have few dahlias growing.
Unexpectedly something went right. The dahlia tubers I planted in the spring looked pathetic. I was so sure that they will not grow. They were dry and tiny.
Not quite sure what happened. Was it the new flower bed I made? Was it the cold and rainy summer we had? Was it my mom’s cats who decided that this new bed was the best litter box they have ever seen? I was so mad at them. I did not even use any fertilizer. Did not see the point after I saw what the cats did.
Anyway the end result was stunning blooms – size of my head. The smell they have is so sweet. I have never managed to grow so beautiful dahlias!
PS. Bought the last tubers from a local grocery store. Sometimes you just get lucky.
Gardening in the North 