Of the many varieties of popular dahlias, annuals and perennials are distinguished, the former of which are much easier to grow. It is not required to form tubers, dig them up for the cold season, and protect plants from diseases. In order to decorate a flower bed, it is enough to grow dahlias from seeds, sowing them two months before flowering. These are quite beautiful flowers that many gardeners deserve preference. Many varieties have been bred, differing in shape and color. Growing from seeds is the main difference between an annual crop. Let's consider how to grow them properly.

Culture information

A flower garden with dahlias looks amazing: red, white, pink, yellow and other colors. A varied palette of shapes and shades leaves such an impression with its effect that lovers of these plants prepare seedlings from year to year. Flowering begins in June and ends in the frosty season. How to properly grow dahlias from seeds? Let's first get to know the features of these vibrant colors. The annual is presented in many varieties, from which you can always choose the right ones for your garden.

There are many advantages over perennial varieties and other inhabitants of flower beds:

  • Long bloom, lasting until frost.
  • Large flowers, colorful and varied in shape: in the form of balls, double, with glossy petals.
  • Annual dahlias are easy to seed and then care for. The tubers do not need to be dug up and stored.
  • Growth is possible throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, including in the north.
  • The culture is unpretentious for any climate, soil, does not need constant watering.

Attention! The most efficient growth and flowering is obtained on neutral soils. Or a soil with low acidity is required.

Dahlias love to grow in bright, sunlit areas. They belong to the Astrovye family, differ in height, the presence of terry, and the diameter of the flower.

Annual dahlias

Reproduction

Annual phlox - planting and care

Even a novice gardener can grow an annual dahlia on his site. Planting can be done by sowing seeds or seedlings. The first option is for mild climates. Spring, late April or early May is the sowing season. Frost is no longer a threat. They make holes in which the seed is lowered and added dropwise.

If warm conditions are established only in summer, the annual is grown by seedlings. The difference with the sown plants is manifested in the form of an earlier flowering, ahead of the seedlings by 2 weeks. Consider how to prepare and plant a dahlia culture of a variety of annuals.

The seedlings are cultivated using a method similar to that used for tomatoes or peppers.

Its stages are as follows:

  • The seeds must be soaked for 1 day.
  • Sowing is done in containers, 7 cm high, which are covered with foil to create greenhouse conditions. The seeds should be spread out on a surface 1 cm apart. After that, 1.5 cm of earth is sprinkled.
  • The correct composition of the soil is humus with sand and turf in proportions of 1: 1: 2. After sowing, the soil is slightly moistened.
  • When shoots appear in a week, they wait up to 12 days for the seedlings to grow up. Then, after the formation of 2 sheets, they are seated in separate pots (dive). It is desirable that these were peat containers 300 ml 12 cm high. After the transplant, they are kept cool for 1 day, and then on the window.
  • Watering is carried out daily without waterlogging.
  • Until the moment they are planted in the ground, the sprouts are hardened, kept on a balcony or street.

Fertilizers do not need to be applied in the garden if the nutrient content of the soil is sufficient. In the case of poor soil, complex or organic fertilizers are applied in the fall. Also, before lowering each seed into the hole, add wood ash, 1 handful.

Culture care

Perennial dahlias - planting and care

Annual dahlias planting and caring for which in the open field carried out correctly, will delight you with a bright and colorful flowering in a flower bed:

  • Watering is often unnecessary. Waterlogging can adversely affect growth. Fungal infections may occur. Wait until the soil dries out. In autumn, soil moisture stops.
  • Top dressing with complex fertilizers will make the flowering abundant. They are applied twice: before the budding period and after the first flowers appear.
  • To increase the number of flowers, pinch the central shoot, which stimulates the lateral stems.
  • At the end of flowering, the flowers are cut off. An exception is the case when it is necessary to collect seeds. Then they wait 2 weeks for their ripening, then they are dried and laid out in paper bags.
  • At the first frost, they continue to look after the dahlias, trying to make the flowering longer. The plants are covered overnight using agrofibre.

Attention! It is undesirable to plant an annual type of dahlia for two years in a row in one place, it is better to change the location of the flower bed. Three years of resting the soil is considered the norm.

By choosing a variety and observing the rules of care, you can create a beautiful flower bed that includes a wide variety of types of dahlia inflorescences.

Plant care

Care recommendations may relate to the selection of an annual flower cultivar, of which the following are popular:

  • Funny guys - up to 0.5 meters high with many stems. Therefore, flowering occurs continuously. Flowers - up to 10 cm in diameter.
  • Vasilisa - undersized (up to 15 cm) plants with double flowers up to 7 cm in diameter, in different shades. Suitable for growing on flower beds and balconies.
  • Bambino - a variety, presented in various colors, up to 25 cm in height, flowers 7 cm. Also intended for flower beds and flowerpots.
  • Pompom dahlia with dense round double flowers (in the form of pompons, hence the name). Plant height - 90 cm.

Large dahlias look beautiful against the background of other small flowers. When choosing them according to the height of the bushes, you need to keep in mind that long stems need a garter and support. The distance between large plants is 70 cm. Dwarf individuals are located 30 cm from one another. The type of bud and color of the leaves play an important role in the design. As for the timing, tall dahlias begin to bloom later, with a difference of weeks.

Attention! When choosing a variety, you need to carefully read the information on the package.

If the grower wants to have his own seeds, you need to take them from the largest and most beautiful inflorescences. It is advisable to use the first flowers, leaving them for 1.5 months after wilting. But the color of the petals of the plants grown the next year may differ from the original ones if they are hybrids. Having found a small tuber on the roots and preserved it, it is quite possible to get the same plant.