Do the Dahlia

Figure B

Dahlias have so many different looks. From demure and perkyto defiant and twisted, variety is just the tip of the tuber when it comes to these garden darlings.

Figure C

"I used to grow iris and tulips in the spring," says Parshall, "but they bloom and then in a week or two they're gone. The dahlia keeps blooming and giving all season long."

Figure D

So why don't you see more dahlias growing? They can be a bit fussy about the climate — they usually can't take a lot of heat.

Figure E

In warmer zones, they need a little shade in the afternoon, and in cooler climates, full sun will help. Parshall's 65-degree, Pacific Northwest summer days are perfect for them.

Figure F

But perhaps the root of the plant's pickiness goes deeper. Dahlias have tuberous roots — fleshy, bulb-like roots that grow underground. Somewhere along the line, dahlias developed a reputation for being tough to grow. But Parshall disagrees. "You don't have to be a trained botanist. [Dahlias] will grow very easily with a few simple techniques that anybody can learn."

Figure G

The first thing to remember when growing dahlias is that they can grow quite large. Parshall recommends planting dahlias near stakes in a six-inch planting hole that is deep enough to provide freeze protection underground. Plant the tuber with the eye — a little white bump — facing up.

Figure H

Cover the tuber with a few inches of soil, put a little bone meal or blood meal over the top, and then add a small amount of time-release formula. As the plant grows, continue to fill in the hole to ground level, or even higher if additional support is necessary.