|
Dahlias grow and bloom according to their own calendars. Some types (cultivars) will bloom during June and others not until September. There are a variety of theories, including genetics, date of potting or planting, the amount of light, and the mixture of fertilizers. There is even a theory that excess nitrogen will delay blooms. I have been to two gardens recently where the tubers were left in the ground through the winter and have begun to bloom in mid-June. For the average gardener timing is an academic question. Watering is the opposite.
June in Northern Virginia has been dry - less than a half-inch during the first three weeks. (Falls Church averages about 40” per year; the national average is about 30.) June 2023 has been a dry month in most of the U.S. This means our gardens need us to provide about an inch of water each week to feed the roots that have by now taken over from the tubers. When I planted tubers from pots during June, there is usually a large network of tiny roots that need to be handled very gently. The absence of roots is a danger signal.
There are many ways to water ranging from cans, to hoses, sprinklers, and drip lines. While the general view has been to water deeply rather than frequently, a recent innovation is called “pulse watering.” If you are growing dahlias in containers, do not let the pot dry out or become soggy. See the watering links below for more information.
| 
