SUGGESTED CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
FOR GROWING DAHLIAS 
Dahlias are easy to grow and do well in most any kind of 
soil. They do not like cold damp ground, or deep shade. Coal 
ashes or sand is good to mix with heavy soil. 
Do not plant too early, as dahlias are a Fall flower, and 
grow best when the ground and weather are warm. Mid May 
is early enough for the northern states, and even if planted by 
June 15th will grow well and bloom freely. 
Half the battle of any gardening is proper cultivation, and the 
right time to start is before anything is planted. Have the 
ground soft and mellow, then dig holes, or a trench about six 
inches deep, being sure that the soil is soft several inches deep¬ 
er. Lay the Dahlia roots flat (not on end) in the trench and 
from two to three feet apart. Cover two or three inches deep 
and a small amount of fertilizer may be spread in the row now, 
and covered lightly with soil. The holes or trench will be fill¬ 
ed in a little at a time as you hoe until the plants are over a 
foot high. Later, during August it is well to “hill” the plants, 
it helps to keep the now large plants from blowing over and to 
drain off any surplus water if the season is wet. The rows 
should be from three to four feet apart. Cultivate well until 
the flowers come, but be careful not to injure the tender feed 
roots near base of plants. After this keep out weeds, and rake 
just enough to keep the top soil loose. 
It is well to stake the dahlias, the best time is when you plant. 
Many different methods of fertilization are recommended. 
find commercial fertilizer the most practical, a good potato 
fertilizer is fine. Nitrogen is a necessary element, but too much 
produces large soft plants and blooms, fresh animal manure 
contains too much. Phosphates are needed for early root for¬ 
mation, and gives plants a vigorous start, also improves yield 
and hastens maturity. Potash is perhaps the most essential to 
add as it gives the plants the ability to form sugars and starches 
for root formation, gives stiffness to the stalks, makes plants 
more robust and helps plants, among other things, to resist 
disease. Wood ashes contain much potash and are very good 
for the dahlia garden. Soil contains all of these elements, 
but usually they are not available in proper quantities. A good 
dahlia fertilizer contains about two percent available nitrogen, 
about eight percent phosphates and from ten to twelve percent 
potash. A bene base is very desirable. For poor soil well rotted 
manure is good to be well spaded in when the garden is made 
in the spring, or spade in fertilizer, and small amounts sowed 
on row after planting, as mentioned above is good as each 
rain carries a little directly to the growing roots, but use care 
as too much here may burn the tender feed roots. Small 
amounts of bone meal spread around plants after they start to 
blocm is good. It helps to make larger flowers and gives them 
a finer color. Spread at ten day or two week intervals and lightly 
raked in, is very helpful. 
If soil has been properly taken care of and roots are planted 
five to six inches, watering is only needed in extreme drougth. 
If you must water, soak the ground to a depth of several inches 
at ten day or two week periods. Rake lightly next day to keep 
crust from forming. 
Cut the old flowers off with stems as they go by. 
Cut flowers for bouquets in early morning or late afternoon, 
or when sun is not shining if possible. They will keep better 
if put in a cool damp place free from air currents after cutting 
for a few hours. 
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