DAHLIAS — PLANTS 
9 
The single stem branching habit is used to produce 
long stems; this is done by pinching out the center 
stem after it has grown two sets of leaves above the 
ground, then pinching out the first set of buds or tops 
after the first set of leaves. The plants will support 
eight or nine of these branches under normal condi¬ 
tions; this reduces the size of the blooms, but gives 
you good flowers on long stems. 
WATERING 
We are opposed to sprinkling or light watering; 
water once a week and water good, soak the ground 
and then let it stand; the next day cultivate the soil 
so as to make a mulch to retain moisture. 
Dahlias bloom on soft wood only; do not allow their 
growth to become checked. 
CULTIVATION 
Cultivate at least once a week, and as soon after 
each rain as possible. This will form a mulch and 
keep the weeds out of the garden. As the plant grows 
cultivate rather shallow near the plant; the feeder 
roots are active and branch out for feed and come 
near the surface. Cultivate the balance of the soil 
rather deep, and draw a little soil near the plant at 
each cultivation so as to give the plants a little more 
feed. This will give you a mound three to five inches 
high around the plants in September. 
DIGGING AND STORING 
After the first killing frost, cut off the tops an inch 
above the ground and allow the plants to bleed out 
for a couple of days. To dig use two digging forks, 
loosen up the roots by digging in about a foot from 
the plant and prying down on the handle; now place 
a fork on each side of the clump and press down on 
the handles and lift out of the ground. Dry in the sun 
for a couple of hours and store in the cellar. Maintain 
a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees where they will 
winter good. If your cellar is warmer place the roots 
upside down in a box or barrel and fill with sand or 
peat; look at your roots once a month to see if they 
are drying out or are too wet. 
DIVIDING THE CLUMPS 
Dahlias are best divided with a pair of pruning 
shears; remove all fibrous and broken roots. The eyes 
are in the crown or top; cut with the shears a piece of 
crown and root together; this will sprout an eye. Lay 
flat on some sand or peat, and moisten so they will 
sprout. 
If they have grown long sprouts cut back to the 
first node or joint from the crown. They are now ready 
to plant. 
