Misty s guide to growing Dahlias in Alaska

Misty s guide to growing Dahlias in Alaska Tips on planting, harvesting and storing dahlias with Alaska's unique short-season growing challenges MISTY VANDERWEELE All Dahlia d Up Farmer/Florist Palmer, Alaska

Misty s guide to growing Dahlias in Alaska Tips on planting, harvesting and storing dahlias with Alaska's unique short-season growing challenges All Dahlia d Up Farmer/Florist Palmer, Alaska

Welcome Dahlia Lover! Well, I m assuming anyway you love dahlias since you are reading this guide. Although I ve grown dahlias for almost 20 years its only been these last two as a flower farmer / florist. The florist part was added as I create award winning dahlia designs, bouquets and arrangements with the dahlias I grow. I m so excited you are here. I LOVE to share my dahlia affinity and the story in how I began growing, farming and selling dahlias. In my opinion there is no better way to bloom and share the miracle and vibrancy of life then with flowers, especially dahlias! In this guide you will learn: My dahlia love story Preparing your garden When to plant for early blooming Plant spacing/depth etc. Watering advice How to get the most blooms per plant Dividing & Storing practices Pest/bug control tips Best weed control techniques Home dahlia display garden ideas And so much more

My Dahlia Love Story It all began with handfuls of road side dahlias sold by the honor system and a cute little boy. The boy being my son coming home from kindergarten with a spindly dahlia plant to give me since the honor system farm quit business. My son was afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy. I was told we d be lucky if he lived past 14 years old. So when I learned dahlias grow more tubers you can divide every year, I was overjoyed and determined I d grow them and thought what better way to have something from my boy long after he was gone. He surprised us all and graduated high school but sadly passed 3 years after from complications. He was 21. Although I knew he would die young nothing prepared me for the raw emotional and physical crashing waves of grief that I felt and still feel at times. I ve never cried so much in my life! That summer after he passed you guessed it. I grew all his dahlias, his gift to me. And boy is it a gift! I was so deeply moved by his love for me with every flower that bloomed that I couldn t get enough! I truly believe they are apart of my unbreakable connection to him.

Dahlias are vivid bright reminders that quality of life out weighs quantity. -My son s life example. That year of growing dahlias also planted a seed of starting my own dahlia farm to blooming fruition. A dream come true. That I now get to share with you.

Introduction: Growing dahlia s in Alaska has the challenge of an incredibly short growing season, (only about 90 days give or take) coupled with they don t start blooming until 70 days after planting. However it can be done with much success. All you need to get started is a good plan, a spot to grow them and a little water. As you read this guide be sure to read the pink Quick Tips boxes for tricks of the trade.

Preparing your dahlia garden soil I have two large dahlia gardens, one is 20x40 and the other 10x20. Gardens this size are easiest to prepare with tractor and tiller, but any push tiller would work too. Dahlias can pretty much grow in any type of soil but they do need good drainage. Important: Dahlia s do not take to wind well. Keep this in mind when planning where to put your dahlia babies

When to plant for early blooming Start indoors preferably a heated greenhouse in mid March or early April. In the house works too. For years I started them in my living room. Transplant outside around Memorial Day. Cover at night if you fear frost. You can also transplant in the first week of June or until the fear of frost is gone. Depends what part of Alaska you are in. *I use 3-5 gallon containers filled with only about half way with dirt. Remember we are going to plant outside, not keep them in the container so filling all the way full isn t necessary. *Do not water until plants are growing nicely. Over watering can cause the tuber to rot.

Misty s Rule of Thumb: If I can t see my dahlias from the inside of my house. Then I don t want to plant them.

Plant spacing/depth etc. By mid May your starts from the greenhouse have a good root ball for transplanting. Dig a whole 1 in half foot depth, put ¼ cup bone meal in fist full. 2-3 foot spacing for Dinner plate dahlias Dwarf dahlias 12-16 inch spacing At planting time: Be sure to stake up large dinner plate dahlia plants at time of planting unless planting is in long rows like I do here at All Dahlia d Up

Watering advice The best advice for watering is get on a schedule, every 3 or 4 days is ideal unless the weather is very hot. For Greenhouse starts *Waiting for sprouting through the dirt to water. Once planted water lightly Once in ground, deep watering every 3-4 days Purple rain boats, optional but highly recommended Quick Tip: Don t use over-head or sprinkler watering to ensure you don t get the leaves or blooms wet. All they need is a good watering at the base of the plant.

How to get the most blooms per plant Dahlia s are one of those flowers that come back more and more after every harvest. We harvest every 3-4 days to ensure ample blooms. Also having a watering schedule is critical. Again water every 3-4 days for a good soak. You can also wait to water until you see minor leaf wilt. Quick Tips: Pinching Start Tops Water schedule Dead heading Harvesting regularly

Dividing & Storing practices In the past I ve kept the tubers in their clumps, however they take up a tremendous amount of space. This year we divided after drying the tuber clumps for a few days making sure each tuber had a piece of the main stalk. I let them dry after cutting and then stored in paper bags and cardboard boxes at about 40 degrees. Its also very important to keep them in a cool dark place in the winter. Quick Tip: You can use cinnamon, yes the spice, on the cut ends of your tubers to help prevent fungus from growing. Important: Check on your tubers every month throughout the winter and dis-guard any that have fungus or rot.

Pest/bug control tips Slugs LOVE dahlias as well as aphids, spider mites and although not a bug, white powdery mildew. Here are a few tips to ensure you stay ahead of the bug curve. I find its easier to have a bug plan BEFORE you get bugs. But keep in mind you should be inspecting your plants regularly to be on the safe side. Here are ways to ensue you don t lose your dahlia blooms and plants to pesky bugs and powdery mildew. Consistency is key. At planting use a circle of product called Slug O, you can find it at Walmart and it wont hurt pets. Sticky traps, you can find on amazon for bugs, I use the blue and yellow ones. Spraying every few days with recipe below. Keep the garden clean of debris Inspect daily Tried & True Natural Spray Recipe: 1-2 T Baking Soda 1t of Vegetable oil (any kind) 1-2 drops Ivory Dish Soap

Best weed control techniques Dahlias have a shallow root system so hand weeding only is the safest measure as to not harm your plants. For large size gardens use professional landscape fabric with holes cut for the plants to grow. Believe me will be the best money you ever spend. You can use the fabric every year. Quick Tip: Make sure the fabric doesn t touch the stalks of the plants.

Home dahlia display garden What's so neat about dahlias with so many varieties to chose from you only need 4-7 different ones to have a beautiful dahlia display garden.

BONUS: When to dig up for the winter: Here in Alaska we must dig up our dahlia tubers every fall since our winters are to cold for them to survive. However the dahlia plant must freeze completely. The best way to tell is after the first frost the plant will turn black. It will resemble cooked spinach. Cut down stalks and dig up tubers to dry before storing. Photo tip: Take pictures of your frozen dahlias. They look pretty cool. But be sure to not wait because when they melt they turn BLACK!

Dahlia Growing Checklist: January, Order Tubers or Check Stored Tubers End of March Beginning of April Plant Tubers Start Watering Only When the Plant is 6-8 Inches Pinch Tops when 3 rd Set of Leaves Appear Transplant With ¼ Cup Bone meal After Threat of Frost, or Memorial Day & Cover at Night Stake at Time of Transplanting Being Careful Not to Damage the Tubers Water Every 3-4 Days Check Daily for Bugs Spray for Bugs Every 3 Days Prune Any Dead Leaves and Keep From Touching the Ground Hand Weed Only! Use Professional Landscape Fabric for Large Dahlia Display Gardens. Start Harvesting Mid-July Harvest Every 3 Days Enjoy & Cherish Each and Every Bloom

Here s to dahlia filled bouquets. Our Mission: **To Bloom and Share the Miracle and Vibrancy of life, one flower at a time. Important: Be sure to harvest some for yourself, after all you deserve it!

Before I go: The variety of dahlias I grow changes a bit from season to season as I tweak which ones have the longest vase life. Please know this dahlia growing guide will be updated from time to time. I am truly excited about the future of All Dahlia d Up as we dive into growing even more dahlias and lets not forget our This Place wedding venue destination here on the farm. Have dahlia questions? Be sure to like our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/alldahliadup and drop me a message.

For more tips, advice and farm update please go to our website and sign up for our newsletter. At All Dahlia d Up We Also Do: Pre-arranged flower bouquets & arrangements Weekly Bouquet Subscriber program Guided Walking Tours Monday Market at the Palmer Train Depot Weddings & Event Dahlia Flowers On the farm Wedding Ceremony Venue, called This Place All Dahlia d Up Farmer/Florist Palmer, Alaska www.alldahliadup.com