Low-growing dahlias (border) varieties: variety, planting and care in open ground

Low-growing dahlia varieties are always popular with gardeners. They beautifully enhance any garden, adding a vibrant bloom.

Plant height depends on growing conditions and climate. The shortest varieties bloom earliest.
The most famous variety is the 'Vesyolye Rebyata' dahlia. It features a combination of single and double flowers in a wide variety of colors. 'Piccolo' features semi-double, multicolored blooms. 'Figaro' resembles miniature chrysanthemums.

The 'Goldband' variety grows to a height of no more than 40 cm and features yellow, single flowers. 'Rosaband' produces pink-lilac clusters no taller than 50 cm. 'Purpurband' produces purple-carmine flowers. Bushes with single flowers in a wide variety of shades are grouped together in the 'Mignon' group.

Dwarf dahlias are characterized by long and abundant flowering. However, they cannot overwinter outdoors due to their heat-loving nature.

Before planting dahlias outdoors, the soil in the flowerbed must be thoroughly prepared. This includes digging it thoroughly and adding well-rotted manure and mineral fertilizer. In sandy soils, it's a good idea to add boron and zinc.

Dahlias can be grown from both seeds and seedlings. Seeds are not as popular as seedlings. In our climate, there's a risk that the seeds won't germinate at all. Planting should be done around the third ten days of May, but there's still a risk of frost. In warm, moderately humid weather, the seeds can germinate in as little as 5-7 days, and the vibrant flower heads will bloom in 2.5-3 months.

Flowers planted from seedlings will open much earlier and will delight until the first frost. Begin sowing in March-April in seedling containers filled with a mixture of peat and perlite. Cover with plastic wrap. At favorable temperatures of 23-25 ​​degrees Celsius, seedlings can appear within a week. Then, transplant the seedlings and air them out. Avoid overwatering the soil!

It's best to transplant into peat pots. They're easier to plant in the ground. Before planting, disinfect the soil with a potassium permanganate solution or steam it. The substrate should contain equal parts peat and sand, and at least half sod soil.

A week or two before transplanting outdoors, begin hardening off the seedlings. They are placed outside in sunny weather, gradually increasing the time. It's a good idea to simultaneously lower the temperature in the room where the seedlings were growing.

As for planting time, it's best to aim for late May, when the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed sufficiently, so all your hard work won't be in vain. Dwarf dahlias are easy to care for. However, they do have certain requirements: they prefer sunny locations, infrequent but abundant watering, and fertilizing. They don't like loosening; mulching is best. They don't require pinching or staking.