Dahlia coccinea var. palmeri

Germination

Sow indoors. Surface sow onto moist well-drained seed compost in a seed tray. Place somewhere warm, ideal temp. 16-20°C. When seedlings are large enough to handle transplant to 8cm pots and grown on in warm conditions. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed.

Growing

Prefers fertile humus-rich well-drained soil enriched with organic matter and fertiliser in full sun. Water freely in dry periods. The plant is hardy in coastal regions and warmer parts of the UK, in these regions the tuberous root which forms should be protected with a think mulch, in cooler regions the tuber can be lifted and stored somewhere dry and frost-free. Young plants will not show the dissected leaf, this will come with plant maturity.

Cultivation

Cut flowers or deadhead to prolong flowering window. Cut back to ground level in the autumn before either mulching or lifting and storing the tuber for the winter. Propagate from softwood cuttings taken in spring from stored tubers or divide tubers ensuring each one has a viable bud.