Fashion in the clothing industry comes and goes. Hems go up.
Hems go down. Cuffs are in. Cuffs are out. Pink is hot. Pink is
not.
Outdoors in the garden, tropical plants and late-season flowers
are two powerful fashion trends. Riding high on this dual wave are
dahlias, trendy tubers that splash tropical color across the garden
from mid-season until the cool frosts of fall.
Fashion in the clothing industry comes and goes. Hems go up. Hems go down. Cuffs are in. Cuffs are out. Pink is hot. Pink is not.
Outdoors in the garden, tropical plants and late-season flowers are two powerful fashion trends. Riding high on this dual wave are dahlias, trendy tubers that splash tropical color across the garden from mid-season until the cool frosts of fall.
These late-season wonders are widely available now for planting through spring and bloom through the hottest season in South Valley. They are remarkably easy to grow, and can be left in the ground to come back season after season. Dahlia tubers are sold pre-packaged at local garden centers and nurseries, with one, three, or more tubers within a single package.
A long-time favorite of Victorian gardeners, these drama queens from south of the border have burst back onto the scene, bedding down in America’s most showy gardens. In fact, demand for dahlias has gone through the roof, with exports from Holland, a major supplier, up more than 40 percent over the past five years, according to the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center in New York City.
What makes dahlias so desirable is that they can take the most brutal heat of summer, and still look fabulous. Everything else is stressed but those dahlias just hang in there, blooming their hearts out and thriving until frost knocks them down.
With flower types that range from mini to maxi, in shapes that recall daisies, cactus, pompoms, water lilies, buttons, zinnias and more, dahlias offer a diversity of shapes, sizes and color second only to tulips. Official registeries list thousands of named varieities, in all colors under the sun except true blue and black.
Based on acreage under cultivation in Holland, the most popular dahlia color is red, followed by pink-salmon, yellow, white, orange-apricot, lilac-purple and purple-violet.
Getting started: Dahlias come into flower in July and then continue to flower through at least October. They are perfect for bed or border and make excellent container plants. They are also ideal for a cutting garden because the more you cut dahlias, the more flowers they product.
Full sun is best – remember they are heat lovers – but filtered sun also works. Add compost to a planting hole so that the soil is loose. Tubers rot in water-logged soil. Plant the tubers at the recommended depth listed on the package, and provide a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. For longest bloom, pinch and discard spent flowers.
The stalks are woody, so aphids can be a problem. A spray with insecticidal soap, or even physically washing off the aphids with a strong jet of waater usually solves this problem.
Once frost kicks in, cut the dahlia branches down to the ground. There is no need to dig the tubers in our region. Left in the ground they will come back next season
For a more-tropical feeling, other sought-after summer bloomers include cannas, caladiums, begonias, and exotics such as ginger, pineapple lilies and elephant ears.
•••
Among the questions I’m often asked by readers is how to find a garden club, a flower society or a community garden in the South Valley area? Is there a San Benito County Rose Society? Will the Santa Clara County Camellia Society welcome a person from San Juan Bautista? Where are the community gardens and how to join one?
So, here is the deal: The Pinnacle is going to create a list of local flower and garden clubs. We would like to include your organization.
To participate send us the details of your group, meeting location, special interests, and a contact person, including phone number and e-mail address. In coming weeks, I will share details of these groups in this column. Write Joan Jackson in care of the Pinnacle, or e-mail me at bl*********@cs.com.
There are orchid devotees, rose lovers and rhododenron growers eager to connect with others.
