ALAMY, GETTY, GAP, JASON INGRAM
Take… 5 steps to dahlia success
Dahlias are this summer’s most desirable bloom, thanks to a rich palette of colours and months of flowering. But they can be tricky to get going, so follow these five easy steps. Choose only plump, firm tubers, avoiding shrivelled ones. Don’t start too soon – no earlier than six weeks before last frosts. Start in plastic pots, not the ground, using a container 5-8cm wider than the roots. Use fresh compost, as they’re hungry plants, water well to rehydrate the tubers and keep in a sheltered spot, above 5˚C. To prevent root rot, hold off watering further until you see early shoots.