Dahlia - the queen of autumn flowers. It continues to bloom until late autumn, when other flowers have faded. In addition, dahlia is not difficult to care for the plant. Today, many gardeners, along with perennial, began to plant annual dahlias, cultivation and maintenance of which do not cause much trouble.
Did you know?Dahlia is known since the time of the Mayan and Aztec Indians. Its stems were used in the form of water pipes, and the roots - for cooking. In Europe, these flowers appeared in the XVIII century.
How to pick up seeds for planting
Selection of seeds for planting annual dahlias depends on the preferences and desires of the gardener. If you want to get flowers early, choose undersized varieties. Such plants do not spend a lot of power on growth and bloom earlier than others. One of the most popular varieties are:
- "Funny boys" - dwarf variety, up to 70 cm in height. A variety of colors;
- "Figaro" - early variety, up to 30 cm in height. Differs in bright coloring of flowers;
- "Pompon Mix" - height is 70-120 cm. Flowers are very bright, in the form of pompons, they are stored for a long time after cutting;
- "Anvins Dryf Highbreeds" - low plants, up to 70 cm. Semi-double flowers, spreading bushes. On one bush can bloom up to 10 flowers;
- "Hast Dandy" - low, up to 55 cm. They belong to the collar type dahlia. Large dense bushes, which can bloom up to 15 flowers. The petals are purple, crimson or red with a white border.
How to choose a variety of annual dahlias
In order not to make a mistake in choosing a dahlia variety, decide for what and where you will plant them. Today, many different varieties of these plants are on sale, they differ in height, color of flowers, timing of flowering, the form of petals and buds. In order for the flowerbed to look harmoniously, pay attention when buying seeds to plant height and flowering time.
We study the packaging
When buying seeds, be sure to read the information on the colors on the package. (in one package you can often find a mix of different varieties - the same height, but in different colors). If you want to plant dahlias along the border, choose undersized varieties (their height is up to 45 cm). For flower beds, dahlias are suitable a little higher - up to 60 cm.
When planting dahlias on seedlings, planting pattern
In order for your plants to develop well and speed up flowering, you should know How to plant dahlias on seedlings: 
- sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in early April;
- seeds are sown in special boxes or containers for seedlings;
- the soil should consist of peat and sand in a 1: 1 ratio with the addition of natural sprays (perlite);
- the seeds are planted into the soil: pour a layer of moistened sand onto the bottom of the tank, on which the seeds are evenly spread;
- top with a thin layer of cooked soil mixture;
- cover with foil and put for 7 days in a warm place (25 ° С).
Important!A week before picking, the ground needs to be heated under ambient conditions and disinfected with a solution of manganese (the solution is heated to 70WITH). The treatment with the solution of potassium permanganate should be carried out 2 weeks before the pickling of the seedlings to restore the normal microflora of the soil.Picks should be carried out carefully so as not to damage the root of the plant. To do this, use special tools. Seedlings are planted in the ground before the first leaves, then gently sprinkled with earth. After picking, seedlings are watered from a spray bottle.
Dahlias are planted in mid-May.
How to plant dahlias
So that your efforts are not in vain, and the flowers are well received and adapted in the open field, you should know when to plant dahlia seedlings. If the dahlia is properly planted, they will get stronger faster and bloom.
Planting germinated seeds in the soil
Planting germinated seeds in the soil is carried out in mid-May. The weather is already warm, there is no risk of sudden frosts or a cold snap. Before planting in open ground, seedlings need to be hardened. To do this, during the week take out the dahlias on the street for 5 minutes, gradually increasing the time spent in the open air. At the same time gradually reduce the temperature in the room with seedlings, so that it becomes the same as outside.
Important!If you grew seedlings in clay pots, pour them abundantly before planting in the ground. This will help to quickly and easily remove the young plant without damaging the roots.
Place for planting annual dahlias
Dahlias are heat-loving plants, so the sunny side of the plot without drafts and wind is a good place for planting. If you plant flowers in shaded areas, they will begin to stretch, and the color will become pale. It is not recommended to plant them under trees or near spreading shrubs.
Annual dahlias: landing pattern
Dahlias normally transfer transplant from greenhouse to open ground. Flowers are planted in southern areas in May, in northern areas - in early June. 
- Place for landing need to cook in the fall. Ground should be dug, fertilized and markup for beds or flower beds.
- In the spring, at the chosen place, you need to dig holes and add some ash and compost to them.
- Plant the seedlings to a depth of 6-8 cm in the wells (deepening to the first leaflets).
- Watered with 4-5 liters of water and spud bush.
How to care for annual dahlias
Unlike perennial, at annual dahlia planting and care going much easier. After the seedlings have begun, several times you need to carry out fertilizer and do not forget about watering.
Watering and feeding plants
Dahlias are watered as the soil dries out and after dressing. It is enough to do this 3-4 times a week in the morning. It is impossible for the water in the wells to stagnate, it can cause rotting of the roots.
Plant nutrition is carried out twice before the appearance of flowers with universal fertilizers. With the advent of flowers should use fertilizers, which include phosphorus and potassium. Ashes can be used as a fertilizer, as there is a lot of potassium in it, and it will help the plants to gain strength.
Plant trimming rules
To plant pleased us with an abundance of flowers, it should be cut off. This should be done constantly, and during flowering to remove even more extra shoots. Pruning dahlia is carried out for thinning the bush, the prevention of fungal diseases and pest control. If this is not done, the plant will overgrow with shoots without flowers, it will grow and will have a scruffy and sloppy look.
Trimming is done with a blade or pruner. Places cuts sprinkled with charcoal for disinfection. Do not trim in the open sun or in wet weather. This can lead to the drying of the plant or, conversely, to its rotting.
Pest and disease control
Dahlias can suffer from diseases and pests with poor care. If you know how to care for dahlias to properly plant and decontaminate the soil, to carry out preventive measures and in time to deal with the problems that have arisen, the plant will not suffer. The dahlia suffers from fungal diseases: white rot, fusarium wilt, gray and brown rot, etc.
To fight fungal diseases, you should plant the plants on the sunny side, thin out the flowerbeds, destroy diseased plants and treat with fungicides of systemic action - Fundazole, Oxyhom.
Did you know? Unfortunately, viral diseases are not treated. Diseased plants are destroyed, and for healthy ones they carry out preventive measures (spraying from pests).
The main pests for dahlias are: aphid, nematode, cabbage scoop, scoop-gamma, slugs, whitefly, thrips. For effective pest control, preventive measures should be taken: removal of weeds, manual gathering of beetles and caterpillars, digging and dressing the soil before planting.If the defeat has become widespread, apply biological, environmentally friendly means - Lepidocid, Bitoxibacillin. Of the chemicals used insecticides type Iskra-M, Fufanon.
So knowing all about dahlias, their planting and cultivation will not take much time, and the result will delight you with an abundance of flowers. These plants maintain the beauty of the garden until late autumn, and the compositions and bouquets are preserved for a long time.
