Dahlia
Dahlia: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Dahlias belong to the genus Dahlia in the daisy family, Asteraceae. Garden dahlias include many varieties and horticultural forms developed through selection and hybridisation. The common name therefore does not describe one flower size or colour. The genus is particularly associated with Mexico, while each cultivated variety has its own horticultural identity, distinct from the characteristics of the wild species from which garden plants developed.The plant is a herbaceous perennial with tuberous roots. These fleshy roots are underground food stores, rather than true bulbs wrapped in layers. New shoots arise from the crown close to the bases of the previous stems. Above-ground growth is seasonal and sensitive to frost. This explains why the plant’s persistence depends on climate, even though its underlying biology is that of a perennial rather than an annual.Its foliage accompanies branching stems, with leaves often divided into several toothed leaflets. Green is usual, but some selections…
