C ARDEN TIME
By Robert Schmidt
I have had several phone calls
during the. past week asking me
when I am going to plant my
dahlias and what to do about
dahlias that were left in the
ground over winter and are now
sending up stems.
If you grew dahlias last year
and left them in the ground over
winter they should be dug up now
and divided. Even if you want only
one plant, divide the clump, plant
one division and give the others
away. Leaving the clump in the
ground will give you several main
stems, a lot of early, flowers and
usually poor flowers in the fall
when they ought to be at their
best.
In digging the clump be care
ful not to break the necks of the
tuberous roots. Some varieties have
very slender necks. In dividing
the clump, which is best done with
a long slender knife blade, you
must leave at lealslt one bud or
eye and one root with each division.
You will find the buds on the main
stem or at the base of the stem—
not on the root itself.
If long sprouts have developed,
they must be cut back to about
one-half inch of the stem or eye.
Usually you can get from three
to five divisions from each clump.
These divisions may be planted
now or can be kept in a cool place,
covered with peat moss or dry
sand until the propert planting
time.
I rarely plant before May 1 here
in Raleigh. My advice would be
to plant during early May in the
central and western portions of
the state, and about May 25th to
June 1 in the extreme eastern
portion of the state.
How can you grow large dinner
plate size dahlias? You must buy
varieties which naturally grow
large. There are hundreds of
varieties ranging in size from
one to 17 inches in diameter. Cul
ture and removing the buds will
increase size to a limited extent,
but if you want the big ones you
must buy the proper varieties, v
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