THE delightful Dahlia is one of the UK’s most popular flowers – and you can get yours for as cheap as chips.
The classic British favourite is in full bloom now – and with a little bit of help, they’re the gardening gift that will keep on giving until November.
The beautiful plant could last through the winter[/caption]
Lidl is selling the low maintenance Dahlia for just £3.99 in a range of stunning colours.
Happy customers commented online: “Tubers bought in Lidl… can’t wait for flowers.”
A second added: “I found the Lidl ones my best last year.”
A third user posted a photo of her flowering Dahlias and wrote: “One of the Lidl. Only one survived. All others were ruined by snails and slugs. This one is three years old and always leaving it in the soil for winter.”
Native to Mexico, dahlias are back in fashion, with gardeners growing them for big bold border displays or as cut flowers.
With their vast colours and strong flower power, they’re also a magnet to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, providing essential pollen for several months of the year.
How to look after dahlias
During the summer, the perennial plants like regular feeding and watering, and if given the right care, will grow again next spring-summer.
Dahlias favour warm, sunny, sheltered spots with free-draining soil.
However, going into winter, dahlias need specific treatment to survive, and it’s called ‘overwintering’.
When to lift and store dahlia tubers
When the green foliage has been damaged by frost, you want to dig the tubers up. If the frost is late, dig the tubers by late November.
If you live in a climate where temperatures rarely drop below freezing and the soil is well-draining, dahlias can be left in the ground.
If you choose to leave them in the ground, add a thick layer of mulch around the base to protect the tubers.
If the dahlias are in pots, or you don’t want to risk leaving them in the ground because of freezing temperatures, then using a shovel, dig the tubers out – but be careful not to damage them.
TOP TIPS FOR GROWING DAHLIAS
How to keep Dahlia’s growing for longer
- Use chicken feed and growmore to get them going – rose food is a good substitute.
- Grow from tubers not seed – you get more flowers.
- Water and deadhead daily. The new buds are solid to the touch – don’t cut these off.
- Plant up the plugs in early April. In late April put overwintered tubers into compost, store in a greenhouse/windowsill/polytunnel, water once a day. Don’t harden off, and when they get to 30cms – 50cms high – second week in June, get them in the ground.
- Plant randomly rather than colour coordinated – if you plant randomly the display is better.
- To encourage bees – grow the collarette-type of dahlia.
Remove any soil from the tubers and let them dry out for a few days in a cool, dark, frost-free place. Make sure to check for any rotten or damaged areas and cut them off.
Dividing dahlia tubers
Dahlia tubers grow bigger each year, and this presents a gardener with the opportunity to divide them and have more plants.
To divide dahlia tubers, using a clean, sharp knife or saw, cut them apart. Note – this should be done in late autumn or early spring only.
Lidl is offering a great price on the flowering plant[/caption]
Lidl shoppers can pick up gorgeous flowering plants that will brighten your outdoor space from late spring all the way through to autumn, meaning you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck.
The bargain superstore is also stocking large perennials for just £4.99, and Hibiscus plants for only £6.99, which will add colour and height to any patio or garden display.
Lidl customers can add a “whimsical” touch to their flowerbeds for just £3.
And for those looking to spruce up their indoor space, Lidl also has a fresh selection of houseplants and stylish ceramic pots in-store now.
