Organic Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'™ (dark-leaved)

Organic dark-leaved open heart dahlia

The Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'™ grows to approximately one meter in height with 10 centimeter wide flowers. It has open flowers with a special play of colours. The center of the petals is orange and turns red. The leaves and flower stems of this species are dark colored, making them less tasty to snails.

The heart is open to insects throughout the flowering period and its sturdy dark flower stems also make it very suitable as a cut flower.

A dahlia blooms for a very long time, up to 100 days a year, because countless flowers come back when you remove the spent flowers. A veritable sea of ​​flowers, late in the season when most plants have already finished blooming.

How, where and when do I plant organic dahlia tubers?

Indoor pre-growth

A Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'™ is not winter hardy. This allows the tubers to be grown indoors from March onwards. This gives a head start in growth and the dahlias bloom earlier. The plants can be put outside after the ice saints (May 15), or earlier if the weather is good, but be careful of night frost, then they will have to go back inside at night.

Outside in the garden

If you choose to wait until after frost before planting the dahlia tubers, it is best to do so until May 15. From then on, the tubers can be planted in the ground without any risk of frost and they will bloom approximately 60-90 days later.

Plant the dahlia tuber with its old flower stem from last year upwards, just 2 to 3 centimeters below the ground and keep a distance of half a meter from tuber to tuber.

The planting time is until June.

Location

A dahlia prefers a sunny position in a nutrient-rich, water-permeable, preferably calcareous, sandy soil. The Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'™ grows quite tall, but with light open flowers, so it does not need to be supported or placed in a sheltered spot.

For pot planting, it is best to use a pot that is at least 40 centimeters wide, so that it does not dry out too quickly in the summer.

Care of the dahlia

Always keep the soil of the Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'™ moist. Too dry soil can cause problems with growth and flowering.
During flowering, the spent flowers are removed for new blooms. The dahlia blooms until the first night frost. Cut the plant down to the ground. Protect the tubers planted in the open ground with leaves against light frost in winter. In severe frost they should be stored frost-free in a dry place. The advantage of digging out is that the tuber can be divided every year.

Feed the plant several times a year for optimal results. The dahlia is a fast-growing plant that can use a lot of nutrition.
We recommend Bio Kultura for organic potting soil, plant food and other soil improvers !

Propagation

The tubers continue to grow well in the autumn. Do not remove the tubers from the ground too early for propagation. Just before the first frost is the best time. The tubers can be split immediately, but this can also be done in the spring. The advantage of splitting in the spring is that small growth points can already be seen in the spring. This makes it easy to recognize where the tuber can best be split.

Edible

Everything about the Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'™ is edible. The tuber tastes carroty and the flower can be used to garnish a salad or in a carafe with water, for decoration and to flavor the water.

Origin of the dahlia

Dahlias are native to Mexico and have been found in European gardens since the year 1615. Originally they were grown as tubers for consumption, but after discovering how beautiful they can be as ornamental plants, they grew into one of the most diverse plant species in the world, with a large number of cultivars.

Organic Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'™ - Skal NL-BIO-01 certified: 109459

Packaged individually or choose more for less in the form of a stacking discount.

STACKING DISCOUNT B

Can be ordered from Januar '25

EU shipping €8.95 - Free shipping from €100 purchase.

Characteristics

Other dahlia varieties

NL-BIO-01