Viking, Ball Dahlia

Package of 1 decorative type dahlia.
 
This dahlia blooms like crazy when day length shortens. It thrives when the nights are cool. Generally is the "last man standing" when frost threatens. The blooms are a stunning velvety wine red or scarlet colour. They stand up well in the vase or left on  the plant in the garden. It is probable one of the longest lasting pom pom blooms we have grown. 
 
Dahlias always kick it into high gear with abundant blooms when the day length starts to shift noticeably around the 3rd & 4th week of August from direct sown tubers. To get earlier blooms in our northern climate, starting in pots at the end of April, beginning of May before planting out, along with supplying a bit of afternoon shade triggers bloom production sooner. Our day length in the north can stall the right plant hormones being produced by the plant. Giving the plant some relief from our long days can naturally trigger blooms sooner. On our farm we use an organic product called AnneMaxx Bloom to trigger blooming sooner when we can not provide shade. 
 
We prevent thrips with 2 methods on dahlias. 1st we top dress the soil around the base of the plant with 1cm of pure worm castings. 2nd, we use a product called Premium Liquid Extract (a worm casting product) as a foliage spray weekly. Our application of the foliar spray is 1 to 2 tsp extract per 1.5L of water.  All the products we use can be found on our website under Soil & Worm Casting Products. 
 
Tuber Must be dug in fall and stored over winter. 
 
Plant 4" deep
Height 30"  
3" blooms 
Days to bloom 65-90 days depending on day length hours plant is exposed to to trigger bloom hormones.