dahlias in the rain

by Sharon Santoni
bouquet with dahlias

Oh dear, the skies are grey here in Normandy. This is not a very summery summer. We have clouds in the sky, unpredictable rainstorms, and rather low temperatures.

dahlias in the rain

Thank goodness I can turn to my garden, and that at least the rain is doing good here!

This bouquet of flowers was cut at the end of the day and popped into my favorite vase. Dahlias, hydrangeas, achillea, and calendula. Of course, the beauty of dahlias is that they thrive when cut regularly. The best way to get a lot of blooms is to keep picking – which is no problem for me!

dahlias in the rain

I rarely visit a friend at this time of year without a bouquet of dahlias in my hand. They only last for a couple of days, but that doesn’t matter, we still get to enjoy the moment.

When you plant dahlias in the spring, the trick is to get a large variety of colours and sizes. Spiky cactus blooms, large soft dinner plate flowers, pompom balls, the list goes on. It is the subtle mix of colours and texture that win the day.

dahlias in the rain

I feel like I am a dahlia evangelist! I’ve been sharing my love of these flowers for so many years, and I’d love to know how many of you are also growing these blooms, and whether you have any growing tips to share according to your climate? Here, for example, I know that they prefer rich earth and that it’s very important to stake them. How about you? Feel free to share your tips and tricks in the comments below!

dahlias in the rain

27 comments

Freddie Ann August 4, 2021 - 6:50 pm

I am dahliasless, I must buy some, but first I’ll have to research the sun/shade/soil/depth, etc. They are beautiful. Do you plant in the Fall or Spring (US).

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Lisa D. August 4, 2021 - 8:02 pm

The dahlias are just beautiful! Please send some rain our way. California is just desperate for rain!

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Deb August 4, 2021 - 9:53 pm

I have had to do a complete about turn on the dahlia!! I once perceived them as being too bright and garish and the preserve of the “elderly gardener”- I was so wrong! As a wedding florist I found the brides cottoned onto these early and I have embraced them totally! One of my favourite weddings was all about the dahlias- the brighter the better. I am well and truly a convert. I adore the gentle blush colours too and of course a white dahlia in full bloom is a gorgeous thing.

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T. Masson August 4, 2021 - 10:03 pm

Merci Madame vous êtes celle qui m’avez fait changer d’avis sur les dahlias il y a 3 ou 4 ans avec les cafés au lait. Mais, pour être honnête, il y a bien plus que des dahlias dans vos bouquets – et c’est ce qui les rends si beaux. Je vois un lilas en bas à gauche : est ce une erreur de ma part ? Il ne peut pas être normand en cette période de l’année ? Est-ce que je me trompe ? Corrigez moi !
Bravo pour vos merveilles

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2021 - 11:21 am

Bonjour, merci pour votre gentil message. Non , ce n’est pas du lilac que vous voyez en bas à gauche mais de l’hortensia 🙂 Je n’utilise que des fleurs de saison et de mon jardin 🙂

belle journée

Sharon

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Bonnie Wood August 5, 2021 - 12:13 am

I love flowers but, my son and I both have bad allergies, so my flowers stay in the garden. I would love to bring them in, but can’t. Have a great week!!!

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Debbie August 5, 2021 - 12:25 am

This is my 1st year to grow dahlias here at my Colorado home. I think I had the tubbers planted a little late and have not seen a bloom yet. Holding my breath they come out before I have to head back to Texas. I do have some very large pots that I had planted and grown in a hot house in the spring. They are the most magnificent thing and have enjoyed cutting and dead heading them all this past month. I will continue to try my hand at these gorgeous flowers in the years to come. Merci

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Vicky from Athens August 5, 2021 - 1:54 am

They are gorgeous!!! I think one has to be a magician to grow them here in North Georgia so I will have to live/garden vicariously through you! And, oddly enough, I belong to the Rose and Dahlia Garden Club!

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Mrs. Laura Susan Gideon August 6, 2021 - 12:48 pm

Vicky, I’m in Canton, GA and planted some that have beautiful leaves and gave me one flower. I cut it, and that was it. I was wondering what I’d done wrong!

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Felicia September 5, 2022 - 7:26 pm

I started growing them in North Georgia and have been successful! I’m in Ballground close to Canton. I have 6 successful plants this year. Next year I plan on having more. Dahlias and roses are by far my favorite flowers. I haven’t started growing roses yet but that’s my next goal.

The dahlias haven’t been a walk in the park. Slugs, snails, and stink bugs have been the biggest pains for me.

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Dora Reyes August 5, 2021 - 3:16 am

Absolutely stunning!!

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Melanie August 5, 2021 - 7:25 am

We have a lot of rain and awful weather here in Kent, UK as well, my dahlias still haven’t even bloomed but soon. I think they are my favourite along with roses. It’s hard to find the space for such large ones like my café au lait, I put in 6 ft metal stakes and they always cover them up by the end of the season.

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Georg August 5, 2021 - 8:52 am

I m really jealous of your abundance of dahlias.
I planted this Spring about 30 tubers all kinds shapes and colours.
Then they startet to grow but instead of blooming now they became a favourite feast
For the army of slugs which is this year enormous due to the rainy weather.

Though I tried slug pallets and even I digged them out and replanted them in pots with a plastic cloche
I ve got no single flower.

Are there no slugs in your garden or how do you handle the problem to get such an abundance?

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2021 - 10:47 am

I hardly dare say it, but we don’t have any slugs here. Or hardly ever. I’m not sure why, but I’m not complaining!

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Beth Crysdale August 5, 2021 - 12:48 pm

This is my first year trying dahlias from tubers in the Midwest. They are the first to wilt – my signal to water everything. Mine are flopped over, now I know they need staking. Also good to know cutting will boost blooms. Some blooms are coming in today!

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Georg from Bavaria August 5, 2021 - 2:14 pm

Are there anyone who has slug problems, too and good solutions?
My way of offering plenty of plants, so some survive doesn’t work for dahlias because they are on top
Of the slugˋs menue

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Inge from Bavaria August 6, 2021 - 9:29 am

Hallo Georg from Bavaria, ich habe heuer zum ersten Mal eine Dahlie gepflanzt. Und zwar in einen großen Topf mit einem Kupferband rundherum. – Keine Schnecken – und wunderschöne Blüten. Viel Glück.

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Georg August 6, 2021 - 2:46 pm

Hallo Inge Danke für den Tip.
Heuer wird das wohl nix mehr.
Dass Schnecken kein Kupfer mögen, das hab ich auch schon gehört.
Gibt es da was spezielles für den Garten?
Liebe Grüße

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Inge from Bavaria August 8, 2021 - 3:00 pm

Hallo Georg, das Kupferband gibt es im Fachhandel oder Baumarkt. Allerdings habe ich es um den Topf geklebt. Bei Dahlien, die in der Erde wachsen sollen, funktioniert das natürlich nicht. Meine Idee wäre noch das Vorziehen in Töpfen und sobald sie evtl. eine nicht mehr so starke Anziehungskraft für Schnecken haben, sie dann erst auspflanzen.
Gesunde Grüße

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Georg August 12, 2021 - 8:01 pm

Hab’s schon bei Amazon bestellt. Vielen Dank für den Tip

Gray August 5, 2021 - 3:08 pm

I would love to have them in my Virginia garden. I have had no success yet. I planted 9 tubers, and have 3 left – the rest rotted. Of the three left, no blooms yet – they are staked, and they are now about 2 ft. tall. Wish me luck.

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Emily Joy August 5, 2021 - 4:12 pm

Hello, wondering what the bright yellow flower is in the lower left/middle hand side of the bouquet?

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Gayle Callahan August 5, 2021 - 4:51 pm

Your arrangement are so lush and beautiful. Here in dry California we can’t afford to use much water so our flower gardens and borders must suffer. I know you are not responsible for the mail but I am having a problem receiving my magazine. It is August 5th and my July/August issue is still not here. Unfortunately politics has messed up our mail service. Certainly miss the beautiful pages .

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2021 - 10:49 am

HI Gayle, I am so sorry about the delays in the magazine delivery because of postal service problems. Believe me this is a struggle for us! Your magazine was posted in June, so you should certainly receive it very shortly. Thank you for your understanding and your patience.

Sharon

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Bonni Wilson August 5, 2021 - 6:43 pm

My first year to grow dalias in Oklahoma. I just cut my first Cafe Au Lait bloom and now I know I must plant more varieties for next year! I have mine in pots and they need watering twice a day in the heat. Something was eating the leaves in the spring but after putting dish soap on the leaves, they stopped munching on them. I’m looking for ideas on more kinds of dalias to grow!

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Freddie Hancock August 7, 2021 - 7:39 pm

Hmmmm, from reading the above posts, sounds like these may be slightly difficult to grow. I may have to wait a few years until I have the time to baby them.

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Pabeggetur1940 December 25, 2023 - 5:57 am

The creativity of the hazards in house of hazards is fantastic! From rogue toasters to vengeful swing sets, every corner of your house becomes a potential threat. Prepare for surprises and side-splitting laughter.

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