Ah, them dinner plate dahlias, now ain’t they somethin’ special! These flowers, they ain’t just yer regular ol’ garden plants, no sir. Dinner plate dahlias, they got blooms so big they’ll make ya blink twice. We’re talkin’ blooms up to 12 inches wide sometimes! Yep, bigger than yer whole hand stretched out.
Now, what exactly are these dinner plate dahlias? Well, lemme tell ya, they ain’t got no official spot in the dahlia family or fancy classification. It’s just a name folks gave ’em, kinda like callin’ a big ol’ stew pot a “kettle.” If it’s got blooms that stretch out big, at least 8 inches or more across, well then, that’s a dinner plate dahlia to most folks. Think of them blooms as big as a café plate, or like them showy ones called “Café au Lait” or “Thomas Edison”—real pretty, real full flowers that just make ya stop and stare.
Now, let’s talk a bit on how ya can keep these big ol’ dahlias happy. See, dinner plate dahlias, they love a bit of sun, but they ain’t fans of bein’ too cold or too soggy neither. They’ll come back in the garden, year after year, as long as they don’t freeze too hard or sit in wet dirt too long. Their roots, or tubers as they call ’em, can get all rotted up if they’re sittin’ in wet soil through winter. Nothin’ ruins a good dahlia quicker than cold, soggy roots. So ya want a bit of a dry patch for these fellas in the colder months.
Oh, and let me tell ya, these dinner plate dahlias, they get to spreadin’. Some kinds, like that one they call “Nicholas,” need up to 12 inches or more just so their big leaves and blooms can spread out all proper. It’s like givin’ ’em their own piece of land to stretch on out!
So, what do ya need to plant these beauties? Well, it ain’t too fancy. All ya need is a little space in the garden with a good bit of sun and some soil that don’t stay too wet. Here’s what ya can do:
- Choose a sunny spot: Dahlias love the sunshine, needin’ a good 6 hours or more if they can get it. The sunnier, the better them flowers will grow.
- Pick the right soil: Go for soil that drains well. Ya don’t want puddles after a rain; these dahlias don’t do well sittin’ in water.
- Give ’em some space: Plant ’em with at least 12 inches around if ya got the room. That way, each bloom can stretch as it wants without bumpin’ up against its neighbor.
- Feed ’em regular: They ain’t too needy, but a little compost or flower fertilizer every now and then will help ’em grow big and strong.
- Keep ’em from freezin’: In colder places, some folks like to dig up the tubers and store ’em inside till spring. But if it’s mild where ya are, just make sure they’re mulched up nice and thick to keep the frost away.
And when them blooms do come in, they are real showstoppers. Big, colorful blooms that look like somethin’ straight outta a garden catalog. Ya might get pinks, reds, yellows, purples, and all sorts of colors. These flowers, they can be the talk of the neighborhood come summertime.
One more thing to remember about these dinner plate dahlias: once they’re bloomin’, ya gotta keep an eye on ’em. The weight of them blooms can sometimes pull the plant down, so folks like to stick a little support next to ’em. A bamboo stake or even just a sturdy stick can do wonders to help hold up them heavy flowers.
So, if yer lookin’ to add a real eye-catcher to yer garden, dinner plate dahlias might just be the ticket. They’re big, bold, and beautiful—perfect for makin’ a statement. And if ya take care of ’em right, they’ll keep comin’ back, year after year, just as pretty as ever. So get out there, plant a few, and enjoy them grand blooms come summer!
Tags:[dinner plate dahlia, garden flowers, big blooms, how to grow dahlia, flower care]
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