Dahlia

Dahlia Ragged Robin

• Position: full sun
• Soil: fertile, humus-rich soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: July to October
• Hardiness: half hardy
  
  Now fashionable again,dahlias are useful for extending the season of interest in a perennial border, when everything else is past its best. Ragged Robin has dramatic, pointed, ruby red petals that are arranged in several layers around the yellow centre. It looks great planted in bold groups, with purple-flowering plants, such as Aster novi-belgii Purple Dome, or as part of an exotic planting scheme. The flowers are produced from July until the first frosts.
  
  Garden care: Provide a high-potash fertiliser every couple of weeks from July to September. It is not usually necessary to lift the tubers and store them over winter except in cold areas or in a severe winter. If you do decide to bring them indoors, carefully lift and clean the tubers and allow them to dry naturally. Place the dry tubers in a shallow tray, just covered with slightly moist potting compost, sand or vermiculite. Store in a frost-free place, checking frequently over the winter months.
  
  
  

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