Annual dahlias Funny guys

There are many types of dahlias, they differ in the type of inflorescence, the height of the bush, and the variety of colors. But a special place in this series is occupied by the one-year-old Dahlias Cheerful guys - a variety of one-year-old low-growing dahlias, which can often be seen in city flower beds and which summer residents love so much.

Description of dahlias Funny guys

Variety Cheerful Guys is capable of forming tubers, but the vast majority of gardeners prefer to propagate it by seed, since it is much easier. Growing seedlings is not a problem; after transplanting into the ground, these colors are extremely unpretentious, and at the same time they are very beautiful and versatile. Funny guys can grow in pots and flowerpots, in city flower beds and in the garden. Inflorescences 7-9 cm in size can be painted in different colors: yellow, orange, red, burgundy, pink, crimson. Depending on the variety, flowers are simple, double and semi-double. In combination with the dark green leaves of a neat furry bush, they look very beautiful. The height of the bush also varies depending on the variety, when buying seeds, pay attention to this - low plants bloom earlier than those that are higher.

Seeds are usually sold in stores with a mixture of colors, so it is not known in advance what color your dahlias will be. But at the end of the season, you can collect the seeds, sign them and plant the plants of exactly those colors that you like best the next year.

Dahlias Funny guys annual planting

In the southern regions, you can grow annual dahlias by sowing seeds directly into the ground. In the middle lane and more northern regions, one cannot do without growing seedlings. To do this, in the second half of March or early April, you need to sow seeds. Seedling soil (dahlias need soil with a neutral or low acidity level) can be purchased at a grocery store or you can prepare a soil mixture yourself by mixing perlite, sand and peat. Before planting seedlings, disinfect the soil by baking it in the oven or spilling it with a manganese solution. Then put it in containers, it is best to use seedling cassettes, plastic or paper cups, or peat pots.
Seeds of the Merry Guys have excellent germination, so you do not need to soak them in a growth stimulator before planting. Deepen the seeds in the soil and water them, cover the containers with glass or foil - an impromptu greenhouse will help the seeds germinate faster. As soon as the first shoots begin to appear, the shelter can be removed. The first couple of weeks, the seedlings should be kept in a bright place at a temperature slightly below normal, about + 17 ... + 19 degrees, when the seedlings get stronger, the temperature can be raised to the standard +25 degrees.

It is very important to organize long daylight hours for seedlings. Most likely, you will allocate space for her on the windowsill, in this case, do not forget to turn the plants 180 degrees daily so that they grow evenly, and do not lean to one side. But even this may not be enough, therefore, if possible, arrange illumination with a special phytolamp or fluorescent lamp. With a lack of light, the plants will grow very weak, the stem will elongate, it will be fragile and brittle. This point must be taken into account in the future, when dahlias will be transplanted outside - place them in a sunny place.

Watering plants should be moderate, dahlias better tolerate a lack of moisture (even a slight drought) than its excess.Two weeks before transplanting into the ground, it is necessary to start hardening the seedlings, taking them out into the air and leaving them there for some time.
If you sow the seeds of the Funny Guys directly into the soil, then do it after the night frosts have completely receded.

At first, plants will have to pay even more attention than seedlings, since until the sprouts are strong enough, it is recommended to cover them at night just in case. And with the onset of cold weather, the most beautiful bushes can be dug up, transplanted into pots and taken home.

An experienced gardener will cope with the cultivation of seedlings of the Cheerful Children without problems, but a beginner grower should not have any difficulties, the main thing is to pay enough attention to the plants and remember the main thing: a lot of light and moderate watering.

Dahlias Funny guys annual care

The best time for transplanting seedlings to a flower bed will be the third decade of May. At this time, it is already steadily warm, night frosts receded, and the soil warmed up enough.
The place for dahlias must be prepared in advance, dug up, while adding well-rotted compost. Chicken droppings or manure are not recommended for fertilizing dahlias.

When planting seedlings, it is very important to arrange it correctly, the further condition of the plants depends on it. Do not deepen the dahlias more than two centimeters, otherwise this will lead to rotting of the root collar and the death of the plant. Depending on the variety and on the expected size of an adult bush, place the seedlings at a distance of at least 25-30 cm from each other. Perhaps at the beginning it will not look as beautiful as you imagined, but believe me, the bushes will grow very quickly and fill the empty space. After planting, you need to water the plants and after that you can mulch the soil around, this will keep the soil moist longer, which means it will reduce your labor costs. Dahlias can tolerate even a short-term drought; in the absence of rainfall, it will be enough to water them once a week. If there is enough rainfall, then watering is not needed at all. From the moment dahlias begin to bloom, they need even less moisture, so at this time, watering should be reduced to a minimum.

Cheerful children, like any plant, need nutritious soil. It is good if you prepared a place for them in the fall, applied a sufficient amount of fertilizers, which overwintered in the ground and acquired exactly the form in which it is most easy for plant roots to assimilate them. For additional nutrition, it will be necessary to carry out top dressing three times and the first to be done a couple of weeks after planting the seedlings. At the beginning of the growing season, dahlias need nitrogen to actively grow greens, so use mullein or ammonium nitrate diluted in water for feeding. A little later, when the dahlias begin to form buds, they need potassium and phosphorus, no longer use nitrogen for fertilizing, otherwise the plant will continue to grow foliage, and there will be no flowers. Well, in the midst of flowering, you can carry out one more top dressing, using organic matter or fertilizers specifically for flowering plants.

Flowering and collecting seeds

By July, your seedlings will get stronger, grow and begin to bloom. If you continue to care for the flowers as carefully as before, then flowering will continue until the first frost. Alas, dahlias do not tolerate sub-zero temperatures, so if you want to transplant some plants into pots and take them home, this must be done in the first half of September so as not to risk it.

In order for flowering to last for a long time, remove the fading inflorescences in a timely manner, if this is not done, then the bush will direct all its forces to ensure that the seeds ripen.We have already said that most likely you purchased a mixture of colors, but now you have the opportunity to collect seeds from each plant you like and plant them next year. To do this, at the end of August, leave 1-2 large flowers on the bushes, which will gradually wither. Once the seeds are ripe, gently pick the inflorescence from the bush and place in a cool dry place for a few days. Then wrap the seeds in paper bags.

Sign the year of harvest and the color of the plant so you don't get confused next year.
During the growing season, Cheerful guys are able to form small tubers, if you try, you can try to keep them until next year. After the first frost, carefully dig out the bush, cut off the aerial part, leaving small hemp, dry it. Sometimes gardeners coat these tubers with clay, this helps to retain moisture and protects them from drying out. Store the tubers of the Merry Boys in the same way as other dahlias - in a cool, well-ventilated place. If the tubers survived the winter, then plant them in the ground in May. After three years, they lose their strength, so you will have to seed again.

Funny guys are really one of the most beautiful and unpretentious flowers. By planting them on your site, you will not lose, as it will look not only smart and festive, but also cozy.