Dahlia Drama: The Love-Hate Relationship with Growing These Beauties

In the world of flowers, few captivate us quite like dahlias; they’re certainly a favorite here on the farm. Those stunning, jaw-dropping blooms that don’t even look real and stop in your tracks, ah, dahlias. They're like nature's way of showing off, right? But here's the thing – as much as we adore them, growing dahlias can be a real pain in the a$@!

First off, let's address the elephant in the room: they're divas, like Mariah Carey level diva. Yup, dahlias have this whole "high-maintenance" vibe going on. They're like, "Oh, you want me to grow? Sure, but only if you give me the VIP treatment." Think warm soil, just the right amount of water (not too much, not too little), and soil so fluffy it's practically begging for a spa day. It's like they have a list of demands longer than Mariah’s backstage rider.

And don't even get me started on pests. It's like every critter in the neighborhood has a hankering for dahlias. Aphids? Check. Slugs? Double check. Earwigs? Oh yeah, they're Dahlias' number one fan club. It's a constant battle trying to keep these pests at bay, like playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole in the field.

But wait, there's more! Let's talk about diseases. Powdery mildew? Botrytis? They sound like something out of a horror movie, but nah, they're just your garden-variety dahlia nightmares. One wrong move, and suddenly your prized blooms are looking like they partied too hard last night.

But here's the thing – despite all the drama, there's something undeniably addictive about growing dahlias. Maybe it's the thrill of the chase, the challenge of coaxing those stubborn tubers to burst forth in a riot of color. Or maybe it's the sheer joy of seeing those breathtaking blooms unfurling before your eyes, like a magic trick performed by Mother Nature herself.

And let's not forget the sense of accomplishment when you finally get it right. When you've babied those tubers through the winter, tended to them like a helicopter parent all spring, and then – bam! – summer rolls around, and your garden explodes in a kaleidoscope of dahlia glory. It's like winning the gardening Olympics, gold medal and all.

Pulling our tubers from winter storage. We found that our crawlspace worked perfectly for overwintering. We divided and potted the tubers in order to (hopefully…) take cuttings in about a month. This is a great, cost-effective way to increase your dahlia supply!

So yeah, growing dahlias might be a wild ride, but hey, isn't that what makes it fun? Sure, they might be high-maintenance, drama queens, but at the end of the day, those dahlias are worth every ounce of effort. Because when you see those blooms shining like stars in your garden, you'll know – it's all been worth it.