It's Dahlia time! And there's no better place to buy than Collectors' Plant Fair - over 80 labelled varieties , in flower, & ready to be stored in their pots for spring planting!
All the dahlias pictured above were purchased from the 2022 Collectors’ Plant Fair and have been grown over summer in the garden of our Convenor Linda Ross. As you can see, dahlias have brought her so much joy this year.
Linda prefers to buy her dahlia‘s in pots during the fair in autumn (in flower so she knows what’s she’s getting and helps avoid the issue of mislabelling). She prefers to overwinter the tubers in their pots, stored in the shed, rather than taking them out of the soil and storing the tubers separately.
Press play for her dahlia rainbow:
We have two reputable dahlia specialists coming to our plant fair:
* Club Creek Bulb Farm (Stall 50) - seek out Adrian Van Kampen for all your dahlia questions. And be wowed by the selection of colours and sizes.
* Drewitt's Bulbs (Stall 37) Tim Drewitt is a wealth of knowledge about dahlias and other bulbs. You'll love his dahlia display with named varieties.
FAQ
How tall do dahlias grow?
There are compact varieties around 40cm tall, as well as varieties that reach over 1.5m – as well as everything in between!
When do dahlias start to sprout?
You’ll see tubers planted in early spring start to sprout 2-3 weeks later.
Are dahlias perennial?
Dahlias are tender perennials and the tubers can be killed by frost. Overwinter your tubers to ensure you have strong dahlia plants from the same tubers each year.
Are dahlias edible?
If they are grown without chemicals, dahlia petals are edible and you sprinkle them over salads!
Can dahlias self-seed?
Yes, they can but they won’t be the same as the parent plant. You can get some interesting offspring appearing.
Are dahlias poisonous to pets?
Yes, unfortunately dahlias are toxic to cats and dogs.
Are dahlias good for bees?
The single dahlias are a fantastic source of forage for bees and other pollinators, providing nectar well into late autumn.
Where do dahlias originate from?
Very little is known about the dahlia before the time of the Aztecs. It is believed that the Aztecs used parts of the dahlia for food and medicine. The mountain regions of Mexico and Guatemala are the birthplace of today's dahlias and they have continued to be grown there.
Collectors' Plant Fair looks forward in delighting your senses once again.
Easy-to-read maps are ready to download.
Print one out and bring it with you.
Happy plant hunting folks!
Collectors' Plant Fair
April 15-16, 2023
Hawkesbury Race Club
Clarendon NSW
Remember, if you get stuck finding something or someone, see our Horticulturist at Information, inside the front gate.
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