home

Growing dahlias "Merry Fellows" - planting and reproduction. Annual dahlias Funny guys: photo, video, cultivation and care

Dahlias "Merry Fellows" are dwarf forms with a height of up to 70 cm. They got their name "Merry Fellows" from the bright, varied, cheerful color of the flowers. Dahlias are perennial, herbaceous root plants.

But in the climatic conditions of central Russia, all dahlias, including Merry Fellows, are grown as annual crops. flowers. Flowers can be simple and double, semi-double. The color is the most diverse: white, yellow, red, burgundy, pink, lilac.

The flower of "Merry Fellows" is essentially a basket inflorescence, in the middle of which are tubular flowers, mostly yellow. Along the edges are reed flowers of various colors.

Flower size - up to 8 - 10 cm in diameter. "Merry Fellows" bloom all summer and autumn: from July to frost. Dahlias "Funny guys" demanding on soils. The soil should be fertile, moderately moist, neutral.

Plants are very light and thermophilic. They can’t stand even mild frosts. The “Jolly Fellows” are propagated by seeds through seedlings, which are sown in March - April.

Seedling of dahlia Cheerful guys

AT open ground they are planted as soon as the threat of frost has passed in May - early June. Under certain storage conditions, you can save the tubers of "Jolly Fellows" and plant them next year. To do this, dug out tubers are washed, cut off small roots, disinfected in strong potassium permanganate ( purple) or a solution of the drug "Maxim".

Then the tubers need to be dried for several days. Dried tubers are placed in cardboard box, completely covered with dry sand, peat. Store at a temperature of 6 - 8 degrees. The fruit room of the refrigerator may be suitable for these purposes.

Dahlia Dahlias Funny guys

It is necessary to ensure that the tubers do not dry out. For this purpose, once a month, you can moisten the contents of the box from the spray bottle. Experience has shown that if the tubers were saved, the next year a powerful dahlia bush "Merry Fellows" grows out of them. You can save a link to an article:

Dahlias are funny guys

How to decorate the garden in summer? A bright flock of "Jolly Fellows" Perennial dahlias are undoubtedly a spectacular decoration of any garden. But they are not convenient for everyone, because tubers must be stored in winter.

There is an annual version of these flowers, one of the varieties of which was given a surprisingly accurate name - "Jolly Fellows". They do not have the solemnity of perennial dahlias, but they also know how to please the eye.

dahlia seedling

It is not advisable to sow seeds in the ground, because this can be done only in May, and the plants will bloom in August. Experienced flower growers prefer seedlings. Then sowing is done in April or even at the end of March. Fertile land is needed for seedlings.

It can be found where the nettle grows. If possible, add peat. Three days before sowing, the earth is disinfected: steamed or spilled with a hot dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. Plastic boxes from cakes are useful as containers.

Large dahlia seeds are laid out on moistened ground and fall asleep. thin layer sand. If it is not there, the same land will do. By the fifth day (at a temperature of about 25 °), shoots will appear. Two weeks later they dive.

At frugal hostess there will always be big plastic cups from under sour cream or yogurt. They are the best for seedlings.

Plants in them develop faster than in boxes. (Compare life in a communal and in a separate apartment.) It is necessary to water as the soil dries. Every 10 days, top dressing is carried out using liquid fertilizer.

Transplanting dahlias into the ground

All dahlias are afraid of frost. "Merry Fellows" will well endure the resettlement "to the country" in early June. But the weather in last years allows you to plant them in the ground in May.

To ensure complete comfort for the plants, you can place them in a greenhouse or greenhouse for several days before planting. Annual dahlias do not like shaded and low damp places. In such conditions, they stretch and bloom weakly.

The soil is prepared in the fall, introducing organic matter: manure, compost, humus. It is recommended to throw a handful of ash, humus and a teaspoon of nitrophoska into the seedling hole. Between plants it is necessary to leave a distance of about 20 cm, for tall ones - about 40 cm. Groups of "Merry Fellows" form beautiful flower beds. But they do not shy away from neighbors, especially if they are blue or blue.

Dahlia Care

The earth around the bushes can be covered with mulch, sawdust will do. Weeds, of course, must be removed. Dahlias are watered abundantly about once a week until mid-August. Water should penetrate to a depth of 40 cm. In the heat, "Merry Fellows" will be happy with water spraying.

From the end of August onwards, they are rarely watered, focusing on the weather. While the greenery is forming, the plants can be fed with complex fertilizer. At the end of June, dahlias bloom. To speed up this process and increase the size of the flowers, experts advise cutting stepchildren (except for undersized varieties).

The best option for a plant is three stems. You can leave all the shoots. Then for resistance to strong winds bushes need to be tied to pegs or a trellis. Faded heads are cut off.

If needed own seeds leave a few flowers. They will ripen in about a month. Then they are dried at home and stored in paper bags. But subsequent generations rarely repeat the features of their parents.

This fact does not bother flower growers: every year the flower bed is painted in new colors. Hereditary traits are transmitted by tubers that ripen during the season. They can be stored like perennial dahlias. If there is a threat of autumn frosts, flowers can be covered at night. This will prolong the joy of communication with the "Merry Fellows".

Dahlias "Merry Fellows" Photo

Dahlias Funny guys - features of care

Becomes smart and bright country cottage area, decorated with multi-colored dahlias with semi-double inflorescences rich colors. Dwarf single-row dahlias are popularly called Merry Fellows, and this name very accurately characterizes the cheerful appearance of this plant.

Top dressing and flowering

General description of colors

Dahlias Cheerful guys in the conditions of the middle lane are grown as annuals. The height of the bushes of dwarf dahlias ranges from 25 to 70 cm. The stems of the plant are dense, strong, green or brown.

Flowers can be dyed white, different shade yellow, red, pink and lilac tones. In the middle of the inflorescence-baskets are tubular yellow flowers whimsically surrounded by petals of different shades.

Growing from seedlings

Funny Guys seeds are usually sold in a mixture, and from one bag the gardener can get flowers of all kinds of colors. The soil for growing seeds must be prepared from equal parts of peat, sand and fertile land.

Planting seeds for seedlings should begin in March - April. At a temperature of about 25 degrees, on about the 7th day, the seedlings will sprout. After two weeks, they must be planted in separate pots.

It is advisable to feed the growing plants at this stage at intervals of once every ten days, using liquid fertilizers. Dwarf dahlias are very delicate, and even slight frosts can damage the developing stems and leaves. Before transplanting into open ground, the plants need to be hardened a little, gradually accustoming them to the direct rays of the sun. Planting in flower beds and flower beds is usually carried out in May: on the one hand, frosts are no longer expected, on the other hand, the flowers begin to stretch strongly due to the lack of light in the room.

Growing from seed

You can grow plants from seeds by planting them in May immediately in open ground. In order for the flowers not to get sick in the future, it is recommended to hold the seeds for several minutes in 10% aqueous solution formalin. After dressing, the seeds must be dried.

Flowering with this method of planting will occur no earlier than the end of August.

Growing from tubers

If you wish, you can try to grow dwarf dahlias from tubers. In autumn they are dug up with earthy clod, disinfected with a solution of manganese and cleaned in a cool dark place. The tubers need to be monitored so that they do not dry out.

To do this, they are sprayed with water once a month. If by May the tubers were saved, then they, previously divided into several parts according to the number of buds, must be planted in the ground. The flowering of plants grown in this way occurs 2-3 weeks faster than that of the sowing ones. With the described method, the Merry Guys will turn into perennials, but after a couple of years, seed propagation will have to be repeated: with the tuberous method of growing, the flowers gradually degenerate.

Soil requirements and watering

A landing site should be chosen well-lit by the sun in the morning and closed from drafts. You can not use areas in the shade of large trees - this will certainly affect the abundance of flowering. The soil should be airy, loose, neutral or slightly acidic.

When close ground water usually use raised beds. Before planting seedlings, they dig holes in the ground at a distance of 20 cm, it is useful to add a mixture of ash, humus and a little nitrophoska to each of them. It is advisable to mulch the soil with sawdust.

The root system of dahlias is very delicate, so transplanting should be carried out carefully. During the first two weeks after transplanting into open ground, watering should be plentiful. Especially it is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out on hot days.

When especially high temperatures spraying plants with water is shown. As soon as the dahlia gives a lot of buds, watering should be reduced to moderate. Even less often you need to water in August-September.

Top dressing and flowering

Usually for the entire life cycle the plant is fed 3 times. First time - 15 days after transplantation, using ammonium nitrate or cow. The second time - when the first buds appear: superphosphate and potassium salt will do.

The last top dressing is carried out with organic fertilizers during the period of abundant flowering. It is important for gardeners to know that if dahlias are overfed with nitrogen, then lush flowering, as a rule, does not occur. Approximately 90 days after sowing, from July, the Merry Fellows begin to bloom. In duration, it is long, until the first autumn frosts.

The abundance of flowering directly depends on how well the bush of the plant is formed: the greater the height of the Merry Fellows, the later the flowers will begin to bloom. If the plant is not very low, then in the process of its development it is important to pinch side shoots and main, above the 4th pair of leaflets.

Faded inflorescences must be removed in time, leaving only a few to obtain their own seeds. The duration of flowering of dwarf dahlias turns these plants into a wonderful decoration for flower beds, flower beds and borders. Due to the variety of shades of Merry Fellows, an enchanting illusion is born that there is a real carnival of a variety of colors on the site.

General information about the variety "Jolly Fellows"

Dahlias are originally perennials, but "Jolly Fellows" is an annual dwarf variety, flowers are cut already in the first year after planting. Under the conditions of the middle lane, the dahlia cannot survive the winter, so it does not form tubers.

Once this variety was the most common decoration of flower beds and flower beds, now it has been somewhat supplanted by begonias and marigolds. The height of the bushes is from 25 to 70 cm, the plant has strong stems with bright green leaves. The diameter of the inflorescences can reach 9 cm, this is a very bright and noticeable flower that can have white, pink, lilac, red and other shades.

Dwarf dahlias can be simple and double. These flowers are grown to decorate flower beds, they look great against other, less bright flowers. The dahlia bed turns into one of the most visible decorations in the garden, and it will not disappoint its owners.

Planting dahlias and growing technology

"Merry Fellows" is a heat-loving and light-loving variety that can tolerate well even a long drought. At the same time, they are undemanding to the composition of the soil, but they definitely need light: if you plant them, for example, in the shade of a fence, the stems will be too thin and fragile and you can not count on lush flowering. It is recommended to pre-spill the soil mixture with a potassium permanganate solution, this will protect plants from various diseases. The main method of reproduction is seeds, while the basic rules must be observed:

The best time to plant seeds is the end of April. Seeds are planted in the prepared substrate to a depth of 2 cm, the distance between seedlings should be about 3 cm. The first shoots can be expected a week after planting the seeds. When the height of the plants reaches about 10 cm, they need to be picked: they can be planted in spacious boxes or in special peat pots, which are subsequently transplanted into open ground. Starting in May, it is advisable to take the seedlings out into the air so that they get used to street conditions. Around the middle of June, they are finally transplanted into flower beds, and flowering can be expected by early July. When planting, rows must be observed: the distance between two plants should be at least 20 cm, as the bushes begin to grow rapidly. Water them not often, but plentifully, especially if the weather is hot. It is desirable to mulch the root system, this additional protection from drying out. For planting, shops most often offer a varietal mix: seeds are placed in bags with different colors buds, which will allow you to get a varied bright flower bed. You can immediately sow seeds in open ground, it is better to do this in May, when there is no longer a risk of frost returning.

Dahlia Care

The soil in which the dahlia will be planted should be pre-fertilized with manure or humus in the fall, this will ensure faster growth and lush flowering. The bushes begin to actively bloom from mid-July, and until the very first frosts they will delight you with magnificent buds. Flowers bloom one after another, so flowering will not stop. To prolong the life of the plant, the roots are covered with a film or special non-woven material at night.

It is important to know that dahlias are afraid of waterlogging, which is much worse for the root system than drought. At first, young seedlings are watered no more than once a week, you can also spray the bushes with water from a spray bottle. In August, plants can not be watered, at this time they need water the least.

When flowering is complete, it is necessary to leave the strongest bushes on the vine in order to collect seeds. They are carefully separated from the petals when the inflorescences are completely dry, after which they must be additionally dried in the sun.

placed in paper bag seeds can be stored for several years if kept at room temperature.If desired, you can save dahlia tubers for the winter, which can also later be used when planting. They are removed from the soil before the first frost, small roots are cut off, for storage the tubers need to be dried and covered with sand or peat.

Practice shows that powerful plants can be obtained from such tubers and lush flowering can be achieved the next year. More information can be found in the video.

What do flowers look like?

Funny guys are dwarf. They grow in small, but very lush bushes. The total height of the plants does not exceed 70 cm, and some specimens are completely crumbs - their height is only 25 cm. burgundy).

It is noteworthy that the flowering time of dahlias directly depends on their size: the higher the plants, the later they bloom.

Dahlia inflorescences look like large daisies and reach 10 cm in diameter. Their color can be very diverse, there are also two-color varieties. The flower itself is a basket, in the center of which are yellow tubular petals, and the edges are framed by reed petals, painted in the main color.

Growing features

Although by nature Merry Fellows are perennial flowers, like garden culture they are cultivated as annuals. This is due, first of all, to the fact that the bushes cannot winter in our climatic conditions. In addition, they form tubers extremely reluctantly, and if this happens, then by the third year of life they still degenerate. Thus, the most best way and reproduction of dwarf dahlias - seed.

Sowing seeds can be done in two ways:

Directly into open ground. Since juicy and tender dahlia bushes are afraid of low temperatures, they can be sown in the garden no earlier than the end of May.
For seedlings. In order to speed up the flowering time, it is better to grow seedlings by sowing seeds in pots at the end of March. Fortified bushes are transplanted into the flower bed in the last days of May.

Dahlias sown immediately in the garden will bloom only at the end of summer, and those obtained by seedlings - already in early July.

For Merry Guys, it is necessary to take a bright place, because in the shade the bushes begin to stretch and lose their magnificent forms. You should not get carried away with watering: the flowers will live quietly for a couple of days without water, but they will not tolerate its excess and may rot. Otherwise, these wonderful flowers are very docile and bloom until autumn, until frost begins.

Video about growing dahlias Cheerful guys

Mid-summer - the peak of annual flowering

Everyone who has tried to cultivate annual dahlias Funny guys on their site is unanimous in their opinion - wonderful plant it is worthy to be on any flowerbed, in a discount or in the form of a curb.

The unusual name of the flower was due to the bold multi-colored color and early opening of the buds. The reed petals of this dahlia variety can be absolutely any palette: from the usual white or yellow to burgundy or lilac color. A flowerbed with Merry Guys turns out to be festive and bright.

Description

Dahlia bushes are compact and short. Moreover, the last sign directly depends on the illumination of the plant. In the sun, Funny guys barely reach 25 cm in height, but they bloom early. In partial shade conditions, the situation is the opposite - the bush becomes taller, and flowering is late. The abundance of the ovary of buds is also not to be expected.

If the dahlia is planted in a sunny area, provided with proper care, then it will surely please the owners with numerous simple anemic, double or semi-double flowers with catchy yellow centers. The diameter of the basket of any variety varies between 8-10 cm.

Here it makes sense to look at a few photos of dahlias Cheerful guys in a flower bed in order to understand what variety of shapes and colors we are talking about.

The suns grew on the bushes in the garden

For lovers of fiery colors

Low growing dahlias from seeds

Bright colors among lemon balm

Pink dreams of any gardener

Funny boys close-up- true perfection

As for the vegetative mass, the stems of the Merry Fellows are quite strong, despite the cavity inside. The leaves are thick, juicy, green or brownish in color.

On a note! The lower the dahlia variety, the earlier it will bloom!

All about seeds

Purchase

The advantage of the dahlia "Jolly Fellows" is its rapid growth and active flowering for 2-3 months. The end result of growing a crop directly depends on the quality of the seeds and the chosen method of sowing.

If you wish, you can buy the seeds of Merry Fellows of the same color, or you can purchase a package with a collection of multi-colored samples. The description of the product contains useful information about the features of the variety:

mature plant height
terry or smooth petals
single or multi-row tiers
agricultural conditions.

As a rule, simple anemone flowers bloom on dwarf stems (up to 40 cm), and varieties reaching 70 cm are crowned with large terry dahlias. At the same time, the first group attracts consumers with a large number of buds and incessant flowering, and the second with an amazing structure of petals (there are fewer baskets on such dahlias).

Seeds of Merry Fellows are large. They can be collected independently from flowering crops. Germination lasts up to 3 years. However, it should be noted that the seeds collected in the flower bed sometimes do not give an exact repetition of the favorite variety. We must be prepared for the fact that different in height and color, but no less beautiful dahlias will grow in the flower bed.

The same risk exists with self-sowing plants. If the seeds are not harvested in time, then as they mature, they will fall to the ground and some of them will overwinter well, giving life to young dahlias in the spring.

On a note! The chance of growing beautiful Merry Boys from seeds is much higher than from tubers. It is very difficult to maintain the health of the roots of an annual dahlia throughout the winter.

Collection from the bush

The collection of planting material must be approached very responsibly. Moreover, experienced gardeners recommend stocking them for future use. What if the summer does not work out and in the new season it will not be possible to replenish the bag with fresh seeds?

Faded buds are left on the bush until completely dry. When the achene begins to crumble easily, literally pouring dark brown seeds to the ground, you can pluck it and pack it in a paper bag or any other container.

If suddenly the plant did not have time to mature, then the half-wet material can be laid out in one layer on paper in warm room for final drying. It is important to remember that the quality of such a collection is much lower than that which is taken from the bush.

Landing

Soil preparation

The annual is unpretentious to growing conditions, but feels better on fertile and neutral soil. The ideal soil composition for growing dahlias Funny guys from seeds is as follows:

1 piece of land
1 part sand
1 part humus.

The last item can be replaced with peat.

Before planting seeds in pots or on a plot, flower growers recommend treating the soil with a solution of manganese in order to attract worms to the breeding site of dahlias (for loosening dense soil, increasing its breathability). Also, this measure will prevent the manifestation of a number of diseases and pests.

On a note! In specialized stores and some nurseries they sell ready-made formulations land for this variety of plants!

The layout of the bushes on the site

Cheerful guys are not crowded on a small piece of land, but much more comfortable in a spacious flower bed. Although the bushes are compact, they like to be completely and completely under the sun. This means that when planting between dahlia bushes Cheerful guys, you should keep a distance of at least 30 - 50 cm. The first number is for seedlings germinated from seeds bought in a store, the second is for self-collected ones.

If a light-loving plants placed in places where buildings, fences or trees cover the morning sun, the grower will not like the result of cultivation. The stems of the Merry Fellows will stretch out, lose the saturation of the color of the leaves, bloom late and poorly.

The sun is all that a dahlia needs for successful growth and flowering.

Seedless planting method

As already mentioned, growing a dahlia from seeds is much more convenient and efficient than from tubers. Firstly, some of the Merry Fellows' roots dug up for the winter simply do not survive until spring. Secondly, the young dahlia turns out to be tall with small (albeit attractive) flowers.

Therefore, the seeds of Merry Fellows are sown directly in open ground after the threat of return frosts has passed, that is, in May - June. Sometimes flower growers practice etching planting material for several minutes in a solution of 10% formalin. Then the germination of seedlings increases significantly and the risk of diseases of seedlings decreases.

The lack of a seedless method of growing dahlias "Merry Fellows" is one - the start of flowering of the plant is late. The buds open no earlier than the end of July, the beginning of August.

seedling harvesting

With this method of cultivating a flower, you can admire the bright petals at the end of June. The time for planting seeds is the end of February, March. As containers use:

wooden boxes
peat pots
plastic cups
other suitable container.

The seeds are deepened by 2 cm into a mixture of sand and peat, they maintain an average distance between seedlings of 3 cm. For the convenience of planting, furrows of the appropriate depth are made in the box, the “seeds” of the dahlia are laid out in a row, sprinkled with soil on top and watered with water at room temperature.

On a note! Seeds soaked in water, with sprouted sprouts, are very fragile, so as not to damage them, you can use tweezers.

If desired, seedlings can organize a mini-greenhouse by covering the container with a transparent lid or film. Such a measure will provide seedlings with a comfortable, moderately humid climate for growth.

Picking seedlings or transplanting into open ground

The first sprouts of the dahlia "Merry Fellows" are shown on the surface of the soil within a week (7-10 days). The plant does not need picking. The tightness of the container for young seedlings is not critical. However, if there is a desire, the plant can be transplanted into a container. bigger size. The transfer method is used.

Water seedlings sparingly. It is easier for annuals to cope with drought than with excess moisture. Waterlogging of the soil can kill the dahlia.

A week or two before the Merry Fellows landed on open area containers are taken outside. Young bushes adapt to new growing conditions. It is important that at this time the weather in the yard is warm and sunny.

For seedlings at a distance of 20-50 cm from each other, holes are formed where nutrients are added:

1-2 tsp ash
½ cup humus
1 tsp nitrophoska.

The first substance protects root system from decay. Thanks to the second, the plant gains strength and health. The third helps the seedlings build up the vegetative mass for good flowering.

Important! Nitrophoska contains nitrogen, and therefore it is used as a fertilizer only when planting dahlias. In the following weeks, this top dressing cannot be applied, otherwise the greens will run amok at the expense of flowering.

It remains to carefully distribute the roots in the hole, cover them with earth up to the root neck (not higher!), Water and mulch.

On a note! Seedlings planted in seedlings as single specimens in separate pots bloom earlier than those that were pickled!

Basics of care

Watering

Separate several periods life cycle dahlias "Merry Fellows", with which, in one way or another, the features of soil moisture are associated. So, during the forcing of seedlings, the sprouts are watered about 1 time in 5-7 days.

Transplanting annuals into the ground requires an increase in the number of irrigations up to 2 times over the same period. Special attention dahlias are given in a long drought, in the absence of precipitation. To mitigate the effect of the heat, it is advisable to organize spraying with spray guns or hoses for the Merry Guys.

With the appearance of buds on the bushes, watering is reduced. In August, it is completely stopped or reduced to a minimum. Bushes do not need moisture.

fertilizers

During the season, the annual dahlia is fed 3-4 times:

landing
2-3 weeks after rooting in open ground. Apply mullein or ammonium nitrate
when buds appear. Use superphosphate or potassium salt
at the peak of flowering. They prefer organic fertilizers.

Reminder! Nitrogen negatively affects the formation of plant buds! Compositions with its content are best avoided!

How to prolong flowering

The abundance and duration of the emission of flowers depends not only on the quality of the soil, proper watering and timely feeding of dahlias Cheerful guys. There is a simple way to stimulate a plant that will provide continuous flowering. We are talking about pinching shoots and removing faded buds.

So, the main stem of an annual is broken off over 4-5 pairs of leaves. This measure will ensure the awakening of side shoots. Branches will begin to appear from the axils of the leaves, which means that the bush will grow in width and provide additional space for ovaries of buds.

However, this is not all. Faded dahlias must be removed by carefully cutting off the peduncle above the nearest internode with a pruner (with the exception of those specimens that are left for seeds). Soon, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe cut, you can observe the release of new shoots with tiny buds at the ends.

With this approach, Cheerful guys will successfully bloom until the very frost and can give odds even to chrysanthemums.

What to do with the plant in autumn

About the benefits of vegetative mass

Summer residents noted that the stems and leaves of an annual dahlia are an excellent covering material for perennials that remain to winter in the garden. So, in September-November, cut "under the stump" greens of the Merry Fellows with withered, but not fallen leaves, are laid out over bushes of roses, clematis, over lilies and other flowering crops.

Under such a "feather bed" perennials do not freeze, and most importantly, they do not die. In the spring, dahlias are much easier to clean than the same autumn leaves.

About tubers

Having considered the popular ways of planting the "Jolly Fellows" dahlia from seeds, as well as the basics of caring for the plant and the possibility of using greenery in the fall, I would like to say a few words about the root system of the crop.

Part experienced flower growers convince that the cultivation of annual tubers is quite real.

So, the roots dug out during the frost period with clearly defined tuberous cones are not cleaned from the earth coma. Moreover, they are additionally “wrapped” in clay. Such a measure will retain moisture in the roots, prevent them from drying out.

In May, the planting material is taken out of the shelter, dead areas are removed with a knife, healthy parts are treated with coal powder or phytosporin.

The roots are planted in the ground, leaving the root neck on the surface. Further, the plant is followed by the usual care discussed earlier.

It is noteworthy that reviews regarding this method of breeding dahlias are quite contradictory. Some flower growers convince that the Merry Guys retain the varietal characteristics inherent in the plant, while others argue the opposite.

Without disputing the opinions of the opposing sides, I would like to focus on one circumstance - after a three-year cycle, the dahlia tubers Cheerful guys degenerate. It is not recommended to breed the plant in this way over the specified period.

There is only one way out - to return to the seed method of propagating your favorite flowers.

The role of annuals in landscape design

Often summer residents are interested in the question, with what colors on the site do dahlias Cheerful guys harmonize? It should be noted that these annuals are perfectly combined with many ornamental crops:

marigolds
nasturtiums
petunias
asters
sage
other plants.

The only thing when landing is to take into account the height of all the "neighbors": who to place on background and who to highlight.

Options for the use of annual low-growing dahlias in landscape design demonstrate such photos.

Marigolds, dahlias and red coleus are a great company

A neat flower bed in front of the windows pleases with an abundance of colors

Different varieties of dahlias - a pleasant neighborhood

Diseases and pests

Processing the land with potassium permanganate before planting dahlias prevents the manifestation of certain diseases, however, when improper care for the Merry Boys, problems may return.

Main troubles:

gray rot (manifested on leaves and buds with brown spots)
white rot ( brown spots attack individual stems)
fusarium (root rot)

In all cases, the damaged parts of the plant dry out and fall off. The cause of the trouble is waterlogging of the soil and thickening of the planting. Dahlia cannot be cured. The diseased bush is removed.

Of the pests, the dahlia is threatened by:

aphids (leaves curl, turn yellow prematurely)
slugs (gnawed stripes and holes are clearly visible on the plant).

In the first case, you can use preparations such as "Aktellik", in the second - you will have to collect pests manually, and in parallel scatter sawdust between bushes.

In general, dahlias are considered disease and pest resistant crops. If you do not make mistakes when caring for the garden, you will not have to fight the enemy.

The experience of growing Cheerful guys from purchased seeds is conveyed by the author of the video blog “How beautiful this world is” (from the same photo of living plants):

Dahlias - simple and affordable way decorate any flower bed or household plot. Ease of planting and care, a beautiful aesthetic appearance in life and in the photo is distinguished by a variety called Cheerful guys. It fits perfectly into any flower garden thanks to its colorful, pleasing to the eye and mood-enhancing colors. This property explains why the flower is called that.

Description of the variety Cheerful guys

Bright, multi-colored buds in your flower bed can charge you with cheerfulness. This variety has long enjoyed stable popularity with domestic gardeners and flower growers and competes for leadership with begonias and marigolds. Unlike fellow dahlias, Cheerful guys are an annual plant. This dwarf variety must be cut in the first year as it does not form a bulb and therefore will not survive the winter. At least in the temperate climate of the central zone of the Russian Federation. The variety has the following characteristics:

plant height - 25-70 cm;
stem - strong;
leaves - green, bright, large;
the shape of the inflorescence is a basket of yellow core and tubular flowers;
the diameter of an open bud is 8-10 cm in diameter;

Flowering varieties Cheerful guys

color - saturated, conspicuous;
petals are smooth or hairy.

Attention! The colors of the dahlia Cheerful guys are a separate topic: red, lilac, white, pink and varieties of these shades. Despite the variety of colors, all the flowers that appear in your flower bed will belong to the same variety.

Cheerful guys are created to decorate flower beds. Wonderful flower beds, aesthetic borders and borders come out of them. A solid array of these flowers looks great on some slope or in home garden, between sage, petunia, delphinium, asters. They are especially expressive in combination with less bright colors. With this variety, you will be able to express your creativity in creating landscape design. In addition, natural resistance to prolonged drought makes growing flowers and maintaining beauty in a flower bed an easy task.

Advice. Over the years of growing Merry Fellows, gardeners have identified a pattern: the lower the bush, the earlier it will bloom. This information can also be used for decorative purposes.

How to plant dahlias Cheerful guys

Moisture deficiency is not the only positive feature of caring for this flower. The variety is also picky about the composition of the soil. However, do not count on these benefits if you plant a dahlia in the shade (building, fence, tree). In this case, the stem will not form properly and will not be able to store moisture and useful substances. In addition, the variety loves warmth. Without it and without sunlight, Cheerful guys will not give lush flowering.

Producers of planting material know which seed will produce a particular flower color. Therefore, on sale you can most often find a varietal mix. From one bag you get a colorful flower bed. Look for exact data on the packaging. A variety is planted More fun guys more often in seedlings. The soil should be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate of moderate concentration.

Seeds of the variety Cheerful guys

Planting seeds occurs at the end of April in boxes:

Seeds are deepened by 2 cm into the prepared soil. Between plants there should be at least 3 cm. The temperature in the room should be about + 25 ° C.
Shoots should appear in about 5-7 days. Seedlings should be watered no more than once a week in a small portion. warm water. A visual sign is dried soil. You can even just spray the leaves.
The picking of the bushes should be carried out when their height reaches 10 cm. The seedlings are placed in separate peat pots or larger boxes. For top dressing, use liquid fertilizers. The procedure can be performed no more than 1 time in 10 days.
In mid-May, it is necessary to start hardening the seedlings, taking the boxes out into the street. It is important that the place is sunny, without drafts.
In mid-June, young dahlias are transplanted into open ground. It is better to pre-enrich the soil with humus. The step between the bushes should be at least 20 cm, since the plant is quite lush.

Attention! You can plant seeds directly in open ground. This should be done in May, when there is no risk of night frost returning. The method is more suitable for the southern regions, since the flowering of the dahlia will come later than when planting seedlings.

Features of caring for dahlias Cheerful guys

Intensive watering Cheerful guys even contraindicated. An excess of moisture will affect the roots worse than prolonged dehydration. Watering is not necessary often, but plentifully. The hotter, the more water the flower needs. Mulching the soil will help keep the plant moist.

Attention! In August, the dahlia can be left without watering at all. At the end of summer, he does not need water.

At proper agricultural practices expect the flowering of the dahlia Cheerful guys, planted with seedlings, already in early July. The flower bed will please the eye until the first frost. The formation of new buds will occur constantly. A film or other impenetrable material will improve the health of the dahlia - they need to cover the root system at night.

annual dahlias

At the end of the growing season, you can collect seeds for the coming season. After flowering, leave the most powerful plants on the vine:

wait for the final drying of the inflorescences;
separate the seeds from the petals;
fold into a dry paper bag and store at room temperature in a dry place.

Attention! Properly collected seed can remain viable for several years.

Cheerful guys are prone to fungal diseases and pest attacks. Permanent preparation for "defense" - preparing the site in the fall with the help of digging. Good way- liming. Don't skip the problem. After all, these factors can seriously spoil the development of plants and the beauty of the flower bed.

"Merry Fellows" bloom profusely almost immediately after planting, delight with bright colors and respond gratefully to any care. To breed annual dahlias, you don’t even need to have a summer house. They can grow in pots, decorating windows, or on.

Botanical description

Dahlias (Aáhlia) are part of the Aster family (Asteráceae). According to the new classification, the genus Dáhlia includes 42 species. The modern cultural dahlia is a complex hybrid obtained by crossing several wild-growing species.

- perennial plants, tender and thermophilic. In winter, their tubers are stored in cellars or refrigerators.

For most gardeners, storing dahlias is a sore subject. Planting material often dies, which is why many have to abandon the cultivation of these wonderful flowers.

They will come to the rescue annual varieties. Their seeds can be found in any garden store. Low-growing dahlias of the "Jolly Fellows" variety are in great demand among flower growers and are used for landscaping private and public areas.

This is an annual compact variety that blooms 2-3 months after sowing the seeds. By their nature, these are perennials, but in cold climates they do not survive the winter and cannot form full-fledged tubers, therefore they are grown as annuals.

This is the first variety of annual dahlias, which became known among domestic summer residents. Its name has become, in a sense, a household name. Now "Children" can be called any annual dahlias, despite the fact that all new cultivars have their own names.

The peak of popularity of the variety came at the end of the last century. Now many new, more decorative annual varieties have been bred, but "Jolly Fellows" are still often found in summer cottages and are used in landscaping public places.

The variety is loved for unpretentiousness and practicality. Its flowers are large and bright, but not double. They are not used in bouquets, so plants can be safely planted in city flower beds.

Private traders breed them, because many are accustomed to these colors since childhood. The variety is suitable for those who need an unpretentious long-flowering flower with large chamomile-shaped baskets.

The height of the plant varies from 30 to 65 cm. The span of the petals is up to 9 cm. The color is white, pink, lilac, red, yellow. The stems are strong, the leaves are bright green.

The flower is a basket-type inflorescence, consisting of several dozen individual flowers. In the center are tubular, usually yellow. Reeds grow along the edges, which non-specialists call petals. Flowering continues from July until the first frost.

Planting "Merry Fellows" and caring for seedlings in the photo

Funny Guys dahlias are perfect for beginner gardeners to grow from seed if you know when and how to sow and plant them.

To bloom earlier, annual varieties are grown through seedlings. The seeds of these plants are large, convenient for processing and sowing, and germinate well.

In the southern regions, seeds are sown in March, in the middle lane and to the north - in April.

Seeds germinate for a week and immediately begin to actively develop. Seedlings will have to pay a lot of attention.

It is very important to pick the "Merry Fellows" dahlias from a common box into pots one plant at a time. The volume of each container is 400-500 ml.

Photo: the volume of pots for transplanting dahlias after picking is 400-500 ml

Dahlias need a lot of light and heat, so the seedlings should, if necessary, be kept at a temperature not lower than +18.

With a seedless method of growing, plants will bloom a month later. Seeds are sown when the soil warms up to 15 degrees. Usually at this time the apple tree blossoms. Seeds are placed first in a greenhouse, and then dive to a permanent place.

Large seeds are easy to sow at the required interval. Before sowing, they can be soaked for 12 hours in the Epin growth stimulator (1 drop per 50 ml of water). The drug increases the resistance of plants to cold.

Seedlings are transplanted from the greenhouse at the beginning of summer to a permanent place. The day before the event, they need to be treated again with Epin - it will reduce the engraftment time in a new place.

Seedlings are transplanted necessarily with earth on the roots. Then she immediately after landing will go to growth.

Indoor seedlings need to be accustomed to street freshness, taking them out into the open air, first for several hours, and then for the whole day. Hardened, strong, mite-treated plants will thank you with lush flowering and active growth.

Seedlings are placed in a sunny place, leaving a distance of 15-20 cm between them. The earth should be loose and fertile, without fresh organic matter.

It is very good to put at least a little compost in the planting hole or to fill it with plantings instead of mulch. Manure and humus are undesirable. It will provoke too rapid growth and outbreaks of fungal diseases.

Particular attention should be paid to the moisture content of the soil. On substrates that do not retain moisture, such as sand, plants will be stunted and may not flower at all. On heavy clay, especially in lowlands, the roots will rot.

You need to add a little clay to sandy soil and, conversely, sand to clay soil to get loose, but at the same time moisture-intensive earth that can hold not a large number of water.

Video "Channel for gardeners" - growing annual dahlias from seeds:

Care of mature plants

In the flower bed, annual varieties get sick a little and cause almost no trouble. In June, the plants will have to be weeded three or four times. In a drought, plantings are moistened in any way: under the root or by sprinkling.

As soon as buds appear on the plants, watering is reduced. In August, the bushes need the least water, so the watering can and hose can be put aside.

Over the summer, the bushes are fed several times with complex mineral fertilizers: azophos, nitroammophos. First, the flower bed is watered with clean water, and then with a nutrient solution, pouring a tablespoon of granules into 10 liters of water. After such top dressing, flowering becomes especially lush.

reproduction

You can plant a variety only with purchased seeds. Dahlias are cross-pollinated plants, so self-collected seeds are not very suitable for reproducing a flower garden. They will produce completely different plants that will not retain the color and size of the parent forms.

If you decide to collect own material for sowing, this should be done when the baskets are completely brown and dry. The ripened head is torn off, the seeds are separated from the petals and dried a little.

If in the winter the perennial dahlias stored in the cellar died, you can grow annuals to replace them from the purchased seeds in the same year. And in the fall, dig up their root tubers and try to save them.

At the end of October, immediately after the first frost, the bushes are dug up and the roots are examined. If tubers have formed, they are separated and washed from the ground. The sections are treated with potassium permanganate and the planting material is stored in wooden boxes or plastic bags open on top. In the spring, it is examined, damaged parts are removed, wounds are sprinkled with chiseled wood or activated charcoal.

It is better to plant dahlia tubers "Merry Fellows" for seedlings in April, taking a pot of 500 ml or more for each potato. Without germination in open ground, they are planted in mid-May. Plants obtained from tubers bloom much earlier than seedlings.

If there are few seeds, but you need to get a large number of plants, annual dahlias can be propagated by cutting young shoots from seedlings and dividing them into pieces 10 cm long. Each should have at least one leaf. The cuttings are planted in the sand and covered with a film. The surface of the substrate and leaves are sprayed daily with water from a spray bottle. After 2 weeks, the first roots will grow.

Elongated seedlings can be pinched over the third pair of leaves, removing the top. Additional shoots will appear from the sinuses of the plates remaining on the stem, and the bush will become more lush.

Those who do not want to bother with seedlings can buy seedlings at seasonal fairs, markets or flower shop. It usually appears in May. It is better to choose seedlings that did not grow in a common box, but in separate pots.

What else to read

What does "wear a hat on a butch" mean? In domestic places not so remote, all prisoners are divided into four prison castes (they are also called ...

How and how much you can drink coffee from chicory If doctors categorically forbid you to drink coffee, then do not despair! Chicory will be an excellent substitute for your favorite ...

What foods promote serotonin synthesis? We have all heard of the miraculous hormone of happiness. It is found in chocolate and bananas, after which the mood ...

Growing dahlias "Merry Fellows" - planting and reproduction. Annual dahlias Funny guys: photo, video, cultivation and care

Dahlia Dahlias Funny guys

Dahlias are funny guys

dahlia seedling

Transplanting dahlias into the ground

Dahlia Care

Dahlias "Merry Fellows" Photo

Dahlias Funny guys - features of care

General description of colors

Growing from seedlings

Growing from seed

Growing from tubers

Soil requirements and watering

Top dressing and flowering

General information about the variety "Jolly Fellows"

Planting dahlias and growing technology

Dahlia Care

More articles about cottages and gardens

What do flowers look like?

Growing features

Video about growing dahlias Cheerful guys

Description

All about seeds

Purchase

Collection from the bush

Landing

Soil preparation

The layout of the bushes on the site

Seedless planting method

seedling harvesting

Picking seedlings or transplanting into open ground

Basics of care

Watering

fertilizers

How to prolong flowering

What to do with the plant in autumn

About the benefits of vegetative mass

About tubers

The role of annuals in landscape design

Diseases and pests

Description of the variety Cheerful guys

How to plant dahlias Cheerful guys

Features of caring for dahlias Cheerful guys

Botanical description

Planting "Merry Fellows" and caring for seedlings in the photo

Care of mature plants

reproduction

What else to read

THE LAST NOTES

Categories