Dahlia 'Arabian Night'

they're superb!!

It puts my meagre efforts to shame

Not at all. This plant is now about 3 years old and I am thrilled that I have managed to keep it over the winter. Just in a box in a dry shed, it must not get damp. Then I potted it up in spring and planted it out when it had got going.

Marshmallow, i'm in the same county as you and i find they can be left in the ground all winter.
Last winter we had minus 12 here (unheard of) and the dahlias, amazingly, came through fine - don't you leave any of yours out ?

I haven't done yet though I might give it a try. Another problem I have is slug damage in spring. If I had them in the ground I would have to remember to watch out for slugs whereas in pots I can see what it going on. I have quite a lot this year though, grown from seed, so I'll probably leave some out. Do you protect them with anything?

During the winter do you mean ? No, i don't cover anything here - the site and soil is so dry that it means i can overwinter quite a lot successfully because the commonest cause of loss is cold wet feet - which just never happens here !!!!!

Beautiful photograph.

I have got this one in flower in my garden at the moment.
My only grip is the blooms seem to heavy for the stems on my one. :)

They do droop a bit when they get wet. I did stake it last year but never got round to it this year.
And hello and welcome.

Love the colour. I've never grown dahlias before but after seeing some of them on here, I might try some next year. I always thought they were annuals so I haven't bothered trying them. I think where I live in the North East, they would have to be over-wintered.

Louise - we had minus 17 here last winter!!! that's cold.

Yes I think so. You can grow them from seed and keep tubers of the ones you like. Bishops Children is a good mix to start with.

I love the colour of this one stunning.