Large-Flowered Dahlia ‘Kiev' ® - Tuber

Plant your dahlia tubers during the spring in flower pots, planters or along a border. ‘Kiev’ dahlias are sensitive to frost, so plant them after the frost period. A good time to plant them in the ground would be between late April and mid-May. Prepare a suitable hole, loosen the soil well and fill the hole with fertile soil. Place the ‘Kiev’ tubers carefully into the hole spaced about 50 cm apart and cover them with 3-5 cm of soil. Press the soil gently and water immediately. Dahlias will bloom best in complete sunshine.

The flowers of Dahlia 'Kiev' are real eye catchers in the border. They combine beautifully with gladioli and of course with dahlia 'Vancouver' and dahlia 'Avignon'.

If you want your plants to flower earlier you can 'withdraw' them. Place them in a shallow tray in moist compost at 15-20˚ C during the month of April. When shoots begin to appear, place them in potting compost. In early May acclimatize them with the outdoor temperature and from Mid May when they are used to it you can plant them either in your garden or in a pot.

Dahlia 'Kiev' makes an excellent cut flower that lasts a long time in a vase. The best time to cut dahlias is early in the day. Put the stems directly into a large vase of lukewarm water along with cut flower food.

Fertilize your dahlias ‘Kiev’ on a monthly basis throughout the flowering period and they will flower until the first frosts. Deadhead the faded flowers to prolong the flowering period. Prevent the soil from drying out during dry periods. As this dahlia is fairly tall it is sometimes necessary to support the flower stems.

Dahlia tubers can easily be overwintered. If you want to do this, dig up the plants after the first night frost. Then cut all stems off 15 cm above the tuber. Attach a label with the name of the dahlia to remind yourself for the next year. Shake the soil from the dahlia tubers and place in a box with peat dust or sharp sand. Store the dahlia tubers in a frost free area such as a garden shed or greenhouse. Next spring you can plant the dahlia tubers again and they will reward you with their wonderful flowers!