Akita Dahlia Plant

Akita Dahlia ignites your garden with its massive 10-12 inch blooms, showcasing fiery red petals edged in golden yellow and kissed with hints of white, like a sunset frozen in bloom. This bold variety flowers steadily from midsummer to frost, bringing dramatic color and wow-factor to borders, containers, and cut arrangements, framed by lush green foliage on sturdy stems.

And this firebrand keeps the heat on. It unleashes those huge, glowing blooms all season with fearless swagger, thriving with just a sunny spot and a dash of care. Heat? It blazes through it like a pro. Pests and deer? They spot this radiant knockout and flee, outmatched by its fierce shine.

Planting Instructions:

• - Plant tubers when soil reaches 60°F. Space them 4-6 inches deep with crown up and roots down

Soil Preparation:

• - Prefers well-drained, fertile soil

Watering Specifics:

• - Wait until green sprouts emerge from the soil before watering
• - Then water deeply 2-3 times per week, and daily if plants are in containers

Fertilizer Type:

• - Use fertilizers with a lower nitrogen count; half the amount of nitrogen relative to phosphorus and potassium (lower N on NPK ratio)
• - Fertilize every 2-3 weeks for containers and every 3-4 weeks for soil grown plants

Pruning and Training:

• - Pinch back the main shoot to encourage branching and more flowers
• - Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering

Additional Pest Management:

• - Inspect regularly for pests like aphids, slugs, and snails

Temperature Tolerance:

• - Protect plants from early frosts with mulch or fleece covers to extend the flowering season

Overwintering:

• - After frost has turned the foliage brown, dig up tubers and store them over the winter
• - Clean tubers and let them dry for a few days in a frost-free location, then store in cool, dry place in slightly moist peat moss or sand