Sam Hopkins Dahlia Plant

Sam Hopkins Dahlia casts a spell in your garden with its striking 4-6 inch blooms, unfurling deep red to near-black velvety petals that exude a rich, sultry charm. This captivating variety blooms steadily from midsummer to frost, adding a touch of elegance to borders, containers, and cut arrangements, set against lush dark green foliage on sturdy stems.

And this beauty keeps the magic flowing. It churns out those plush, dark blooms all season with steady allure, thriving with just a sunny spot and a bit of care. Heat? It glows through it like a pro. Pests and deer? They glimpse this velvet stunner and slip away, enchanted by its depth.

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