Rust Bucket Collection (5 tubers)

The Rust Bucket Collection is a sumptuous mix of autumnal shades balancing vibrant coral pinks against deep maroons. I combined contrasting flower shapes to add interest, with the spiky silhouette of Danique set against the spherical heads of pompon varieties. Chosen for their free flowering nature, they are equally suited for borders and containers. All of them feature sturdy stems giving you armfuls of flowers for your kitchen table. My collections are limited edition. No tubers in the collection can be substituted. For 2024, the Rust Bucket Collection includes one of each of the following.

IN THE BOX (5 tubers)

1 x Dahlia American Dawn

1 x Dahlia Copper Boy

1 x Dahlia Danique

1 x Dahlia Iced Tea

1 x Dahlia La Recoleta

1 x Growing Instructions

Country of Origin: South Africa

All my dahlia tubers are carefully inspected for any health issues by myself when I divide them. The variety name is strictly controlled to prevent any potential mix-ups.

Dahlia tuber orders will be shipped from the beginning of September through October 2024, in the order in which they were received.

Tuber Count: 1

Plant Type: Tender perennial

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Blooms: Summer to First Frost

Plant Spacing: 45cm

Plant Staking: Yes, due to plant height

Dahlias are shipped as single tubers with minimum one eye guaranteed per tuber. If you are not able to plant the tubers upon arrival, store in a cool, dry, dark location.

Planting Information:

Plant Dahlia's after the last Spring frost and soil has warmed to 15°C. Pick a well drained, rich, organic flower bed or planter to plant into. Loosen the soil to a depth of 30cm before planting. Add compost and all-purpose granular fertilizer to the planting area and mix well. Dig a hole and plant the tubers, keeping the eye or sprouts upright. The top of the tubers, where the sprout emerge, should be positioned 10cm below the soil surface when the hole is filled in. Fill in around the tuber, firmly pressing down the soil so it is even with the surrounding ground, and water well. Make sure there are no air pockets in the soil. If planting in a container, ensure there are adequate drainage holes.

Tips For Growing Dahlias

1. A common mistake when growing dahlias is to overwater tubers you have just planted. Too much water at this early stage can lead to rot. Water well when you first plant the tuber and then wait until you spot the first sprouts before watering again.

2. To prevent disease, keep the foliage of dahlias as dry as possible. Water deeply once or twice a week, allowing the top 2.5 cm of soil to dry out in between watering's.

3. Dahlia plants will benefit from supplemental organic water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 weeks until March, then stop fertilizing to promote better overwintering of tubers.

4. It is important to deadhead (remove wilted blooms) to encourage new buds, otherwise the plant will stop blooming and will focus its energy on seed production. Trim spent dahlia blooms with clean sharp garden scissors just above the point where the flower stem intersects with a leaf.

5. Cut long flower stems for flower arrangements to encourage more branching and flower production. Despite a relatively short vase life, dahlias make gorgeous bouquets.

6. Dahlias do not propagate reliably from seed, so if you'd like to keep and multiply your dahlia stock, make sure to look after your tubers in the winter.

7. Dahlia tubers can be lifted for winter storage after the first frost. Luckily in most parts of South Africa we don't have to. We can just leave them in the ground to overwinter, and they will sprout the following spring.