The chase is on: if you want to grow the best dahlias in your borders this year, you need to get your orders in soon, says Val Bourne
You may think that January is precociously early to be mentioning dahlias, but most of the websites and catalogues go live on January 1. Yes, you could wait to buy plants, but if you want the best of the new varieties, you need to order tubers and these sell out quickly, because dahlias are riding the crest of a fashion wave. This year, they may also be in short supply, because one major Dutch grower lost 5.5 million cuttings after they were sprayed with weedkiller by mistake.
To help you choose the best, we’ve asked the experts to pick their favourites for 2019.
Andy Vernon, author of the excellent Plant Lover’s Guide to Dahlias, grows 30 carefully selected varieties in raised beds or pots ‘to keep the Jack Russells off’Sweet Lady: A strong pink, wonderful for cutting.
Soulman: Black-red and anemone-centred —arrange it with a cosmos called Dazzler
Karma Choc and Sam Hopkins: These sultry dark reds are highly recommended
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