For a spectacular and diverse variety of form and colour choose dahlias, says Anne Swithinbank.
I CAN’T think of any flower that has suffered more from the vagaries of horticultural fashion than the dahlia. Native to Mexico and Central America, plants were cultivated and bred by the Aztecs and brought to Europe by Spanish botanists in 1789.
Josephine Bonaparte treasured them at Malmaison and by the 1900s competitive dahlia societies were springing up all over Britain. They suited the swinging sixties, when large flowers in bright colours were on trend but gradually faded from the limelight and spent a good 20 years in the doldrums.
Denne historien er fra December 2,2017-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra December 2,2017-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters
