In The Garden:

Growing Dahlias in the East Bay

With their vibrant hues and intricate petal formations, Dahlias stand as a testament to nature's artistic prowess. These flowers, beloved by gardeners for centuries, grace gardens and bring joy with their dazzling variety of colors and shapes. Dahlias are renowned for their stunning blooms, which come in almost every color imaginable, from deep reds and purples to delicate pinks and whites. Their petals range from tightly packed spheres to spiky, star-like forms, catering to a wide range of aesthetic preferences. Whether you prefer compact pompons or large, dinner plate-sized flowers, there's a Dahlia variety to suit every garden.

Photo by Lukas

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Growing Dahlias in Your Home Garden

The East Bay's Mediterranean climate provides an ideal environment for Dahlias, offering warm, dry summers and mild winters. Here’s how you can grow Dahlias successfully:

1. Choosing the Right Location: Dahlias thrive in full sun, so select a spot in your garden or on your balcony that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Ensure the area has well-drained soil to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot.

2. Preparing the Soil: Before planting, enrich the soil with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and provide nutrients. Dahlias prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (around 6.5-7.0).

3. Planting Dahlias: In the East Bay, Dahlias can be planted from late winter to early spring after the last frost has passed. Dig a hole about 6-8 inches deep and place the tuber (or plant from a pot) with the growing tip facing upwards. Space multiple plants about 1-3 feet apart, depending on the variety's eventual size.

4. Watering and Care: Water Dahlias deeply but infrequently, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Regular deadheading (removing spent flowers) encourages continuous blooming throughout the season.

5. Supporting Dahlias: Tall Dahlia varieties may require staking to support their stems and prevent them from toppling over in strong winds or heavy rain. Use bamboo stakes or other supports and tie the stems gently with soft twine.

6. Overwintering: In the East Bay's mild climate, Dahlias can often survive winter outdoors if provided with a layer of mulch to protect the tubers from frost. Alternatively, lift the tubers after the first frost, allow them to dry for a few days, and store them in a cool, dry place until the next planting season.

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Choosing Dahlias for Your Garden

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs

Photo by Pixabay

Photo by Jeswin Thomas

When selecting Dahlia varieties for your East Bay garden, consider factors such as bloom size, color, and plant height. Some popular varieties include:

• ‘Cafe au Lait’: Known for its large, creamy blooms with hints of blush pink.

• ‘Bishop of Llandaff’: Features deep red flowers set against dark foliage.

• ‘Thomas Edison’: Boasts striking purple blooms that are perfect for adding bold color.

Whether you're aiming to create a cutting garden, a focal point in your landscape, or simply want to brighten up your balcony, Dahlias offer a versatile and rewarding choice. Their vibrant colors and diverse forms ensure they'll captivate and enchant throughout the growing season.

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Growing Dahlias in the East Bay allows gardeners to harness the region's favorable climate to cultivate these botanical treasures. With careful attention to planting and care, Dahlias can flourish, bringing bursts of color and joy to gardens and balconies alike. Embrace the beauty and diversity of Dahlias in your own outdoor space, and experience the satisfaction of nurturing these stunning flowers from tuber to bloom. Happy gardening!

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Additional resources: Almanac How to Grow Dahlias: The Complete Dahlia Flower Guide

Watch Out!

By Bonnie Hariton (07/20/22)

Photo = Dan Hariton heading out to their Pinole garden

It's one thing to notice that last year's hollyhocks have sprinkled seeds here and there in the backyard. You know what they are even as seedlings and cheer them on. It's another thing to notice that your raised beds - neglected over the winter this time - have been densely re-populated with grasses, spiky weeds, and the indefatigable bindweed. You recognize them all and sigh, realizing how much work it will be to pull them out. It is another thing entirely to notice a plant that you do not recognize, one that gives you a distinctly uneasy feeling.

I encountered the plant in the bed where tomatoes grew last year: a sturdy stem about five feet tall, with small white flowers in an umbrella shape on the top, and ghastly, irregularly shaped, red purple splotches on the smooth stem. I instinctively felt warned and wary. Stop, I told my husband, Dan. We must check this out before we clean up the bed. It was Hemlock. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), a deadly,  invasive species that has been spreading around the United States. Online research and a plant identifier app confirmed it. Looks sort of like Queen Anne's lace but not. Looks sort of ferny, carroty, but not. And there were more than one.

We wondered if we could eradicate it without dying. All parts - leaves, stem, roots, seeds, and juices - are dangerous and toxic if eaten, inhaled, or touched. We found help from KateVan Druff.

Dan put on a hazmat suit with a hood, wore thick gloves, a mask, goggles, and washable shoes. I stayed indoors and prayed. The largest hemlock was too firmly rooted to pull out by hand. Dan had to cut the stem and extract the foot-long, white-carrot-like tap root and lateral shoots with a five-foot-long, thirty pound steel pike used (with rope) as a lever. He put the plants in a thick black garbage bag, tied it tightly closed, and disposed of it in the garbage - not in the compost bin. Even dead, hemlock can remain poisonous for years. We inspected more of the surrounding area and had a neighbor's help, with a small bulldozer, to uproot a tenacious bush that had become encumbered with hemlock. Weeks later, we removed some three dozen young seedlings that had sprouted up in the general area. This time we could recognize them from their leaves alone. 

The moral of this story is: know your landscape, trust your instincts, get help. And, as always, Live Long and Garden!

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Sat. July 30 will be our Community Work + Fun Day @ 5166 Sobrante Ave, 12- 3p. Wear sturdy shoes and clothing and bring work gloves and favorite gardening tools. And please bring a good quality mask so we can all stay safe from COVID and construction dust.