How to Grow and Care for Lake Ontario Dahlia
Learn to successfully cultivate the Lake Ontario dahlia. This guide helps you achieve its signature yellow blooms and ensure the plant's return each season.
The Lake Ontario dahlia is a cultivar prized for its vibrant, golden-yellow blooms that are often subtly brushed with red at the tips of the petals. This coloration makes it a focal point in any garden setting. Its reliable performance and beautiful flowers provide a cheerful display throughout the growing season.
Lake Ontario Dahlia Characteristics
This plant is a decorative dahlia, featuring fully double flowers that can reach four to six inches in diameter. The blooms have broad, flat-tipped petals, which create a full look without a central disc. The plant grows to a height of 36 to 48 inches, establishing a presence in garden beds and borders. With strong stems, Lake Ontario dahlias are also well-suited for use as cut flowers. The foliage consists of mid-green leaves that complement the flowers.
Planting and Care Guide
Planting should occur in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Place tubers two to four inches deep in the soil, with a spacing of 24 to 30 inches between them. The plant thrives in a sheltered spot that receives at least six to eight hours of full sun daily. In areas with particularly hot summers, some light afternoon shade can be beneficial.
The Lake Ontario dahlia requires well-drained soil to prevent the tuberous roots from rotting. Consistent moisture is needed throughout the growing season, so regular watering is necessary, especially during dry periods. The plant will require support to prevent the stems from breaking under the weight of the large blooms, so placing a stake early is a good practice. Using a low-nitrogen fertilizer encourages more flowering rather than excessive foliage growth.
Overwintering Lake Ontario Dahlia Tubers
In cooler climates (hardiness zones 3-7), lifting the tubers for winter storage is a practice to preserve the plant for the following year. This process should begin after the first hard frost has blackened the foliage.
Once lifted, the tubers need to be cured for a few days in a dry, sheltered location. This allows the surface to dry and prepares them for storage. Place the cured tubers in a box or crate and cover them with a medium like peat moss, sand, or vermiculite to keep them from drying out completely. The storage location should be cool, dark, and frost-free, with a temperature between 45-50°F (7-10°C) to ensure they remain dormant until replanting.