The ‘Dahlia Strawberry Ice’ is a popular and visually captivating plant, highly sought-after for its generous and striking blooms. This variety adds significant beauty and a delightful display to any garden space.
Key Characteristics
‘Dahlia Strawberry Ice’ features informal decorative, dinnerplate-sized blooms, which can reach an impressive 8 to 10 inches in width. The petals display a blend of soft pink and creamy yellow undertones, sometimes deepening to a more vibrant pink.
The plant grows 40 to 60 inches (3.3 to 5 feet) tall, with lush, ruffled petals creating full, abundant blooms. Its strong, sturdy stems are beneficial for both garden display and for use as cut flowers.
Planting Your Dahlia
Plant ‘Dahlia Strawberry Ice’ in full sun, receiving six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic soil is needed. Amend heavy clay soil with compost, sand, or peat moss to improve drainage.
Plant tubers outdoors after the last spring frost, when soil temperature reaches 60°F (15°C). Dig a 4 to 6-inch deep hole. Place the tuber horizontally with the “eye” or growth point facing upward; 6 inches deep is recommended for ‘Strawberry Ice’.
Space tubers 18 to 24 inches apart for healthy development and air circulation. After planting, avoid immediate watering unless the soil is very dry, as excess moisture can cause rot. Begin consistent watering only after green shoots emerge.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Once established, ‘Dahlia Strawberry Ice’ needs consistent watering, especially during dry periods. Deep water once or twice weekly, ensuring moisture reaches 8 to 10 inches deep. In hot weather, more frequent watering may be needed, but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings to prevent rot.
Dahlias are heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilization. About 30 days after planting, use a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-10 or 10-20-20) to encourage blooming over foliage growth. Apply fertilizer every three to four weeks for ground plants, and every two to three weeks for container plants.
Due to their height and large blooms, ‘Dahlia Strawberry Ice’ plants require staking. Install sturdy wooden or metal stakes at planting to avoid damaging tubers later. As the plant grows, tie main stems to the stake every 12 inches, allowing slight slack.
Deadheading spent blooms is an important practice that encourages the plant to produce more flowers throughout the season. Remove faded flowers by cutting the stem back to the nearest set of leaves or to a new bud. This redirects the plant’s energy from seed production to continuous flowering.
Dahlias can attract pests like aphids, slugs, spider mites, and earwigs. Regular inspection and preventative measures, such as insecticidal soap or hand-picking, help manage these issues. Proper air circulation and avoiding overhead watering prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew and gray mold.
Overwintering Dahlia Tubers
In colder climates (below USDA Zone 8), ‘Dahlia Strawberry Ice’ tubers must be dug up and stored indoors for winter to prevent freezing. Begin this process after the first killing frost blackens the foliage, signaling dormancy. Carefully dig around the plant, at least six inches from the main stem, using a digging fork to avoid damaging tubers.
After lifting, gently remove excess soil. Air dry clumps in a cool, sheltered location for 12 to 24 hours until the skin is dry but not shriveled. This curing prevents rot during storage.
Store cured tubers in a cool, dark, frost-free environment, 40-50°F (4-10°C) with 75-85% humidity. Use storage mediums like peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings to maintain humidity. Place tubers in cardboard boxes or plastic bins, ensuring they do not touch. Check them periodically for rot or shriveling.
Propagating New Plants
Propagate ‘Dahlia Strawberry Ice’ through tuber division to multiply existing stock. This can be done in fall after digging up tubers or in early spring before replanting. Dividing in spring makes identifying “eyes” or growth points easier as they may swell or sprout.
To divide, use a sharp, sterilized knife or pruners to cut the tuber clump. Each division must have at least one viable eye and an intact “neck” connecting it to a healthy tuber. Tubers without an eye or a broken neck will not grow. Discard mushy, damaged, or shriveled tubers.
After dividing, some gardeners dip cut surfaces in cinnamon to deter fungal growth. Individual tubers are then ready for spring planting, following new tuber guidelines. This method ensures new plants are true to the ‘Strawberry Ice’ variety.