Miss Delilah Dahlia is known for its vibrant, full blooms and consistent flowering throughout the season. Its robust nature and visual appeal make it a great addition to garden beds and floral arrangements.
Distinctive Features of Miss Delilah Dahlia
The ‘Miss Delilah’ dahlia features waterlily-like flowers, 5 to 6 inches across. Its petals display a vibrant pink hue that transitions to creamy white or pale violet toward the center, sometimes with subtle lime green undertones.
The plant reaches a mature height of 3 to 4 feet with a spread of 1.5 to 3 feet, developing a bushy, clump-forming habit.
Planting Miss Delilah Dahlias
Plant ‘Miss Delilah’ dahlia tubers after the last spring frost, when soil temperature reaches 60°F (15.5°C). Choose a site with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily; ideally, some afternoon shade is beneficial in hotter climates. Soil should be well-draining, rich, and loamy, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 (ideally 6.5-7.0). For heavy clay, incorporate aged manure, compost, peat moss, or sand to improve drainage and aeration.
Dig a hole 4 to 6 inches deep, wide enough for the tuber. Place the tuber with the “eye” facing upwards, or lay it on its side. Space tubers 12 to 18 inches apart for adequate growth and air circulation. After covering with soil, avoid watering immediately unless the soil is very dry, as excessive moisture before sprouts emerge can lead to tuber rot. Wait until green shoots are visible above ground before regular watering.
Cultivation and Maintenance
Consistent care encourages vigorous growth and abundant blooms. Once established, plants require deep watering two to three times a week, especially during hot, dry periods, aiming for about an inch of water weekly. This promotes robust root systems. Apply supplemental organic water-soluble fertilizer every three to four weeks until September for continuous flowering, avoiding high-nitrogen formulas that encourage foliage over blooms.
As ‘Miss Delilah’ dahlias grow to their mature height of 3 to 4 feet, their hollow, brittle stems benefit from staking. Install sturdy stakes (e.g., hardwood or rebar), 5 to 6 feet long and pounded 12 inches deep, near the tubers at planting or when plants are small. Tie main stems to these supports as they grow to prevent breakage from wind or the weight of large flowers. Regular deadheading is important; remove spent blooms when they fade by cutting the stem down to the nearest set of leaves. This redirects energy from seed production to new flowers, ensuring continuous blooms until the first frost.
Winter Dormancy and Storage
For ‘Miss Delilah’ dahlias, preparing for winter dormancy is important in colder climates where tubers cannot survive freezing. The process begins after the first hard frost blackens the foliage, signaling the plant to store energy in tubers. After the foliage dies back, allow tubers to remain in the ground for one to two weeks to toughen their skins, aiding better storage. Then, carefully cut stems back to 2 to 6 inches above ground.
To dig up the tubers, use a pitchfork to gently loosen the soil at least a foot away from the plant, taking care not to damage them. Lift the clump and gently shake off excess dirt. Avoid washing the tubers unless the soil is heavy clay, which might necessitate a light rinse.
Allow tubers to cure for one to seven days in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight, until dry to the touch but not shriveled. Store cured tubers in a cool, dark, frost-free environment, ideally between 40-50°F (4-10°C), with 80-90% humidity.
Pack them in cardboard boxes or plastic containers with ventilation, layered in peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings, making sure individual tubers do not touch to prevent rot. Periodically check the tubers throughout winter for any signs of rot or excessive drying, adjusting storage conditions as needed.