Dahlia Bishop of Leicester

Plant your dahlias during the warmer days in deeply worked soil, enriched, for example, with blood, fish and bone. Place your tuber and crumble the soil well to fill without air pockets. Your dahlia should be covered with 6 cm (2in) of soil. At the end of planting, pour one litre of water. Water regularly during the first six weeks to aid in rooting. Dahlias are sensitive to cold. They need to be overwintered. In November, the first frosts will blacken the foliage, which is the time to dig them up. Carefully unearth the tubers. Remove as much soil as possible. Let the foliage dry so that the tuber can replenish its reserves. Cut the stems 10 cm (4in) from the tuber when the foliage is dry. Spread your bulbs in a box on a newspaper. Store away from frost in a dry, cool, and dark place.