Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXIV, Issue 1
Written by Valeria IVANOVA, Nadejda ZAPRJANOVA
Dahlia is used for landscaping parks and gardens as well as cut flower. Because the dahlia comes from Central America (Mexico), it does not tolerate the cold temperatures of the winter. That is why the tuberous roots are planted in April, and removed in October. The tuberous roots are stored for 6 months in a dark and ventilated place where the temperature does not fall below 00C. Recent changes in the agro-climatic environment and preliminary studies have naturally led to the conclusion that it is possible the tuberous roots of to be left without removal and storage. The purpose of this study is to identify damage or lack thereof in overwintering the tuberous roots in the soil. Three cultivars were used -'Vitus’, 'White Ball’, 'Dark Red’. In overwintering plant the sprouting started with 5-7 days earlier. The growth rate was faster with overwintering plants, the most pronounced being that of the Dark Red cultivar. The wintering plants enter the phenophase beginning and mass flowering 11 to 14 days earlier. Flowering of the individual flower and the whole plant is 38-45% longer in wintering plants.
[Read full article] [Citation]
