Dahlia Seeds - Admiral Rawlings

The Dahlia Admiral Rawlings is a stunning and unique variety that features vibrant, rich red blooms with a touch of golden-yellow accents. This striking dahlia combines elegance and dramatic color, making it an excellent choice for gardens, containers, and floral arrangements. With its large, full flowers and sturdy stems, the Admiral Rawlings variety is ideal for gardeners who seek to add bold color and visual impact to their landscapes. It blooms profusely from mid-summer to fall, ensuring a long-lasting display of beauty.

Key Benefits

• Bold Color Contrast: Features deep red blooms with golden-yellow tips, creating a captivating contrast that stands out in the garden.
• Large, Full Blooms: Large, rounded blooms that grow up to 8–10 inches in diameter, making them perfect for cut-flower arrangements.
• Long Blooming Period: Blooms from mid-summer through fall, providing continuous color to brighten any garden space.
• Cut-Flower Friendly: Excellent for floral arrangements due to its vibrant, large flowers and long vase life.
• Attracts Pollinators: Bees and butterflies are attracted to the bright flowers, helping to enhance the health and biodiversity of your garden.

Variety Features

• Plant Characteristics: Tall, sturdy plants with strong stems that support the large, showy blooms.
• Bloom Season: Blooms from mid-summer to fall, offering a vibrant and prolonged color display.
• Growth Habit: Upright, bushy plants that grow well in the back of garden beds, containers, or as a specimen plant.
• Size: Typically grows 36–48 inches tall, making it a perfect addition to large garden beds or as a striking focal point in mixed plantings.

Planting Instructions

Planting Season

• Plant Dahlia Admiral Rawlings in the spring, after the last frost and when the soil temperature is above 60°F (15°C).
• Wait until the threat of frost has passed before planting.

Planting Details

• Bulb Depth: Plant tubers 4–6 inches deep, with the "eye" or sprouting point facing upwards.
• Spacing: Space Seeds 18–24 inches apart to provide enough room for each plant to grow fully.
• Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral).
• Sunlight: Full sun for at least 6 hours per day for optimal blooming and plant health.

Care Instructions

Watering

• Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water deeply to encourage strong root growth, ensuring the soil drains well to avoid waterlogging.

Fertilization

• Apply a balanced fertilizer at planting time and again during the growing season to promote vigorous growth and flowering.
• Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which may encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers.

Weeding and Mulching

• Regularly remove weeds around the base of the plants to avoid competition for nutrients and water.
• Mulch around the plants to maintain soil moisture and suppress weed growth.

Pest and Disease Control

• Pests: Keep an eye out for aphids, slugs, and spider mites. Use natural pest control options like neem oil or insecticidal soap.
• Diseases: Prevent fungal infections such as powdery mildew by ensuring proper air circulation and avoiding overhead watering.

Harvesting

• For Blooms: Cut flowers when they are fully open but still fresh. Use sharp scissors or a knife to cut the stems at an angle for longer-lasting blooms in vases.
• For Tubers: After the first frost, carefully dig up the tubers, clean them, and store them in a cool, dry place for winter storage.

Storage

Short-Term: For fresh cut flowers, keep them in a cool, dry place and change the water frequently to keep them fresh.
Long-Term: Store tubers in a cool, dry place at around 40°F (4°C). Pack tubers in peat moss or sawdust for insulation during the winter months.

Culinary and Aesthetic Uses

• Aesthetic: The Dahlia Admiral Rawlings adds a bold, colorful statement to gardens and flower beds, making it perfect as a standalone feature or in mixed plantings.
• Floral Arrangements: Its large, full blooms make it a fantastic choice for creating stunning floral arrangements for weddings, parties, or as decorative centerpieces.

Conclusion

The Dahlia Admiral Rawlings is a striking and elegant variety that offers beautiful red and golden blooms throughout the growing season. With its large, full flowers and strong, sturdy stems, it is a perfect choice for adding drama and color to any garden, floral arrangement, or landscape design. Whether used as a focal point in the garden or as a long-lasting cut flower, the Admiral Rawlings Dahlia is sure to make a bold impression.