Dahlia Seeds (Pompon) - Burlesca

The Dahlia Burlesca is a charming pompon dahlia variety, known for its perfectly round, tightly packed blooms and vibrant, bold colors. These small, ball-shaped flowers feature a mix of rich hues, often in shades of pink, purple, or orange, adding a playful and lively touch to any garden. The compact growth habit and abundant flowering make it a perfect choice for flower beds, borders, containers, and floral arrangements. Dahlia Burlesca is also an excellent option for creating stunning, textured bouquets with its unique, spherical bloom shape.

Key Benefits

• Vibrant Colors: Features bold, vibrant colors that can include pink, purple, or orange, creating a striking contrast in the garden.
• Round, Pompon-Shaped Blooms: The small, ball-shaped flowers provide a neat and tidy appearance, adding texture and structure to your garden displays.
• Long-Lasting Blooms: Blooms continuously from mid-summer through fall, ensuring your garden remains colorful and lively throughout the growing season.
• Ideal for Cut Flowers: The compact, symmetrical blooms are perfect for making charming bouquets, centerpieces, and floral arrangements.
• Compact and Bushy Growth: The plants grow in a compact, bushy form, making them ideal for smaller spaces or container gardening.

Variety Features

• Plant Characteristics: Bushy, compact plants with small, ball-shaped blooms that create a dense and tidy appearance in the garden.
• Bloom Season: Blooms from mid-summer to fall, providing color and beauty throughout the growing season.
• Growth Habit: The plants have a compact, bushy form, growing to a height of 12–24 inches, making them ideal for borders or containers.
• Size: Typically grows 12–24 inches tall, perfect for the front of flower beds or as part of a container display.

Planting Instructions

Planting Season

• Plant Dahlia Burlesca in the spring after the last frost has passed and the soil temperature is consistently above 60°F (15°C).
• Dahlias thrive in warm conditions, so ensure the ground is warm enough for optimal growth.

Planting Details

• Bulb Depth: Plant tubers 4–6 inches deep with the "eye" or sprouting point facing upwards.
• Spacing: Space plants 12–18 inches apart to allow for proper growth and air circulation.
• Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral).
• Sunlight: Needs full sun for at least 6 hours a day to encourage strong growth and abundant blooms.

Care Instructions

Watering

• Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Dahlia Burlesca needs about 1 inch of water per week, especially during dry spells. Water deeply to promote deep root growth.

Fertilization

• Apply a balanced fertilizer at planting time and again when the plants reach about 6 inches tall to support healthy growth and flowering. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of blooms.

Weeding and Mulching

• Keep the planting area free of weeds, which can compete for nutrients and water.
• Mulch around the base of the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the soil temperature stable.

Pest and Disease Control

• Pests: Keep an eye out for aphids, snails, and slugs. Use organic pest control methods, such as neem oil or insecticidal soap, to protect your dahlias from these pests.
• Diseases: Prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering.

Harvesting

• For Blooms: Cut flowers when they are fully open but still fresh, using sharp scissors or a knife. For the longest-lasting flowers, cut stems at an angle and place them immediately in water.
• For Tubers: After the first frost, dig up the tubers carefully, clean them, and store them in a cool, dry location until the next planting season.

Storage

Short-Term: Store freshly cut Dahlia Burlesca flowers in water. Change the water every few days to maintain their freshness.
Long-Term: For winter storage, keep dahlia tubers in a cool, dry place (around 40°F/4°C). Pack the tubers in peat moss or sawdust to prevent them from drying out.

Culinary and Aesthetic Uses

• Aesthetic: Dahlia Burlesca adds a playful, textured element to gardens and flower beds. Its vibrant, spherical blooms make it an eye-catching choice for borders, containers, and mixed flower arrangements.
• Floral Arrangements: The small, pompon-shaped blooms are ideal for creating charming, textured bouquets and centerpieces for weddings, parties, or other special occasions.

Conclusion

Dahlia Burlesca is a delightful pompon variety that brings vibrant, spherical blooms to your garden. With its compact growth habit and stunning, bold colors, this dahlia is perfect for smaller spaces, flower beds, and containers. Additionally, its charming blooms make it an excellent choice for cut flowers, floral arrangements, and centerpieces. Easy to grow and care for, Dahlia Burlesca is a must-have for anyone looking to add color, texture, and elegance to their landscape.