Dahlia 'Fashion Monger' – Collarette Dahlia

Start tubers indoors in pots from early April to get a head start, then plant out in late May once all danger of frost has passed. Choose a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil and set each tuber 6–8 cm deep with the eyes facing upward, spaced 50–60 cm apart. Stake early — the hollow stems can snap in summer wind. In the Baltic climate, dahlias will not survive winter in the ground: lift the tubers after the first frost blackens the foliage, let them dry, and store in a cool, frost-free place until spring. Also thrives in large containers on a sunny terrace.

Cut in the cool of the morning when the flower is about three-quarters open — collarette dahlias don't continue to open much in the vase. Plunge stems into deep, cold water straight away, and expect 5–7 days of vase life. The bright pink and yellow tones play beautifully alongside cosmos, zinnias, and grasses in exuberant late-summer bouquets, or pair with darker collarettes for a dramatic contrast.