July 10, 2012

The blossom in the photo is a Dinner Plate Dahlia called Purple Gem.  This is the first dahlia we have grown from a tuber, and we were anxious to see what the blossom looked like, and how large it would be. 

The tuber was started in the greenhouse, in coir and perlite, sometime in March, and planted in the garden in mid May.

After noting some early earwig damage to the plant, I began placing boiled garlic cloves around the base of the plant to see if the garlic would deter the earwigs.  There has been no further damage to the plant, however, it is still to early to state that the garlic is definitely a deterrent.

Time will tell.