Master Gardener offering Spring Dahlia Clinic on March 28 at CCE

By Katie Oakes, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator

Provided photo: Master Gardener Sue Starkweather Miller shows a Dahlia tuber clump in a previous class on Summer Bulbs.

KNOWLESVILLE – Master Gardener and Dahlia aficionado Sue Starkweather Miller will lead a second Dahlia Clinic on Saturday, March 28th at 10 a.m. at the Orleans CCE Education Center.

Starkweather Miller offered a fall Dahlia clinic last November. This upcoming workshop will build on the skills she showed at the November class, and offer attendees a chance to see how dahlia tubers are divided and potted up to extend the season

“Dahlias are an investment in time and energy. The beautiful blooms make the time spent growing them worthwhile,” said Starkweather Miller. “I wanted to give gardeners an opportunity to ask all of the questions they have about these amazing plants so they can feel confident in growing them in their home gardens.”

Some of the questions Starkweather Miller says people regularly ask her are when to take tubers out of storage, how to know if the tubers are viable, when can the tubers be planted in the grounds, etc.  Starkweather Miller will answer all of these questions and more!

Attendees are encouraged to bring in their own tuber clump to divide (if they have one), garden gloves, scissors or pruners, and any questions they might have.

All participants will learn how to pot up a divided Dahlia tuber to take home with them.

The Dahlia Clinic is offered for an optional donation of $5. The class begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 28th at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 12690 State Route 31, Albion.  To register, call (585) 798-4265 ext. 125 or email klo54@cornell.edu.