It is difficult to find a flower as luxurious and unpretentious as the dahlia. It is not surprising that many flower growers collect a collection of these flowers.
Description
Dahlia varieties Akita was introduced in Japan in 1978.
The Akita variety is grown by many gardeners; this dahlia is excellent for Russian conditions. Not afraid of rain and prolonged cloudy weather.
Dahlias of this variety are different:
- Highly decorative;
- Unpretentiousness;
- Resistant to many bacterial diseases;
- Possibility of using flowers for cutting;
- Does not require a garter;
- They have a long flowering period.
Luxurious, multi-flowered, lush bushes of the Akita variety bloom from July until the first frost. The flower petals of this variety are resistant to shedding, which makes it possible to use dahlias of this variety for making bouquets.
The flowers of this dahlia variety have the most intense color in the fall, when the weather has been cloudy for a long time, but there is no frost yet.
Characteristic
The aboveground part of the flower is annual; the tuber can grow for several years.
The flower does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures and requires digging up the tubers for the winter and storing them in a warm room.
The variety belongs to the class of decorative dahlias; some breeders classify Akita as mixed, transitional or semi-cactus. The flower is large, double, and under favorable conditions reaches 23 cm.
The dahlia petals of this variety are wide, unfolded, burgundy in color with a pronounced light edging. The edges of the petals are pointed and slightly curled, which gives some breeders reason to classify this variety as a semi-cactus.
The bush of this variety is branched, powerful, up to 95 cm high. The leaves are pinnate, dark green.
Suitable for growing in borders and group planting. You can use flowers for cutting and making flower arrangements.
Care
Sprouted dahlia tubers are planted when warm weather sets in. It is necessary to prepare shelters in advance in case of frost.
To plant dahlias, choose a sunny area, protected from drafts and wind. Ideally, the plant will be in partial shade at noon.
The distance between bushes should be at least 80 cm; too often planted plants become elongated and have smaller flowers.
Dahlias of the Akita variety can grow in any soil except acidic ones. These flowers prefer light, humus-rich, sandy soils. Growing in heavy clay soil, dahlias of the Akita variety grow up to 70 cm, the flower size does not exceed 16 cm.
For abundant, long-lasting flowering, dahlias of the Akita variety require a large amount of nutrients. Feeding is carried out several times during the season, with a frequency of 2-3 weeks.
When the dahlia sprouts reach 20 cm, it is necessary to topping. After pinching, the bushes grow more branched and the number of flowers increases. Pinch the top of the sprout; just remove about a centimeter of the stem.
Reproduction
The Akita variety is propagated by tubers and cuttings. The tubers are divided before planting, trying to leave at least 3 eyes on each part. Be sure to treat the cut with a disinfectant.
For cuttings, choose a strong, healthy dahlia tuber. It is placed in moist nutrient soil without deepening the root collar. To prevent the shoots from stretching, the number of daylight hours should be at least 12.
After the first shoots appear, watering is reduced. When the shoots reach 12–14 cm, cuttings are carried out. You can cut or break out cuttings, be sure to grab a small piece of the root. They are placed in moist soil to form roots.
Ready seedlings must be hardened off. To do this, the cups are taken outside, gradually increasing the length of stay. If seedlings are planted directly into open ground, it is advisable to cover the plants during the midday hours for a week. Plants grown from seedlings bloom the same year.
The beautiful flowers of dahlias of the Akita variety can decorate any flower garden without requiring unnecessary attention.
