Dahlia "Figaro": growing from seeds, photos, reviews

Dahlia Figaro is an annual plant that delights gardeners with its magnificent blooms in early autumn. The flower has gained well-deserved popularity due to the unimaginable variety of colors and varieties, the size of the inflorescence and relative unpretentiousness.

Flowerbeds decorated with dahlia Figaro always attract the eye with their brightness and beauty. Knowing some of the features of planting and care, even a novice gardener can achieve excellent results.

Characteristics of Dahlia Figaro

Figaro dahlias are usually classified as ordinary annual flowers, the seeds of which are sown in the spring as seedlings or directly in the ground. And they delight most of the summer with their lush and non-stop flowering. But few people know that, if desired, the tubers of the Figaro variety formed during the warm season can be preserved, just like the tubers of the popular perennial dahlias. In order to plant them in the ground again next year and ensure an even earlier fireworks of colors.

Each dahlia figaro plant forms a fairly compact bush with an almost perfect spherical shape. That is, it reaches a maximum height of 30-35 cm, and the dahlia grows in width by about the same amount.

The inflorescences of the dahlia Figaro can be double or semi-double, depending on the varietal variety. The size of the inflorescences of the dahlia Figaro also varies from 6 to 10 cm. The color range is quite standard: from white, yellow, to burgundy and purple.

Inflorescences can appear on plants starting in July and as long as weather conditions allow. At temperatures below 0 °C, the Figaro dahlia dies.

Attention! If you dig up the resulting tubers before frost and store them in a frost-free room, and next spring plant them in pots for growing, then inflorescences can form as early as the end of May or June.

The dahlia figaro variety is distinguished by the fact that many inflorescences (up to 12-15 pieces) can form simultaneously on one bush. Of course, provided that a suitable sunny, relatively warm place has been chosen for the dahlia. In shady conditions, flowering will not be nearly as abundant.

Dahlia Figaro: growing from seeds, planting dates, collecting seed material

The variety should be planted in spring, since during this period the soil is well warmed up. Planting is carried out in early or mid-spring, or more precisely in the first half of March or the first half of April, depending on weather conditions and soil temperature.

If you are planting dahlias with the intention of propagating them in the future, plant them a little earlier.

Dahlia Figaro seeds can be purchased at a regular gardening store, or you can collect them yourself. The collection of seed material begins in the autumn, when the flowers have already dried. These flowers contain the most mature seeds. To collect the seeds, you need to separate them from the flower and dry them well. The dried seed is placed in a paper bag and left until the appointed time.

Note: It is worth considering that seed material that was collected from dahlia flowers does not retain complete hereditary information. Therefore, the plant may differ in appearance from the donor plant.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The dahlia Figaro has many advantages that allow it to become a real decoration of the garden and local area.

Early flowering, even when sown from seeds, the first flowers can appear as early as July.
Unpretentiousness of plants. Dahlias do not require very fertile soil and do not require particularly careful care.
Flowering is abundant, long lasting and very colorful.
Dahlia figaro is a wonderful honey plant. By placing flowers close to the vegetable garden, the vegetable yield can be increased due to additional pollination.
The compactness of the dahlia figaro bushes allows it to be planted not only in flower beds and mixborders on the site, but also in flowerpots in the yard and in pots on balconies and terraces.

There are practically no disadvantages of this dahlia variety. Although for some it may be the short stature of the plants that is a disadvantage.

Varieties of dahlia Figaro

Dahlia Figaro has many varieties. Thus, if you really want to, you can not just decorate the area with a scattering of various color spots. You can create entire compositions strictly in one color scheme or another.

Figaro mix

This variety, by its very name, speaks of the possibility of planting a variegated flower bed of dahlias of a wide variety of shades without any problems.

The inflorescences are not too large, about 6-8 cm in diameter, but they are entirely double and are distinguished by bright and rich color shades: lilac, carmine, pink, lemon, white, purple. Dahlia Figaro mix flowers are ideal for planting along the front edge of borders, as well as for creating bright spots in the lawn, flower beds or flowerpots.

Figaro Violet Shades

The variety series of these dahlias is distinguished by a more or less saturated purple hue of semi-double inflorescences. The petals usually come in two rows, with the color becoming more intense in the center of each row. And the central part of the flower itself is decorated with a fluffy pompom in a sunny shade.

Inflorescences can reach a diameter of 10 cm and are formed quite early, even before mid-summer. Flowering can continue until September or beyond, depending on the weather conditions of the region in which the plants are planted.

Figaro Yellow Shades

Dahlias of this variety can be called little suns. Because pure yellow flowers, without a single foreign inclusion, adorn low bushes from late June to September. The inflorescences are quite dense and lush, and there are so many of them that often the greenery is not noticeable behind the flowers.

The variety is very unpretentious and in more southern regions it can even be propagated by direct sowing in the ground in May. In case of possible frosts, young plants are covered with non-woven material on temporary supports.

Figaro White Shades

This type of dahlia figaro does not have the largest inflorescences. Usually they reach a diameter of only 7-8 cm. But their relatively small inflorescence size is more than made up for by their fluffy terry. Exquisite petals of a soft white hue are replaced by a bright yellow center, noticeable even from afar. Against the background of a thick and rich herbal shade of greenery, the flowers look very attractive and create a festive mood.

The bushes are small in height, up to 35 cm, like all other dahlias of this variety.

Figaro Red Shades

This variety of dahlia has a lush yellow core that stands out brightly against the background of the scarlet or carmine-red hue of the petals. It not only contrasts interestingly with the petals, but also creates a peculiar light reflection on the petals over the entire surface of the inflorescences.

In general, dahlias of this variety look very bright and formal, and can decorate the entrance to a house or property. In all other respects, these dahlias do not differ much from other varieties; flowering is quite early and long-lasting. Due to their small size, the bushes themselves should be planted in the foreground so as not to be obscured by other, larger flowers.

Dahlias "Figaro": varieties and features of their cultivation

Dahlias "Figaro" are a popular plant that has won the love of many gardeners and those who like to decorate their areas with bright flowers. There are a huge number of color options, so everyone can effectively complement the design of any area. Live dahlias will decorate your garden, and when picked and collected into a bouquet, they will be an excellent gift for family and friends for any occasion.

Description

Dahlia "Figaro" is a low-growing plant and is grown from seeds. According to scientists, one of the most important features of the plant is considered to be a rather long flowering period. In addition, the dahlia blooms quite intensely, which cannot but please both the grower himself and his household, as well as neighbors and guests.

You can find and purchase 'Figaro' dahlias that will produce stark white or rich yellow flowers. In addition, the colors may not be monochromatic - there are types that combine several tones (for example, white and purple or white and yellow).

It is worth noting the fact that the structure of the flowers is double (velvety).

Very often, dahlias "Figaro" are used by landscape designers, because these flowers can be planted on borders or used to create flower beds. Moreover, the plants look great both as single and group plantings. As for the size and dimensions of the plant, according to the observations of experienced gardeners, as well as data from botanists, the flower can reach 35 centimeters in height, as for the diameter of the flowers themselves, it is quite large, but does not exceed 10 centimeters.

Growing dahlia Figaro seedlings

Almost all varieties of dahlias, and Figaro is no exception, have a fairly long growing season. Therefore, for earlier flowering, in most regions of Russia it is customary to grow dahlias using seedlings. Growing dahlia seedlings is becoming especially important in the Urals, Siberia and other regions of Russia, which have a rather short summer.

Seed selection and preparation

Dahlia Figaro seeds can be harvested yourself at the end of the season by collecting dried inflorescences. Heads with fully mature seeds are usually dark beige in color. They must be carefully cut in dry and warm weather and placed in a paper envelope. They can be stored in it all winter at room temperature. A few days before sowing, the heads of the inflorescences are pulled out and the dark oblong seeds are manually separated from the plant husk.

True, in this case there is no guarantee that plants grown from seeds will exactly reproduce the maternal properties. If you don’t have your own seeds or want to plant your flower beds with dahlias of certain color shades, you should purchase them in advance in special stores, on the market or online.

If you are confident in the freshness of the purchased seeds, then they do not require any special preparation for sowing. If you want to once again protect yourself from possible diseases and increase germination, then you can soak dahlia seeds for a day in a warm solution of any immunostimulant: Epin, Zircon, aloe juice and others.

Important! Then the seeds are slightly dried and sown in prepared containers.

Soil preparation

Dahlias are not too fussy about soil. They will grow and bloom beautifully on any soil, except one that is too poor or, conversely, too fat. But for better seed germination, it is better to prepare a light and breathable substrate for sowing. Almost any ready-made soil mixture for seedlings will do. Or you can create it yourself by mixing peat, humus, garden soil and sand in equal proportions. A handful of wood ash is usually added to 10 liters of this mixture.

Advice! A day before sowing, the prepared soil mixture is spilled with a pink solution of potassium permanganate to free it from possible infections in the soil.

Sowing rules

The best time to start growing dahlia figaro seedlings is the end of March or the beginning of April.

You can prepare any containers for sowing; plastic containers are best because they retain moisture well.
There must be drainage holes at the bottom of the containers, otherwise with further care it is easy to flood and destroy the young plants.
The containers are covered with earth, the surface is leveled and, using a match or stick, grooves are made, about 1 cm deep. The distance between the grooves should be at least 3 cm.
Dahlia seeds are placed in the grooves at approximately the same distance and lightly sprinkled with the same soil.
The container is covered with plastic film to maintain the required humidity and placed in a place with a temperature of + 23-25 ° C.
Germination of dahlia figaro seeds can last from 7 to 14 days. Several times during this time, the crops must be opened and ventilated to prevent mold from appearing.

Seedling care

Immediately after emergence, containers with dahlia seedlings must be placed in the brightest place: on a sunny windowsill or under a special lamp with bright artificial light. Lack of lighting causes dahlia stems to stretch and thin. This can cause weakening or even death of flowers at an early stage of development.

The film cover is gradually removed over several days.
When the seedlings have 2 or 3 true leaves, the plants will need to be transplanted into separate pots or large planting boxes.
When transplanting, young dahlias can be deepened to the first leaves (cotyledons). Also, after transplanting, the flowers are watered moderately.
Further care of dahlia seedlings does not require any special actions. Plants only need light and moderate watering.
10-12 days after transplanting, the seedlings can be fed with a complex fertilizer for flowering plants diluted twice.
To create a lush and voluminous bush, it is recommended to pinch dahlia plants after the formation of the fourth leaf.

Growing dahlias from seeds

Having decided to grow a beautiful variety of dahlia Figaro, you need to choose a sunny place for it. It is desirable that the soil is loose, with neutral acidity. Dahlias grow well in slightly acidic soils; in extreme cases, you can add a little dolomite flour.

IMPORTANT! You should not apply large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers to the beds under dahlias.

It is better to prepare the site in the fall, so that in the spring you can only dig up and loosen the soil.

In the southern regions, dahlias are sown directly into the ground, taking into account the weather of a particular year and the climatic conditions of the area. But in most regions of Russia it is recommended to grow Figaro through seedlings. In this case, you can get beautiful flowering bushes already in June.

Growing seedlings

Next, prepare pots for seedlings and soil. The pots must have a hole in the bottom for moisture drainage, and the containers themselves must be conveniently placed on a tray. For the soil mixture, you can use peat, perlite and river sand, taken in equal proportions. Some gardeners sow dahlias in common containers and then pick them, others sow them directly into cups or pots.

The timing of sowing depends on the climate of the region, but usually dahlia seedlings are sown in late March or early April. If you plan to get your own seeds from flowers, you can sow earlier so that the seed material has time to ripen by autumn. Shoots appear quickly, and after this the seedlings should be placed in a well-lit, warm place.

Seedlings of annual crumbs do not require special care, the main thing is sufficient lighting and regular moderate watering. When the seedlings get stronger and begin to grow, you can feed the plants (any complex fertilizer or a composition like Kemira Lux will do).

Planting in a permanent place is possible only when the weather is warm outside, otherwise the delicate flowers may be destroyed. To harden, dahlias begin to be taken out into the fresh air (on the veranda, balcony, loggia) in about 7-10 days. To begin with, 15-20 minutes will be enough, then the time of air procedures is increased.

Caring for dahlias Figaro

The usual time for planting miniature dahlias of the Figaro variety in open ground is the end of May or the beginning of June. When growing plants in plastic cups, it is advisable to plant the dahlia directly with a ball of earth so as not to damage the roots.

ON A NOTE! The distance between Figaro bushes should be at least 25 cm.

A handful of wood ash is added to the holes; you can also add a handful of humus. After planting, the plants are carefully watered and mulched. An excellent mulch option is crushed compost mixed with tree bark. Instead of compost, you can use peat, and sawdust will also work.

Further care is simple:

watering;
weeding and loosening;
fertilizing

Figaro is an unpretentious variety, so there is no need to use any special agricultural techniques. It is important to avoid excess moisture in the soil and water carefully, avoiding getting on the leaves and flowers of the plants.

For fertilizing they use Kemira, complex mineral fertilizers. During flowering, you can feed dahlias with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, without exceeding the norm.

If you follow the rules of agricultural technology: plant placement patterns, frequency of watering, dahlias will not get sick, delighting the owners with long-term flowering. All inflorescences that fade must be promptly removed. This ensures the formation of other flowers and lush flowering of the plant all season long.

Dahlias can be attacked by slugs, aphids, and other pests. As a preventative measure, dust the soil around plants with wood ash or ground hot pepper.

At the end of summer and also in autumn, when dahlias are in full bloom, the nights can be cool. It is recommended to cover the Figaro babies with non-woven material and open the plants during the day.

Transplanting seedlings into open ground

Dahlia figaro seedlings are usually planted in flower beds or mixborders at the end of May or June. There should no longer be any return frosts outside at this time. As a last resort, young plants can be covered with protective material on arches or other supports.

A place for further growth of dahlia figaro of any variety must be selected that is sunny, without the slightest shading. Only in such conditions will they be able to show all the brightness and abundance of their flowering. If strong winds are common in the region, then it is advisable that the dahlia planting site be protected from them and drafts by a wall or fence.

If it is possible to gradually acclimate the seedlings to outdoor conditions, this will be good. Usually the plants are taken out to the balcony or directly outside and left there for several hours. Gradually, the time of stay is increased and they are brought into the house only for the night.

Advice! Before transplanting to a permanent location, the seedlings are watered abundantly so that they come out of the planting containers well.

When planting, young dahlia plants can be slightly deeper into the ground, especially if they have become excessively elongated due to lack of lighting. The distance between plants is about 20-25 cm.

Caring for dahlia Figaro in open ground

Dahlia Figaro flowers do not require any special care. As the soil dries out, they, like any other plants, need moderate watering. Until young plants take root well and produce several new leaves, there is no need to feed them. Typically, the next feeding period occurs approximately 2 weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground.

Before flowering, dahlias can be fed two more times during the season. You can use both organic and mineral fertilizers, with a predominant content of phosphorus, potassium and microelements.

If you regularly remove the heads of faded inflorescences, new ones will appear more uniformly and in greater numbers.

Dahlia Figaro Terry: planting and care

Planting should be done in the spring, or more precisely at the end of May. It is worth considering that the size of the hole must correspond to the size of the plant’s root system. Usually a hole is dug about 50 centimeters deep and 45 centimeters wide. Before planting the plant, a mixture of soil mixed with compost or humus should be placed at the bottom of the hole. Then you need to pour a little soil and form a mound. It is in this mound that the dahlia root system is installed and sprinkled with soil. After planting, you need to water the dahlia well and mulch it. For mulching, you can use peat, sawdust, hay, compost or just soil. It is necessary to lay out a layer of mulch about 5-6 centimeters in height.

Caring for the Figaro variety is very simple, as it does not require special care. Basic care will be enough for him. Basic work consists of watering, loosening after watering or rain, mulching and pruning. Pruning is carried out sanitary, that is, limp parts of the plant, dried flowers must be removed, and weeding must also be carried out.

Before the onset of frost, flowers must be covered with some material to protect it from the effects of cold.

Source

Reviews of Dahlia Figaro

Natalya Moshkina, 29 years old, Serpukhov

I was always confused by dahlias because of their huge size and the fact that they needed to be tied up. And the Figaro variety is so small and compact that the flowers grow on their own and require virtually no additional care other than watering. And how bright and beautiful they are.

Larisa Gracheva, 49 years old, Saransk

For me, dahlias, like gladioli, are always most associated with the end of summer and September 1, when beautiful bouquets were made from them. But the flowers of this variety of dahlias bloom in the beds already in July and this is very pleasant. Because you can admire the rich colors of these beauties throughout the second half of summer. And then bring several pots onto the terrace and thereby extend the life of the dahlias for another month or two.