For three years now I have grown the Mignon variety of dahlias. They turn out an abundance of flowers and pollinators love them. They are so easy to grow too. I even, accidentally, left one planted in the garden over last winter, forgot all about it, and it appeared this year and put on a fine display. What a lovely surprise! These, in the image below, are grown in large pots with two Mignon dahlias planted in each.
 |
| Mignon dahlias in yellow and white |
Obviously, Mignon dahlias are as happy in the ground as they are in pots but I will still protect the tubers indoors over winter. The weather is so unpredictable and where I live, on the Pennines of West Yorkshire, I try not to take risks. I will do what I always do, wait for the frost to arrive, carefully dig up the tubers, remove as much soil or compost as possible, and then trim back the stems to a short length. Then I will let them dry off (I try to tip them upside down so any water in the stems tips out, then I let them dry off thoroughly, and lastly I pop them in paper bags in a large box, so they are kept in the dark. I pop them in a frost-free sheltered place and that's it.
The video below shows a hoverfly enjoying the open-flowered Mignon dahlias.
 |
| Bumblebee enjoying the pollen of a white Mignon dahlia |
 |
| Bumblebee enjoying the pollen of a yellow Mignon dahlia |