Valley Porcupine

Name: Valley Porcupine
Brand: Blossom Hill Gardens
SKU: Valley Porcupine
Price: 16.00 CAD
Availability: OutOfStock

Valley Porcupine was one of my first dahlias I had grown and I have loved it ever since! This dahlia has a unique novelty form with numerous tight prickly petals. Flowers are a creamy blush tone with magenta tipped petals. I have found that the spiky petals shimmer in the light and have a silver dust like effect on them adding to the unique nature of this bloom. Valley Porcupine is a smaller dahlia plant with strong stems usually around 3' tall with 2.5-3" blooms. Excellent vase life.

Bloom Form: Other

Bloom Size: Small (under 3” diameter)

Colour: Multi-colour: Soft Tones

$16.00

Available weekly in spring at Confetti Sweets Bake Shop in Sherwood Park and Lamont.

Canada-wide spring shipping: $25 flat rate. For multiple dahlia tuber orders use code COMBINE at checkout to avoid a second shipping fee. No code = no combining orders.

When to Plant: We recommend starting your tubers indoors in pots upon receiving them. You will then have a small plant to plant outdoors after the last frost, around the same time as tomatoes.

Location: Choose a site with well-draining soil and at least 6 hours of sun. Dahlias prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.5-7.0).

How to Plant:

Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and amend with compost or bone meal
Lay tuber horizontally or at a slight angle with the "eye" (growth tip) facing up
Cover with 2-3 inches of soil initially, adding more as the plant grows
Space tubers 18-24 inches apart
Insert stakes at planting time to avoid damaging roots later
Handle carefully—eyes are fragile

Indoor Starting: Plant in pots with porous potting soil and compost. Cover completely, water at planting, then weekly or mist every 2 days. Don't overwater before sprouting.

Watering: Don't overwater young plants—they can rot. Once established, provide 1 inch of water weekly. During hot or dry spells, water deeply every 2-3 days. Water at the base to keep foliage dry.

Fertilizing: Apply low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer monthly after plants are established. Too much nitrogen produces foliage over blooms.

Deadheading: Remove spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering throughout the season.

Support: Tie growing stems to stakes with soft twine as plants grow taller.

Pests & Disease: Watch for aphids, earwigs, and slugs. Ensure good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew.