Bishop of York

The answer to this question depends on one element of nature: wind. If you’re going to plant Bishop of York in a windy area, then yes, you need to stake them. But in general, you do not need to stake your Bishop of York Dahlias. This variety doesn´t have enormous, heavy blooms and stays small, compared to the larger blooming Dahlia varieties. It will grow to a height of 32-36 inches and is therefore known for its compact size.

If the weather forecast predicts a lot of heavy rainfall or storms during the growing season, then you could (temporarily) stake Bishop of York. This can be done with bamboo sticks, garden twine or other supportive materials. But other than that, there is no necessity to stake Bishop of York Dahlias.

If you live in an area with a warmer climate zone, such as USDA zone 8 or higher, then you can leave Bishop of York in the ground. Dahlias are not hardy at all, so they can’t stand the frost.

If you live in a colder area, then you should dig up your Bishop of York Dahlias before the first signs of frost, please do not leave them in the ground. If you do, the roots will stop growing and this will eventually lead to the death of the Bishop of York dahlia. Dig them up, pot them up and store them in a cool and dark place such as a basement or the garage.

It is not necessary to water your Bishop of York dahlias every day. Water them thoroughly right after you planted the dahlia tubers and then 1-2 times a week (also depending on the weather and amount of sunshine). You can feel the soil with your finger, if it’s dry then you should water them, if it’s wet, then wait a day.

Make sure to plant Bishop of York dahlias in well-drained soil and when you plant them in a pot or container, make sure the pot or container has drainage holes. The thumb rule is to keep the soil moistened, but not waterlogged. Dahlias do not like wet ‘feet’, otherwise they’ll rot.

Fertilizing your Bishop of York dahlias is important if you want them to grow the whole summer. Although mother nature is great, it is okay if we give her a little help. The best fertilizer for Bishop of York dahlias is a mix of phosphorus, potassium (NPK) and a little bit of nitrogen. Don’t use too much nitrogen, because this produces green leaves and we just want to have as many blooms as possible instead of bushy foliage.

Apply the fertilizer when you plant the Bishop of York tubers and after that every other 2-4 weeks in the growing season. This also depends on how much water you give Bishop of York. If it is hot, you should water more. By doing this, you slowly flush away the fertilizer. But the thumb rule is every other 2-4 weeks.