Dahlia Projects at the Larry P. Abraham Agri-Nature Center

Planting the Community Garden

S u e  I s l e y  and  A a r o n   G r e e n w o o d

Raised Dahlia Bed Update:

There are three Dahlia projects going on at the Larry P. Abraham Agri-Nature Center. Master Gardener Bill Shen has planted two raised beds of Dahlias for educational purposes and a Dahlia project by the fence. The New Mexico Dahlia Society also has two plots in the Community Garden under Bills guidance.

Sue Isley is weeding the row planted with Dahlia Cafe au Lait. The other row is populated with Dahlia Little Blessing. The raised planter in the top center of the image has been planted with Dahlia Bride To Be.

It can be seen that the Dahlias Cafe au Lait and Little Blessing sprouts are doing fine. they were planted 4/9/2025

Aaron Greenwood is wielding a Japanese weeding sickle, which is a very fine tool for weeding. It has a sharp blade set at a near 45 degree angle.

Community Garden Planting May 9, 2025:

The progress of NM Dahlia Society’s Community Garden Plots at Larry P. Abraham Agri-Nature Center is the main subject of this update. NM Dahlia Society members Dina Bello, Maureen Carson, Aaron Greenwood and Sue Isley joined Master Gardener Bill Shen forming the work crew. Dahlia tubers were planted in plots E1 and H1. Plot E1 has two rows with 23 dahlias in each row. Plot H1 has one row with 23 dahlias. At the end of the work session 69 dahlia tubers had been planted in about 2 hours. The tubers that were planted were all “leftovers” from the tuber sale that took place at the end of April.

Bill had the method and procedures planned out, which made the work go quickly and smoothly. He had previously turned the soil on the “double” row, and this is where we began planting. The crew used a long measuring tape in order to place orange flags and mark where each tuber would be planted.

The project used 69 Dahlia Tubers. We chose the tubers to plant randomly. The only restraint was planting dahlias of the same variety next to each other.

Dina Bello and Maureen Carson. It was a pleasure to work with these two enthusiastic and hard working gardeners.

Aaron Greenwood, Dina Bello, Maureen Carson and Bill Shen at the start of the planting phase of the project.

Steps taken to plant the dahlia tubers.

  • Dig a hole 4″ deep
  • Mix alfalfa pellets with the soil at the bottom of the hole in order to introduce a natural fertilizer.
  • Place a 6 inch section of PCP pipe in the ground leaving an inch exposed above the surface. The pipe marks where a stake can be inserted safely and not hit the tuber.
  • Place tubers eye up close to the PCP pipe, after which the hole is filled.
  • The final step is to write the dahlia’s name on a 5 inch segment of Venetian blind and place it next to the PCP pipe.
  • Tuber Location Maps: Plot E1,  Plot H1

Dina and Maureen planting on plot E1.

Dina Bello logging the location of each Dahlia tuber to be used for the plot map.

Bill finishing up on plot H1.

Photo Credits:
Sue Isley unless noted
Aaron Greenwood, images 1 and 2