"I like them quite a bit and tried > growing them when I lived in Louisiana. It never worked out. The leaves > always seem to melt under summer heat, even in the shade. Often it is so hot > and wet that the tubers are cooked underground. The conditions most likely" The old fashioned (?) method of digging the clumps of rootstocks, storing them upside down to let all collected water drain, WITHOUT WASHING, and leeping dry in boxes with dry peat in a frost free place for the winter worked well. Replanting was in speing when all danger of frost was over. Here, in a long hot summer climate (actually, the year reduced to a short "harsh" winter and a long summer) dahlias behave much like Nhu says, they are dormant in winter (without foliage) and go dormant in mid summer (with their foliage green and lush) again. The main blooming seasons are spring and autumn. They must be planted where they receive afternoon shade and they do well this way. _________________________________________________________________ Disfrutá los mejores videos de MSN mientras chateas http://messengertv.msn.com/mkt/es-ar/