Hi Phyl,

What is a grocery-store type dahlia? Assuming you mean tubers mass packaged for the big box stores. Which also means that the dahlia in your package may or may not be Bahama Apricot. There's a 20-25% chance that it will not.

Bahama Apricot isn't a large flowering dahlia. It is a shogun. The blooms are 4" which are perfectly nice for your cutflower bouquets.

Our last frost date is the same as yours. We plant our tubers for field production usually around May 1. The last couple of years, it has actually been the last week in April. Ground temperature is the most important factor to consider when planting your tuber/s. Ideally, dahlias need 5 hours of sun. Dahlia plants grow taller here in the midwest and the northeast.

Then again, you could start your tuber in a pot now; and, transplant it out when you're planting your other plants in the garden. You would have blooms sooner.

You can Google Shogun Bahama Apricot for a photo. In the future, you may want to check the Big List for information on dahlias and suppliers.

Trish

Here is a link that might be useful: The Big List

Trish,
Thanks so much for all your help here! Coming from you, I know it is EXCELLENT advice! Yes, I meant that I picked it up at my grocery store cheap. I'm so excited to see my first crocus...so tired of winter. I bookmarked The Big List for future reference. :0) Phyl