I have started some in pots too. I can keep them in the greenhouse or even the house until it warms up. We'll see what happens!

I haven't done it myself but I know plenty of people that do. If you were disappointed with your dahlias last year, then it's definitely worth trying something different this year. Black plastic nursery pots absorb the most heat.

Hi, Kam76.

A neighbor a few houses down from us grows his dahlias in black nursery pots, apparently as his only means of livelihood. He sells the flowers at the local markets in the summer. Although he has a greenhouse, he chooses to overwinter them on his front lawn. You heard me: Hundreds and hundreds of black plastic pots are massed, higgley-piggley, right there on his front lawn.

He also leaves his electric lawnmower smack dab in the middle of the yard aaaall winter long (as a protest? an art form?)and always wears one of those fisherman/camie vests with lots and lots of pockets everywhere. We know he's a few tacos shy of a combo platter and fully expect him to go off one day, pulling a crudely fashioned weapon out of one of the dozens of pockets, possibly taking a few neighbors with him. We just keep an eye out for him and make sure we stay in the backyard whenever the glint in his eye glows a dull red.

Hey! It woiks for him. Why not for you?

Good luck!
Rain

Yes you can indeed give your dahlia's head start by starting them in the pots until about mid May.You will extend the bloom.Good luck to you...