Another Dahlia Newbie!

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I have always admired dahlias! I bought a beautiful, large dahlia one year (I was probably about 12). It grew well, but I had know idea what I was doing when it came to dahlias. I tried to store it over the winter, but it didn't make it. Well, almost 20 years later, wow, I can't believe its been that long!...I am ready to make the plunge! I just watched The Big Allotment Challenge on YouTube. You know how the folks from the UK like growing their dahlias...I need some!

I worked at a greenhouse for almost 4 years and they always had the small, single, bedding dahlias for sale. I was always excited to see them blooming in the green house. Even the small one are amazing!

Well I got some seeds the other day and thought I would try these out. I didn't realize you could grow them from seeds. Has anyone grown from seed? Any tips?

I also plan on getting a few tubers, probably from Lowes. Any tips when it comes to buying tubers from a big box store?

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Comments (8)

terrigail_gw
11 years ago
1. I've had a dwarf dahlia fetish for a very long time:). I've been saving/growing them from seed for several years. I'm in z6b, and generally start mine the first week of April, plant out mid-May, and they will bloom end of June-first of July (so about 12-14 weeks from seed). A great thing about the smaller varieties is that if you get a plant that you love, you can dig up the tubers (just like the tall ones) and save to replant. If you have several different colors or bloom type of a variety (such as Mignon's dwarf, etc) they do cross pollinate an you will get a beautiful hodge podge from your collected seeds.
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Original Author
11 years ago
terrigal:

How exciting! Exactly what I was hoping to hear! I was wondering about winter sowing them. Have you ever done that?
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terrigail_gw
11 years ago
I haven't wintersown them. I'm always afraid they are TOO much of the 'tender annual' that they are supposed to be. The first frost here will completely blacken them, so I always just wait.
cicivacation
11 years ago
In truth, they are more a 'tender perennial,' and don't need a cold cycle to kick off germination. If you want large blooms over four inches, though, it's best to grow named varieties from tubers that are supposed to be larger varieties.
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Original Author
11 years ago
cicivacation:

Thanks for your comment! Yes, I will be getting a few named tubers, but I do like the small ones too...I saw the seeds and thought, hey! those might be fun to try. I don't expect they will need much staking...the package says they get 18 in tall...they may need some...we'll see.
cicivacation
11 years ago
Sounds like fun! If you have an inside lighting setup, you could even have some blooms before planting out from those patio dahlia seeds.
terrigail_gw
11 years ago
Tender perennial does sound more accurate:) I have to store mine through the winter; they never survive the cold in the ground. My dwarfs/patio/bedding dahlias never get over 2 ft.
keriann_lakegeneva
11 years ago
I start my dahlia seeds now and start tubers in trays next week. Both bloom around the 12 week mark for me give or take cici is correct, tubers produce (usually) the larger named varieties.... Seeds and small plants that thrive in containers! I love both!