[richrua]

Hi folks,
I fancy growing some dahlias from seed this year.

I am tempted to start them off soon. How early is too early?

(I have a small leanto greenhouse (if you could call it that) heated with an electric heater - if this helps you !!)

[Yorkie]

What does it say on the seed packet?

[Trillium]

I'll be starting mine sometime in March, probably mid march. Once they sprout, they grow quickly.

[mattwragg94]

ive just put some in - it said sow feb on my packet, they are in the heated propagator tho!

[jrko]

Are these different to the tubers you buy?  Seems strange getting such a big limp of root from a tiny seed.  I guess they must start somehow

[LilacSandy]

As Trillium says mid March is fine as they do grow away quite quickly I always save the seeds from mine as a backup in case the tubers fail, also they do not take up so much room to store over winter.

[Yorkie]

Are these different to the tubers you buy?  Seems strange getting such a big limp of root from a tiny seed.  I guess they must start somehow

I believe there are two types of dahlias - tuberous and from seed.

[Rangerkris]

I dropped my pots of seeds in the greenhouse so have had to mix them all together , i got marigolds, dahlias, corn flowers and a few other bits i have sown one pot and will do another in a few weeks then spread the rest on the plot. It might be a colourful season 

[Yorkie]

 

[mumofstig]

Are these different to the tubers you buy?  Seems strange getting such a big limp of root from a tiny seed.  I guess they must start somehow

The single/semi-doubles set seeds easily the doubles less so, which is why you always buy the big doubles as tubers, but I think you'll find that they all make tubers in a good year 

[mattwragg94]

yep it was the first year i grew dahlias last year and i got tubers from all of them.

[spottymint]

yep, growing dahlias from seed, you do end up with tubers at the end of the season.

I have only seen basic cactus, decrotive or small dahlias from seed, not named ones & only one striped variety (fireworks).

Will be starting mine next month.

[Trillium]

You can buy tubers for the cactus and other types of dahlias, but they're usually sold by specialty places. Seeds for them are widely sold, so easier to obtain.

And you're right on the small dwarf types - seeds only because the tubers are so small that they'd be a nuisance for distributors to store and sell. I save both but find the dwarf tubers need to be stored in slightly moist soil over winter or they dry right up by spring and nothing will revive them.

[jrko]

Okey Dokey - I'm gonna try some seed and see what I end up with.  They mostly look like singles or mini's from what I remember of my local garden centre's collection.  Thats all good as the buzzy things prefer the singles

[richrua]

Thanks folks. it is good to know that the tubers probably will develop too. i picked up a pack of the single typ and popped them into a tray. They are sitting in the little room with my washing machine which is a perfect warm and damp environment to get them going.