Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
davemichigan

Dahlia: Seed or Tubers

davemichigan
16 years ago

Hi, I want to try growing dahlia this year. What is the main difference between growing from seed and growing from tubers? Is it that you know exactly what you will get if you are growing from tubers?

I am new so I am not looking for any specialty dahlia. Today I saw some dahlia seed package and each is onlly $1.50. It says they will bloom the first year. That sounds nice to me.

I am also considering growing from the seed and then gather the tubers and send to friends as a gift for next year. Will that work? Is there a point of even doing so? Or is it just the same as giving them 2-3 seed to try themselves.

And if I grow from seed this year, will the tuber formed this year be mature enough to bloom again next year?

Thanks!

Comments (4)

  • dahliagardener
    16 years ago

    You usally get the small border type dahlias when you buy seeds. The fully double, quality dahlias are from tubers - after many years of trials to get good ones. Dahlias aren't true to type when grown from seed- if you take seeds from a nice double dahlia you won't get the same dahlia from it's seeds the next year.
    Yes, if you plant the seeds they will grow & bloom the same year & grow tubers that you can harvest & share the next year.

  • tonhogg
    16 years ago

    You didn't say what size dahlias you want but if you want the tall plants with larger flowers swallowtail seeds is a good place to go. They offer two different packets of seeds. One of cactus style flowers with plants that grow 4 to 5 feet tall and decorative style flowers that grow 3 to 4 feet tall. I've tried both a loved them. They were all different and you didn't know what they would look like. They all bloomed first year. They will bloom a little later than tubers (about three to four weeks). I guess because they have to develope their tubers. Therefore I started them early inside. It's a lot cheaper with seeds than buying tubers.
    If you start them early inside you might what to get tall thin stakes for each one because they may have weak stems and fall over causing crooked stems. Also when first planted outside the wind broke many of the stems off of mine. After the've been in the sun for about three weeks and the stems strengthen you can remove them. Remember that they will need staking again when they start approaching three feet tall.

  • Cheryl Stocks
    6 years ago

    Dahlias are my favorite flower. Stay away from seeds. You won't get blooms for a few years. If you live in a cold zone, you have to dig them up when they start dying off. Cut them to an inch tall. Dig them up, take them in the house and let them dry out. Store them in sawdust, in a cool dark place, so they're dormant. I store mine in a dark corner of the basement. They bloom all summer and as for a cut flower, they last forever. The tubers multiply and I plant 3 together, just beneath the surface. They get 3' tall and they have all different kinds. Dinner plate dahlias are just that. The size of a dinner plate. Down to the round dahlias that are only 1-2". The regular dahlia will have several flowers 3 - 4" in diameter.

  • cicivacation
    6 years ago

    "You won't get blooms for a few years"

    All the hybridizers I talk to get blooms the same season that they start dahlias from seed. Perhaps when you tried from seed, the conditions were not optimal for dahlias in that area of the garden, or they were started too late in your climate.

    Good tips, otherwise. I love hearing how other people grow and store their dahlias!

Sponsored
Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
Average rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars254 Reviews
Northern Virginia Design Build Firm | 18x Best of Houzz