What are some early flowering dinnerplate varieties?

9 years ago

I've been growing dahlias here in Wyoming for 4 years and having some success. However, my biggest struggle seems to be finding varieties that will bloom before the frost. (Last year it snowed on Sept 6th and then warmed up and didn't freeze again until mid October. Talk about a pain in the rear trying to figure out when to lift the tubers). Anyway, I've found some in smaller sizes, but dinner plate are a challenge. Which tend to be the earliest blooming varieties?

I have Kelvin Floodlight and am amazed by the early prolific blooms, 8-9" in size, multiple on the plant at one time. This should make me happy, but yellow is my least favorite dahlia color. Are there any sports of Kelvin Floodlight? With the same bloom habit but different color?

I may try taking cuttings from some of my bulbs that I have duplicates of to try to get earlier blooms. Or has anyone tried putting out black plastic to warm the ground first then planting earlier? Just a random thought...

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Comments (4)

teddahlia
9 years ago
AC William is the earliest blooming giant dahlia I have ever seen. Unfortunately, it is another yellow one.
rayagain
9 years ago
I I'am looking for a pollyhouse frame this year so I can start my bulbs earlier and hopefuly have a longer flowering season. Maybe this idea will help you as well. I'm in zone 6 here in south Ontario Canada.
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teddahlia
9 years ago
The key to early blooming is to start the tubers in gallon pots well before the planting time-about 6 weeks. You will have to monitor them for killing frosts and many people move them in and out depending on the weather. One avid grower has them on his sunny deck during the day and if there is frost brings them into his garage. The plants should be about a foot high in the pots and when planted they will wilt for a day or two and then grow very rapidly. You will gain several weeks on the season, especially if you have fairly hot summers. Dahlias need to be about 18 inches to two feet tall when really hot weather in the summer hits them. They will continue to grow in the hot weather if they are bigger plants but if they are small plants will not grow during the hot weather. You should be able to get good blooms as soon at the weather cools off in late August.
Tique Lo
7 years ago
Some of my early big bloomers have been Kelvin Floodlight, Lavender Perfection, Cafe Au Lait and Snowbound. They're all big, early and bloom in profusion.