How to grow dahlias from seeds at home

Dahlia

Growing dahlias yourself is a time-consuming endeavor for both novice and experienced gardeners. However, the reward is a beautiful plant that will thrive in a pot or flowerbed. Properly growing dahlias from seed and caring for them follows the same principles, so consider these basic tips for choosing dahlia seeds and growing them.

Growing dahlias at home requires a lot of time and effort. However, a beautiful houseplant is sure to delight even an experienced gardener, so it's a good idea to learn the basics of growing dahlias from seed and caring for them in advance.

How to Grow Dahlias at Home Using Seeds

Initially, it's recommended to purchase dahlia seeds based on personal preference and prior knowledge. Experience will help you determine which seeds to choose. You can later harvest dahlia seeds at home, but to do so, you need to look for a firm dahlia achene. If the achene is ripe, it will turn dark beige and resemble a cone. However, dahlias only ripen during rainy seasons, so it's best to harvest in the fall.

To keep seeds fresh, cover them with a special material from rain if grown in a garden. This isn't a concern indoors. Even during frosts, flowering plants can be kept indoors in a container filled with water. Under these conditions, the seeds usually ripen in about a couple of weeks.

Once ripe, the seed pods are cut and opened. Each pod can contain up to 15 seeds, which can be stored for 3 to 4 years.

Which varieties of dahlias should I choose?

Advice! To grow dahlias from seeds yourself, use annual and perennial seeds.

Selecting annual seeds requires minimal time, as the plants always delight with their beauty and require minimal care. When choosing perennial dahlia seeds, it's advisable to consider the plant's height, care requirements, and flowering period. Beginners often focus on ease of care.

When to plant dahlias

Successful indoor plant growers plant dahlias in early May, as frosts have already passed by then. If nighttime temperatures drop, it's recommended to use old buckets and plastic bags to protect the dahlias. In any case, low temperatures and frosts have a negative impact on dahlias, so it's best to take the weather into account.

How to plant dahlias

To plant dahlias, use deep, well-dug holes in the soil. Fill the holes with humus or compost. If desired, add a complete fertilizer to ensure the dahlias receive the nutrients they need. When adding fertilizer, it's recommended to mix it into the soil.

A flower tuber with a sprout is planted in each hole. Subsequently, the attachment point of the sprout to the tuber should be filled with at least 5 centimeters of soil. With this arrangement, only a small hole should remain.

If the soil is too dry when planting dahlias, avoid watering. Otherwise, lightly water the plants. It's important to remember that overwatering the dahlia tuber is essential for its continued development.

Growing dahlias from seeds

Growing dahlias yourself requires careful soil digging, taking into account numerous specifics, and proper storage of the tubers. If such efforts are daunting or even cause anxiety, it's recommended to grow an annual variety.

Important! When choosing annual seeds, they are sown in the ground in late spring, but their flowering period does not begin until mid-August. For this reason, many gardeners choose perennial varieties.

Growing dahlias from seeds follows a similar principle.

Preparing containers for seedlings

One of the most important and crucial tasks is properly preparing the containers for future seedling planting. The containers are cleaned of dust and washed. To protect the seedlings from excess moisture, it's advisable to make small holes in the container.

Germination of seedlings

The period of germination of dahlia seedlings is one of the most crucial, as it is this period that influences the subsequent development of dahlias.

One of the most important tasks is proper soil preparation. This preparation is carried out in the fall, as this approach ensures the best conditions for dahlia growth. It's important to remember that dahlias prefer loose, uniform soil that is rich in nutrients.

To eliminate the risk of dahlia diseases and pests, the soil is warmed and treated with potassium permanganate, after which the soil is moistened. After this preliminary preparation, the seeds are planted. Each dahlia is planted at a depth of a couple of centimeters, with the seeds ideally spaced at least 3 centimeters apart.

Cover the seedling boxes with plastic wrap and place them in a greenhouse or other suitable location. Ensure adequate lighting.

After about a week and a half, the first shoots will emerge. At this point, the plastic wrap is removed. The seedlings are left in a bright spot. Insufficient light will prevent the shoots from growing tall.

If using one-year-old dahlia seeds, sow in early April. If you plan to propagate the variety later, it's advisable to transplant the dahlia tubers in early spring.

Picking seedlings

Once the dahlias have sprouted, it's important to ensure proper care is maintained. The key is to ensure optimal growing conditions, preventing stagnant water in the soil. Otherwise, there's a risk of dahlia diseases. It's recommended to use a spray bottle to moisten the seedlings and keep the soil dry. This approach is essential for the dahlia seeds to germinate.

Once the seedlings begin to sprout leaves, they can be pricked out. To do this, transplant each seedling into a separate cup using a nutrient-rich potting mix. Poke holes in the bottom of the cups to allow excess moisture to escape. After this, the seedlings are moistened, as overwatering is not recommended yet and can lead to excessive moisture. The next waterings should be done after the soil has dried out.

Features of planting dahlias in flower beds

Dahlia seedlings will be ready for transplanting outdoors in the second half of May. Rushing to plant is not advisable, as frost is dangerous for the delicate plants. To ensure successful development, hardening off the seedlings is recommended. Therefore, starting in early May, the pots containing the planted dahlias are kept outdoors for a short time. At the same time, the indoor temperature is adjusted as the flowers acclimate to greenhouse conditions.

Rules for choosing a location for growing dahlias

Advice! Dahlias love warmth and good light, so it's best to consider this when choosing a planting location. Insufficient light will result in poor growth and appearance. It's worth noting that shady locations are ideal for dahlias' continued development. Any dahlia grown from seed retains its love and attraction to light and sun.

Soil preparation

If everything was done correctly, the seedlings will be ready for transplanting to their permanent location by mid-May. It's best to take your time, as the last frosts must pass. Only then can you begin preparing the soil.

If seedlings were transplanted in peat or special paper pots, these can be used. In other cases, transplanting from cups is still required.

The soil for dahlias should be sufficiently loose and enriched with mineral fertilizers. This largely determines the success of the plants' growth. However, there are no special soil requirements, so planting dahlias is neither difficult nor specific.

Planting flowers in a flowerbed

Many lovers of beautiful and lush flowers are interested in how to grow dahlias from seeds. Repotting must be done with the utmost care for the root system.

Once the holes have been dug in the flowerbeds, you can carefully plant the dahlias. Mineral fertilizers will promote better growth. To ensure successful flower growth, compact the soil around the stems and apply mulch.

The seedlings are carefully removed from the containers, taking care to preserve the root system. If the transplant is successful, you can be confident that the plant will thrive in its new location.

Caring for Dahlias

Dahlias are drought-tolerant plants, so watering should be moderate. For example, when they are actively blooming in June and July, water them once a week if the weather is dry. On hot days, mist the leaves with a spray bottle at a time of day when ultraviolet radiation is weaker. Reduce watering from the second half of August.

Proper planting and care of dahlias grown from seed will allow you to enjoy vibrant blooms that will delight you with their beauty until autumn.