dahlias

[the big lebowski]

hi all im growing dhalias from seeds in pots on my window sill i was going to try and grow them inside this year and hope they get good tuber roots then put them out next year ,ive never grown them from seeds before do you think this would work ? anythouts welcome ,cheers

[nickdub]

Oddly I decided to give dahlias a go from seed this year too, even though I have no space where I can sensibly grow them in my garden (don't ask).

I sowed some "cactus type" seeds about 6 weeks ago and they came up like mustard and cress. Anyway I made some wooden planters out of pallets and moved them on to those from the guttering where I started them, so now they are about 6" high and growing like weeds. I'll be interested to see what responses you get, as I've no real idea what I'm up to at this point either. I've got about 100 plants at the mo', having palmed some off on gardening friends already :-)

[bramble]

I wouldn't recommend growing them indoors.
They can get quite large and bushy,
They need plenty of space to develop large tubers.
They're strictly an outdoor plant.
Just my opinion mind you.

[Scarlet]

I wouldn't recommend growing them indoors.
They can get quite large and bushy,
They need plenty of space to develop large tubers.
They're strictly an outdoor plant.
Just my opinion mind you.

As always we all like to do something’s different!
I agree they are normally an outdoor plant. I love dahlias and they have been a favourite garden plant for me for many years. This year I recently bought some extra tubers in the sale - very late. I’ve no room in the garden, and I didn’t think I would have enough time either for them to flower before the frosts to be honest. Anyway, I’ve potted them up and I’ve got them on the shelves in my green house - it’s super hot in there and they are absolutely thriving!
I’ve also got some small ones grown from seed that I’m hoping just to grow on for tubers that I will be keeping in pots. Obviously just a trial but I’m hoping for some new stock for next year.
In the house you may struggle to give them enough light? They do grow quite big depending on the variety so hou may struggle with window space?

[Jonny.D]

I wouldn't recommend growing them indoors.
They can get quite large and bushy,
They need plenty of space to develop large tubers.
They're strictly an outdoor plant.
Just my opinion mind you.

I'm with Bramble on this one, the spare ones I've grown in pots (No room left in the garden) have not done nearly as well as those in the ground

[the big lebowski]

ok ,so put them in the ground then ,its not too late to do that i take it ?

[Jungle Jane]

Ive got some in the garden I planted out from seed the same year I sowed them,they’ve been coming back every year without me doing anything except a little mulch. Also some in 3” pots in the kitchen I sowed this year,haven’t planted out yet,they’re leggy in the kitchen & look like they need support if/when I plant them out,they need to decide where they’re going. Large pots & 3ft sticks would help contain them indoors? Mine look like this today,I’m surprised they haven’t wilted like my parsley & cucumber leaves,a good sign for them growing indoors,but leggy & not bushy,reminds me of when I grew potatoes indoors. -

[Scarlet]

Dalias can be top heavy too...so if they are leggy now they may snap, so will need plenty of support.

[rary]

What type are you growing, as bedding dahlias are generally small bushy types grow about 12inches high with a spread of 9ins. The Bishops children grow 2 to3ft. and decorative are generally 4ft, you can grow any dahlia in a pot but should be minimum of 5in. pot but as has been said they can topple very easy, this week I toppled a large dec. which was in a 6in. pot and broke it, left with a 4in. stem, which is now starting to throw out more leaf.
To save space exhibitors sometime keep a tuber of their different varieties in 5in. pots as an insurance against loss of the varieties

[Scarlet]

Another thread here that I updated today with photos of dahlias that I have in large pots growing in the GH.
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ias_96846.html