Dahlias - Seed or Tubers? And best place to buy from?

[Dynamite]

Hi All. I’m wondering if anyone can advise me as to the best thing to do about growing some Dahlias. I have a greenhouse, so ok doing from seed which may be cheaper but is it better to buy Tubers?

Also I’m looking at following a white/purple/blue theme in my garden but all the ones I see are gaudy bright colours and always seem to come “mixed”.

Where is the best place to buy Dahlia’s in whatever format from?

Kind Regards.........Rob

[Guest]

Due to the colours you are after you would be best to get tubers. Yellow is a dominate colour when it comes to seed and you will end up with a lot for the compost heap. Also there are no 'blue' dahlias. In regards to where to buy you could try Withypitts Dahlias - Specialist Dahlia Farm in West Sussex. which I know quite a few cut flower folk buy from and https://nationaldahliacollection.co....l-dahlias.html might be worth a try.

[Jay-ell]

Unfortunately there are no blue dahlias. I grew some from seed from the James Wong range this year but they were fibrous and tasted bland. The flowers Looked good - yellows, pinks, reds and pinky purple. From seed you can either get a specific named variety (I've a couple more packs of seed for specific varieties) or get a mixed lot.

£ shops often have dahlia tubers for sale in spring. Never got them so I don't know what they're like.

Unfortunately If I can't eat it, it doesn't grow in the Jungle. So we're looking to take another plot to include flowers next year.

[Dynamite]

Due to the colours you are after you would be best to get tubers. Yellow is a dominate colour when it comes to seed and you will end up with a lot for the compost heap. Also there are no 'blue' dahlias. In regards to where to buy you could try Withypitts Dahlias - Specialist Dahlia Farm in West Sussex. which I know quite a few cut flower folk buy from and https://nationaldahliacollection.co....l-dahlias.html might be worth a try.

Thank you, I will look into those.

Regards Rob

[Dynamite]

Unfortunately there are no blue dahlias. I grew some from seed from the James Wong range this year but they were fibrous and tasted bland. The flowers Looked good - yellows, pinks, reds and pinky purple. From seed you can either get a specific named variety (I've a couple more packs of seed for specific varieties) or get a mixed lot.

£ shops often have dahlia tubers for sale in spring. Never got them so I don't know what they're like.

Unfortunately If I can't eat it, it doesn't grow in the Jungle. So we're looking to take another plot to include flowers next year.

Thank you. They don’t have to exactly be blue as such, it’s just that I’m creating a theme in my garden of the dominant colours being blue, white, purple...... lavender “ish” type of colours and shades.

Regards...... Rob

[bramble]

Dynamite. Bear in mind not only the variety like cactus, single flower, pompom etc, but also the difference in height if you are planning out your garden.
Dahlias will range in height from one foot to 6 foot tall.
They are a great flower to grow and the bees love them.
Good luck with your project.

[Scarlet]

Ive visited this place - their dahlia collection is pretty impressive and they also do rooted cuttings for delivery in May.
HOWTO ORDER - Gilberts Dahlias

[KevinM67]

I grew about 12 from seed last year mainly to incorporate within the fruit and veg for the pollinators. It was from a 10p pack of seeds I got from W1lkos before I left England.
You're right, not a great choice of colours, however the mix were nice enough around the garden.
Started on the windowsill, some were potted in the garden, the rest were put in the ground.
Dead easy to maintain, quite hardy, prolific flowerers and quite shade tolerant.
When digging them up - it's also quite interesting to see how one tiny seed can produce a mass of tubers.
Anyway, I'll replant the saved tubers next year and see how they get on.
I've also bought another couple of budget seed packets online (of different varieties) to increase the stock.

[crannman]

when I grow dahlias from seed the tubers never grow again the following year I do lift them store them re plant but nothing am I doing something wrong

[Guest]

when I grow dahlias from seed the tubers never grow again the following year I do lift them store them re plant but nothing am I doing something wrong

If planted out too early they may be rotting off/ killed by frosts.
My problem is usually slugs. As soon as shoots immerge the slugs get them, weakening the plants.

[rary]

If you want guaranteed shape, colour and height, you need to buy named varieties, and crannman, are you splitting the tuber up before planting, if so not all parts of the tuber have growing points (eyes) plus as Norfolkgray says they cannot be exposed to frost, try starting them off in pots so that you can protect from frost and snails and plant out after the last frost

[Dynamite]

Is growing from them from seed difficult then?

[rary]

^^^^No they are actually easy to grow from seeds you can't always guarantee the flower colour as most seed packets are mixed

[crannman]

no not splitting them storing them until frost gone too had some big tubers too but never grow on

[Mark_Riga]

I've bought quite a few mini plants from halls of heddon. They seem a bit dearer this year - looks like about £3 each and £7 for a delivery but they always arrive as well rooted cuttings and grow well. No failures yet. I pot up in greenhouse till I'm ready to plant them out.

I put about 35 different roots in a shed to store over winter about a week back - not all from Halls but a lot were as well as some chrysanths.