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

[rary]

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

try spreading the tuber out on a seed tray filled with damp compost keep frost free and once you see some shoots on them plant into a suitable size pot grow on and once all frost has finished harden off before planting out

[Martin H]

Dahlias are really easy from seed, except you will get a mix of flower colours. Given your colour theme though, there may be a place for those purple-leaved bedding dahlias: seeds are widely available. Sow in a seed tray in March, prick out into large modules, plant out in May. The flowers are usually a mix of bright colours but the foliage will be consistent. The one I've grown is "Redskin".

As others have said, if you want specific flower colours you'll have to buy tubers. Again these are really easy to grow, I usually start them off in a pot then harden off and plant out when they are growing strongly in late May.

[Dynamite]

Dahlias are really easy from seed, except you will get a mix of flower colours. Given your colour theme though, there may be a place for those purple-leaved bedding dahlias: seeds are widely available. Sow in a seed tray in March, prick out into large modules, plant out in May. The flowers are usually a mix of bright colours but the foliage will be consistent. The one I've grown is "Redskin".

As others have said, if you want specific flower colours you'll have to buy tubers. Again these are really easy to grow, I usually start them off in a pot then harden off and plant out when they are growing strongly in late May.

I’ve seen seeds on the internet for specific types and colours. Are you saying that they still might end up mixed colours even though advertised as specific?

Regards.....Rob

[Martin H]

I’ve seen seeds on the internet for specific types and colours. Are you saying that they still might end up mixed colours even though advertised as specific?

Regards.....Rob

The ones in the shops always seem to be mixed colours. There's always more choice on the internet and there's no reason the seeds shouldn't come through as advertised. Apply the usual caveats about choosing your supplier with care, though. You can buy seeds for blue strawberries and multicoloured roses, after all!

[More basil]

Sarah Raven has some rather nice dahlias too, including some mauve types like 'blue bayou'.

https://www.sarahraven.com/flowers/bulbs/dahlias

[bramble]

Dynamite..like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.
You can go down the cheap and cheerful route by buying a packet of seeds and see what they produce, or if you are really looking for something spacific then the way to go is a nursery that specialises in dahlias.
Let us know how you get on.

[Dynamite]

I think I’m going to try growing them by seed. Worth a try, and more satisfying to be honest.

Regards.......Rob

[veggiechicken]

Have you found seeds in white/purple/blue?

[Dynamite]

Have you found seeds in white/purple/blue?

Yes, thanks VC there’s definitely plenty of white. Some lilac, purple shades but few blue. There’s enough good shades so will just fill in places with other flowers.

Kind Regards Rob.

[veggiechicken]

We'll need photos of your garden, of course

[Dynamite]

We'll need photos of your garden, of course

Yes, ok then, good idea. I will do some before and after shots next summer to see the difference.

Thanks Rob