I've cut some Dahlia for the house which are now dropping seeds. I've built up a fair amount over the summer, so should I try to grow them? If so, how?
Yes, you can grow them, although they will not come true from seed, ie the offspring are unlikely to look like the parents.
I would sow in early Spring, in a heated propagator, although a warm window sill may be ok. Pot the seedlings on as they get bigger, I do this 2 or 3 times, they can then be planted out when all the frosts have finished
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Yes, they should develop tubers, which should be dug up after the first frosts, dried off and kept in a frost free location till next Spring, when you can start again.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Dahlia seed are not ready until they have dried on the plant. If you have cut them for the house and the petals have just dropped off, the seed will not be ripe.
Leave the flower on the plant, the petals drop off and the flower becomes a wet pointed bud like structure.(new flower buds are round) The seeds develop and then this seed case dries. Then you can pick the seeds for storage.
Allowing a dahlia to set seed will slow down the production of flowers. You can save the tuber for next year instead if you want it to be the same. Seeds will produce flowers different to the parent.
Posts
Yes, you can grow them, although they will not come true from seed, ie the offspring are unlikely to look like the parents.
I would sow in early Spring, in a heated propagator, although a warm window sill may be ok. Pot the seedlings on as they get bigger, I do this 2 or 3 times, they can then be planted out when all the frosts have finished
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Lovely. Thank you!
Yes, they should develop tubers, which should be dug up after the first frosts, dried off and kept in a frost free location till next Spring, when you can start again.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I'm surprised that dahlias cut for flowers have produced seed, I would expect them to have ripen on the plant for far longer than that
In the sticks near Peterborough
Dahlia seed are not ready until they have dried on the plant. If you have cut them for the house and the petals have just dropped off, the seed will not be ripe.
Leave the flower on the plant, the petals drop off and the flower becomes a wet pointed bud like structure.(new flower buds are round) The seeds develop and then this seed case dries. Then you can pick the seeds for storage.
Allowing a dahlia to set seed will slow down the production of flowers. You can save the tuber for next year instead if you want it to be the same. Seeds will produce flowers different to the parent.