How to grow dahlias from seeds at home?

While the autumn favorites of perennial dahlias hold their unshakable position, the former popularity of annual dahlias begins to return again. Easy to grow, unpretentious, these "alternative" dahlias allow with minimal effort to grow a bright decoration of the garden and pot arrangements. Growing dahlias from seeds, allowing you to admire the annual form of your favorite garden plant, is possible even for beginners. After all, this is one of the simplest crops for sowing seedlings and soil.

Growing dahlia from seeds

Content:

• Features of reproduction of dahlia seeds
• Self-collection of dahlia seeds and their selection for sowing
• Sowing dahlia into the soil
• Growing dahlia seedlings
• Care of young dahlia plants
• Growing perennial dahlias from seeds

Features of reproduction of dahlia seeds

Confusion over the classification of dahlias often leads to the fact that annual dahlias are considered to be one or more separate species of the genus Dahlia. In fact, we are talking more about a special way of cultivation and agricultural technology. Annual dahlias are any dahlias that are grown from seeds and do not store for the winter., but cultivated purely as annual plants, the same garden or changeable dahlias that are grown with digging for the winter in a perennial culture. Species dahlias today are almost never found in culture, and even if dahlias were bred specifically for cultivation from seeds, we are talking about complex hybrids, the origin of which is almost impossible to determine. But as a result of long-term selection, annual dahlias that are better suited for growing in pots and containers of medium-sized plants stand out against the background of their perennial competitors for their abundance, flowering duration and their compact size.

Annual dahlias (on seed packages can simply be referred to as Dahlia, Dahlia hybrids, Dahlia x hybridum, Dahlia cultorum, Dahlia pinnata or the outdated synonym Dahlia variabilis) are quite powerful, but not large, flowering herbaceous plants. Their roots are thickened, fleshy, even when grown from seeds at the end of the season, tuberous "cones" are formed. Most modern varieties range in height from 20 to 50 cm, although a large selection of seeds allows you to find taller options. Dahlias are characterized by branched, hollow inside, straight and rigid stems.The leaves are densely set, opposite, large, feathery or whole, broadly lanceolate or rhomboid, with a seldom serrated "jagged" edge. The edge is an optional but common characteristic of dahlia leaves. The color of the leaves varies depending on the variety, but it is usually quite bright. Typical for representatives of the genus Dahlia (Dahlia) inflorescence baskets consist of large reed and small tubular flowers. The degree of doubleness of the flower, color, size fluctuate depending on varietal characteristics.

Annual dahlias bloom from the middle of summer, continuing their parade until they suffer from the first strong frosts. From sowing to flowering, a period of at least 50-60 days usually elapses. It is worth paying special attention to the duration of the growing season and flowering time: despite the fact that annual dahlias tend to bloom earlier in low-growing forms and later in higher ones, in modern varieties this rule is sometimes violated.

All annual dahlias reproduce in the same way. Today it is customary to divide dahlias into dwarf or balcony varieties and "ordinary" or garden dahlias. The name of the legendary variety "Merry Boys" has long become synonymous with any one-year-old dahlias, but the range of this variety is far from limited. According to the technique of growing from seeds, representatives of different varieties, groups and classes of dahlias do not differ from each other..

Methods for growing annual dahlias:

1. Sowing into soil.
2. Sowing seedlings

Dahlia seed germination

Abundant fruiting is one of the reasons why annual dahlias are considered easy to grow and “budget” plants, an excellent alternative to perennial crops. After the end of flowering, the achenes of the fruits ripen, from which, after drying, you can get a generous harvest of seeds. And although they will give offspring with a wide range of characteristics and will not allow exactly to preserve the characteristics of the mother plant, nevertheless, self-collection of seeds is very popular.

On average, you can collect seeds from the bushes within a month after the baskets have flowered, cutting off the hemicarps whole. Dahlia baskets are dried in a ventilated and dry place at normal room temperatures. Seeds can be removed only after the seed is completely dry.

You can also store dahlia seeds at room temperatures. Heat and high humidity, like light, are indicators from which they should be protected. Dahlia seeds keep well in simple paper bags.

When buying dahlia seeds in a store, you should pay attention to three parameters:

1. On the doubleness of the inflorescences.
2. Color nuances.
3. To the height of the plants (the higher the variety, the longer the growing season and the more limited the possibilities of its use in decorating the garden).

Dahlias can hardly be called elite plants, their seeds are available and found everywhere. When choosing quality seeds, it is enough to show the usual care. If you are buying rare varieties and mixtures of varieties or new varieties, then it is better to choose producers that have proven themselves well with other new plants. When choosing seeds, pay special attention to the recommended uses, especially if you want to grow dahlias in curbs or containers rather than in flower beds.

Sowing dahlia into the soil

Despite the later subsequent flowering, sowing dahlia seeds directly at the growing site remains the most popular, and perhaps the easiest way to grow annual dahlias. Simplifying the growing process as much as possible, the option of sowing dahlias in the soil allows you to get adapted, strong, blooming dahlias towards the end of summer, well adapted to the conditions of the growing area.In the middle lane, this method requires a more careful selection of varieties with the shortest growing season, which can bloom 2 months after sowing (otherwise flowering may be very late, you may not enjoy it at all).

When choosing a place for annual dahlias, it is worth remembering their extreme love of the sun. Warm, sunny, sheltered areas will allow these plants to fully reveal their beauty. Annual dahlias will not die in partial shade, but abundant long flowering can be observed only in bright areas. Dahlias grow better in nutritious high-quality loams, but they adapt very well to other weakly acidic or neutral, loose, fertile soils. The main thing is to prepare the site for sowing in advance, adding organic (compost, but not manure) and mineral fertilizers, wood ash to the soil, and properly processing the soil.

The timing of sowing in the ground is determined only by the peculiarities of the weather... Dahlias are cold-resistant, but still not frost-resistant, so you should not rush to sow them in the soil. Traditionally, dahlias are sown in May, in favorable weather - at the beginning or middle of the month, in the middle lane - in the third decade. It is better to focus on forecasts for each individual season and wait for the time when the weather is stable and warm.

There is nothing complicated in sowing dahlias:

1. The surface of the "bed" for sowing dahlia is leveled. Shallow grooves are created at a distance of 20-30 cm. In a small area, sowing can be carried out in individual holes located at the optimal distance for the selected variety.
2. Dahlia seeds are laid out less often in prepared rows. Place 2-3 seeds in the holes.
3. The seeds are carefully covered with soil and the garden is watered abundantly.
4. If possible, dahlia crops are covered from above with a film that will prevent the soil from drying out, accelerate germination and protect young seedlings. As soon as friendly sprouts appear, the shelter is removed.
5. The seedlings are allowed to grow stronger and grow within 2 - 3 weeks.

Unlike many annuals, it is not at all necessary to thin out in the classical sense, with the release of weak plants, dahlia seedlings. Excess plants can be planted and used as seedlings without losing a single seedling. Of course, if there are too many seeds and there is no need to save the plants, then a simple pulling out of excess seedlings can be done.

Dahlia seedlings in the open field

Dahlias in annual culture are often called too simple a plant in order to complicate your garden life by growing their seedlings. Indeed, when grown by sowing directly into the soil, dahlias bloom magnificently and justify their autumn reputation. But if you want to get an earlier flowering, starting not in August, but in July or even June, enjoy full-fledged long flowering in the middle lane, or have acquired rare varieties that have a special value and perspective, then you can also use the classic seedling method.

Soil and containers for planting dahlia

Dahlias are traditionally sown in large, low containers or boxes. Drainage holes are required. Sowing can be carried out not in pots or containers, but in the soil of greenhouses or greenhouses.

For growing dahlia seedlings, any versatile substrate suitable for growing vegetable and flower seedlings is suitable. A light, loose and medium-nutritive soil mixture with high permeability can be mixed independently. Peat with sand in a ratio of 3 to 1 is also suitable for sowing seeds (but not for diving). It is better to additionally disinfect the soil before sowing seeds. In addition to the substrate, for growing dahlia seedlings, it is better to prepare drainage in advance (at least calcined sand).

Sowing dahlia seeds

Dahlia seeds for seedlings are sown in April, with a favorable sunny spring, or (when there is an opportunity to provide seedlings with additional lighting) - during March. Sowing earlier carries the risk of plant loss due to lack of light.

Before sowing, dahlia seeds, especially those collected on their own, are best treated with fungicides. They can be soaked for several hours in a warm solution of potassium permanganate or for 10 minutes treated in a weak solution of aloe juice or any systemic fungicide. After pre-planting treatment, dahlia seeds must be dried by spreading them out on paper or a napkin.

There is nothing complicated in the sowing itself:

1. If the container is not low or the drainage holes are shallow, a drainage layer is poured onto the bottom of the container. The containers are filled with prepared soil, without compacting it, but carefully leveling and moistening from a spray bottle.
2. The seeds are carefully laid out on the soil surface, trying to leave a distance sufficient so that the roots of individual plants (from 3 to 4 cm) are not damaged during the dive. Seeds are re-sprayed with a fine spray bottle.
3. From above, the seeds are covered with a thin layer of soil or sand (thickness from 3 to 5 mm). Better to use a sieved substrate.
4. The containers are covered with glass or foil on top.

Conditions for germination of dahlia seeds

It is advisable to expose containers with sown dahlia seeds in the brightest possible light. Seedlings will appear in normal room temperatures, but in hot conditions, at an air temperature of 25 degrees, the first shoots appear in 5-6 days.

The containers are ventilated daily until the first shoots appear. The cover is removed from the seedlings gradually.

Growing dahlia plants

Fast growing dahlias require regular watering to maintain stable soil moisture. Seedlings must be sprayed carefully, since excessive dampness can lead to the loss of seedlings as a result of the spread of diseases. For dahlias, you need to keep the lighting as bright as possible.

Diving dahlia seedlings and caring for young plants

Due to the active growth, dahlia seedlings can be dived within 10-15 days after the first shoots appear. Dahlia seedlings are better for diving into individual containers. If possible, peat pots or containers are used for these plants that can be removed from the plant without destroying the earthy coma. Diving is carried out at the stage of 2 - 3 true leaves, trying not to contact the roots. If the seedlings are elongated, you can deepen them to the first (cotyledonous) leaves. After transplanting, it is advisable to water the seedlings with weak fungicide solutions to prevent diseases.

Caring for young dahlia seedlings is reduced to regular, accurate watering, which does not allow the soil to become waterlogged or dry out completely. Top dressing for dahlias is usually not carried out, but to accelerate adaptation, a growth and rooting accelerator can be added to the water for irrigation before transplanting. If the plants are grown for a pot garden, then you can start feeding from the second or third week after the dive to accelerate growth and flowering. Pinching the tops stimulates the growth of lateral shoots. For container culture, pinching is carried out over 4 - 5 pairs of leaves. In annual dahlias, stepchildren are not removed.

Hardening dahlia seedlings

For dahlias, it is important to pre-adapt the plants to the abundance of fresh air and the conditions in the garden. Seedlings are hardened for at least 1-2 weeks, starting to bring the plants to fresh air in the afternoon from the beginning of May.

Transplanting dahlias into soil and containers

You can transfer annual dahlias to the garden, plant them in balcony compositions, potted gardens or in the soil when strong return frosts disappear. It is not necessary to wait for June for this summer: the transplant can be started as soon as the soil warms up to 10 degrees Celsius.Plants usually brought out in the first two decades of May, if they have been hardened for 2 - 3 weeks, feel very good in the garden and quickly resume growth. Of course, the recommendations you receive should always be adjusted according to the weather.

When planting seedlings of annual dahlias, a sufficiently large distance between the bushes is observed. Plants are constantly growing, and even for containers it is worth leaving a distance of 20-60 cm, depending on the maximum height of the variety itself. For "continuous" plantings, it is better if the distance between the plants does not exceed 40 cm, but it is always better to calculate the minimum distance yourself: should it be? the estimated height of the bushes.

Planting in the soil is always carried out in individual pits with a depth of 20 to 30 cm. If possible, it is better to mix the removed soil with full mineral, organic fertilizers (except fresh manure) and a small amount of wood ash. If the soil is heavy or too light, the composition can be adjusted. Dahlia seedlings do not tolerate transplanting very well, contact with the roots is better to be minimized. If the plants are removed from the containers, then the seedlings must be watered abundantly before planting. Plants are placed in pits, leaving the root collar flush with the soil or slightly deepened for elongated plants. Finish planting with abundant watering. Mulching after planting speeds up the adaptation process and simplifies maintenance for both container and soil dahlias. To protect against recurrent frost, it is better to prepare non-woven materials for covering plants, if necessary.

Care of young dahlia plants

Potted and containerized annual dahlias, especially in the first months after planting, need careful maintenance. For them, it is necessary to provide systemic irrigation, maintaining a consistently high moisture content of the substrate, but avoiding excessive dampness. Top dressing is carried out with a standard frequency for summer people - once every 2-3 weeks, using complex fertilizers or alternating organic and mineral dressings. On hot days, spraying with warm water will help the dahlias keep their fresh appearance and beautiful leaves until the end of the season.

After planting in soil for dahlias, it is also better to maintain stable moisture, preventing prolonged drying out of the soil and providing maintenance watering in drought. In the future, it is enough to irrigate only when there is not enough rainfall or on especially hot days. Fertilizing plants on fertile soils may not be carried out, but 2-3 such procedures during the summer will allow dahlias to bloom more luxuriantly (they are carried out 2-3 weeks after transplantation, at the budding stage and a month after the beginning of flowering). It is better to avoid an excess of fertilizers in the soil, because excessive fertilizing will cause the growth of greenery to the detriment of flowering. From the first month of planting, it is worth taking care of two more components of caring for annual dahlias:

1. Loosening the soil, which is best done after each watering or heavy rainfall.
2. Weed control.

For both potted dahlias and annual dahlias growing in the ground, watering should be reduced in early autumn, carrying out neat water procedures if necessary and avoiding waterlogging of the soil. The last feeding for annual dahlias is carried out in August.

Removing the faded baskets, unless you want to collect seeds from them for the next season, allows you to stretch the flowering for a longer period. Grazing for annual dahlias is not carried out even after planting in open ground.

Seed dahlia seed

Annual dahlias do not have to be thrown away. If you liked a certain variety, you drew attention to the interesting color or shape of the flowers of individual plants, then they can be dug up and saved, planting next season as perennial dahlias wintering outside the soil.The main secret of transforming an annual dahlia into a perennial is to dig up the tubers in time. Selected plants should not be left in the ground until they may die from frost. At the end of September or the beginning of October, root cones are carefully dug out of the plants, carefully dried, cleaned and sent to storage in a cool place, together with "adult" perennial dahlias. Due to their modest size, the tubers of "annuals" tend to dry out, so they should be checked more often during storage, avoiding at the same time places with very low air humidity. For better preservation, it is preferable to choose plants obtained through seedlings. After all, they form larger and stronger tubers than dahlias sown in the soil.

If the first wintering is successful, the tubers are treated in the same way as normal dahlias. It is possible to use small so far rhizomes of annual dahlias for forcing, for a pot culture, and for growing in soil in an ordinary perennial culture. They are planted at the same time as ordinary dahlia tubers.

The seed propagation method can be used “not by chance”, but in breeding varieties to replenish the collection of non-double dahlias or to obtain a large amount of planting material at minimal cost.

Not many flowers are surrounded by such attention and love as a dahlia. A variety of species and varieties allows each summer resident to choose "his" dahlia to decorate his plot or balcony with these luxurious flowers.

And if there is no time or opportunity to deal with perennial dahlias, from which you need to dig up and store tubers in winter, you can grow dahlias from seeds. The annual culture will also delight you with flowers: bright, varied and very beautiful.

How to get dahlia seeds at home

A large number of different dahlia seeds are always on sale in specialized stores (varietal mixtures are usually sold). But it will not be difficult to get seeds on your own, when in August and September dahlias will fade on the site.
The buds of faded dahlias have an achene - a green box, which contains the seeds. The small bump is bright green at first, but as it matures, the boll turns dark brown. From above, it is covered with scales, which, when the achenes ripen, dry out and flake off. For the summer resident, this is a signal - the seeds are ripe and the box can be removed.

The ripening time of the achene is the end of August and September, the exact dates depend on the variety of dahlias, growing conditions, and weather. It usually starts raining at this time, and the chances are high that the seeds in the capsule will be wet. Therefore, experienced flower growers often cover dahlias with foil so that the buds with boxes do not fall into the rain.
With the impending cold snap, you will have to carefully cut the peduncles, even if the achenes have not yet ripened. At home, the flower stalks are placed in a jar of water, within 10-14 days the seeds in the boxes reach the desired condition.

ON A NOTE! Each box of a dahlia bud contains a small amount of seeds - from 10 to 13-15 pieces.

The seeds are dried and stored in bags, after having signed the names of the varieties. It is necessary to maintain the optimal temperature regime - about + 10ºC, avoiding high humidity. In this state, flower seeds remain until spring, until the time of planting.

When to plant dahlias

When growing dahlias with seeds, the seedling method is used, therefore, nutrient soil for seedlings, boxes are prepared in advance. The time is chosen based on the characteristics of the climate of the region, but in general this is the period from the end of March and the first decade of April.
It is also necessary to take into account the timing of planting seedlings in open ground, since in some areas this can be done already in mid-May, in others (North-West, Ural, Siberia) - only at the beginning of June.

ON A NOTE! If you want to continue growing the desired variety of tubers, you need to sow it for seedlings in the first days of March. In this case, in the fall, the bush will have strong developed nodules.

How to plant dahlias

Sowing the seeds of these wonderful flowers and growing seedlings are not much different from the agricultural technology of other crops. It is necessary to prepare the ground (it is best to do this in the fall), allocate a place for the boxes on the windowsills, and provide the flowers with good lighting.

Growing dahlia from seeds

Preparing seedling containers

Sowing is carried out in boxes, containers, pots, while usually first sowing seeds in one common container, and then diving into separate pots.

ON A NOTE! For growing dahlias, peat cups, tablets, cassettes, ordinary plastic glasses with a volume of 200 ml (with a mandatory hole in the bottom) are suitable.

Either purchased material or harvested from the fall is used as a soil. The soil for seedlings should be loose, nutritious, breathable. It is advisable to warm up the soil before sowing seeds, and also to disinfect it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Germination of seedlings

Seeds are sown in boxes in grooves, in separate pots they are sown in holes. Cover the containers with foil, put them in a dark and warm place (the temperature should be at least + 23ºC).

If everything is fine, then in about 8-10 days there will be the first sprouts. Then the film is removed, the seedlings are exposed to a lighted place. The temperature can be slightly reduced to + 18ºC so that the seedlings do not stretch too much. Then the stable mode is set at + 23… + 24ºC.

It is better to water dahlia seedlings from a spray bottle, preventing moisture from entering the seedlings. The ground should be slightly damp, moisture should not stagnate.

Seedling picking

A pick is done when the seedlings have 3-4 leaves. This is usually done for seedlings that were first sown in a common box. Dahlias tolerate picking well, but you should not forget about accuracy. It is important not to damage the thin roots of the plants, not to overflow the seedlings in the pot.

After picking, the seedlings will adapt for several days, and then they will grow. Care is usual: watering (as the soil dries up), loosening. You can also feed the seedlings with a special fertilizer for flower seedlings.

Planting flowers in open ground

May and early June are the time when warm days come, the air temperature stabilizes and you can plan to transplant dahlias into the open ground. For two, or even three weeks, the seedlings are hardened, taking them out into the open air.
At first, the time of air procedures should not exceed 10-15 minutes, then the duration is gradually increased.

IMPORTANT! You cannot immediately, without hardening, transplant seedlings from home conditions into the ground. For plants, this is a strong stress, they will take root for a long time in the garden.

Dahlias that have been hardened take root faster, which means they will begin to bloom earlier.

Seat selection

Do you want to get a beautiful and lush bloom of dahlias? Then you need to take care of the correct selection of a place for a flower garden. A sunny, wind-protected area would be the best choice. Dahlias can tolerate a little shading, but it is still advisable to provide the flower garden with good lighting throughout the day.

Soil preparation

Handsome dahlias are not picky about the soil, but their flowering will be long and abundant on nutritious and loose soils. Plants prefer neutral acidity, therefore, if the soils are acidic, dolomite flour or fluff lime should be added.

IMPORTANT! Groundwater should not pass near the planting site, otherwise the root tubers of dahlias will suffer from stagnant moisture.

These flowers always grow well in elevated areas, with soil well fertilized in autumn. All fertilizers (humus, compost, ash or complex compounds) are best applied in the autumn, for digging.In the spring, it remains only to dig up, loosen the soil and prepare holes for planting seedlings.

Planting flowers on a flower bed

Planting of seedlings is carried out according to the scheme, while the distances between seedlings are determined taking into account the variety and height of the stem. For low-growing varieties, 20 cm will be enough, for taller dahlias 40-50 cm are left.
Humus, superphosphate (wood ash can be used) is added to the wells, spilled with water. Seedlings are planted carefully, trying to get them out of the pots along with an earthen clod.

ON A NOTE! Two to three hours before transplanting, the pots can be spilled abundantly with water, then it will not be difficult to get the plants along with a lump of earth.

When growing seedlings in pots from peat, they are planted without removing them from the containers. This is one of the best options as the dahlia roots will not be damaged. After transplanting, the land near the plants can be mulched.

Dahlia varieties that can be grown from seeds

There are a large number of different varieties of dahlia on sale that can be grown in an annual culture from seeds. You can choose varieties according to the following criteria:

- height (undersized, plants of medium height);
- in the form of inflorescences (terry, pompom, cactus).

Cactus mix

Dahlia seed mixtures are good because they contain varieties of the same height, but with different color of flowers. Dahlia mix is ​​inflorescences of pink, white, yellow, purple, carmine color. There are inflorescences of a combined type, in which one shade smoothly turns into another. Plants begin to bloom from July (in the seedling method - from June), delighting with beautiful fluffy flowers until autumn.

The height of the dahlia in the mixture is 40-50 cm, all inflorescences are terry or semi-double. These dahlias are suitable for growing in pots and pots on loggias and balconies.

Bright pom-poms

A mixture of varieties of tall dahlias from the manufacturer - the Gavrish company. Plants are distinguished by dense and very beautiful inflorescences in the form of pompons. The diameter of each is at least 8-9 cm.
The color is different, from purple and lilac to snow-white.
Dahlias from this set are ideal for planting near facades, in the background of a flower garden.

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Figaro

Lovers of dwarf dahlias will love the Figaro variety, which has a very compact size and lush flowering.

The height of the plants reaches about 20-25 cm, but the diameter of the inflorescences - 10 cm impresses anyone. At the same time, the shades can be very different, so Figaro plantings in a flowerbed look like one large multi-colored carpet. On one bush, Figaro can simultaneously bloom up to 12-15 inflorescences.
The variety is unpretentious and easy to care for.

Dandy

Dahlias of the Dandy variety look great in mixborders, on ridges. These are dahlias of medium height (up to 50-60 cm), on the peduncles of which very spectacular inflorescences are formed.

Dandy flowers have a number of feathery petals that form a kind of "collar". Coloring: yellow, white, purple, as well as combined colors: red-yellow, white-red and others.

It begins to bloom from the end of July, under favorable conditions it pleases with its magnificent inflorescences until October.

Bambino

The miniature Bambino variety will surprise everyone with bright and colorful double flowers. The height of the bushes is up to 20-25 cm.
The variety is suitable for decorating flower beds, paths (foreground), as well as for growing as a pot culture. Inflorescences have a diameter of up to 6-8 cm. The color is distinguished by a wide variety and brightness of shades. The variety is early, when planting through seedlings, flowering begins in June.

Piccolo

Seeing simple, but very bright inflorescences of the Piccolo dahlia variety, everyone will receive a positive charge. It is impossible not to admire these plants, the height of which reaches an average of half a meter.

Inflorescences at Piccolo usually grow up to 8 cm in diameter, the color is varied. One of the best varieties of dahlias for group plantings in flower beds.

Funny boys

Dahlia variety, which is a favorite among many gardeners. Dahlia Cheerful guys appreciate for its unpretentiousness, abundant and long flowering.

Plants are compact, low, each can have up to 25 inflorescences. The flowers of the variety are non-double, but this is offset by their bright shades. Used for planting in curbs, ridges, flower beds in the foreground.

Mephistopheles

This variety amazes not only with spectacular inflorescences, but also with beautiful, unusual colored leaves. In the dahlia variety Mephistopheles, the leaves have an original bronze tint. Against their background, bright double and semi-double flowers look especially luxurious.

The bushes reach a height of 50 cm, the diameter of multi-colored flowers is up to 6 cm. Such dahlias look great in rabatkas, they are also used to decorate borders.

Coral reef

Dahlias, which stand out from all varieties with an unusual color of inflorescences. They contain all shades of coral, ranging from pale pink to deep purple.

A very effective variety, the bushes of which grow up to 60 cm. The inflorescences have a row of petals around the center, forming beautiful ruffles (collars).
This dahlia variety is great for cutting.

Terry ball

Another variety of wonderful pompom dahlias - Terry ball will delight all growers with magnificent flowers. The plant is medium-sized, the diameter of the inflorescences is up to 7 cm.

Feature of the variety: resistance to adverse weather conditions. Dahlia is beautiful when cut, the inflorescences retain their freshness for a long time.

Dahlia care

Further care is quite standard:

• watering;
• loosening and weeding;
• feeding.

Dahlias love water, but do not tolerate excess moisture. Based on these requirements, as well as taking into account weather conditions, it will be necessary to determine the irrigation schedule.

In hot weather, water is often watered (up to twice a week), on cloudy rainy days, the plants usually have enough rainfall. If it is very hot, you can lightly sprinkle flower leaves with water from a spray bottle in the evening. From about mid-August, watering and feeding are stopped.

After watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil so that a hard crust does not form on the surface. Mulching is effective in this case, for which sawdust, mown grass, peat, well-rotted compost or humus are suitable. All weeds are removed without fail, which not only take useful nutrients from the soil from dahlias, but can also inhibit plants and serve as a source of various infections.

During the season, dahlias are fed several times, while at the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen fertilization should prevail, later - phosphorus and potassium. If the soil was well fertilized during digging, then this will be enough and nitrogen can be omitted.

The first feeding is carried out no earlier than two weeks after the dahlias are planted in open ground.

ON A NOTE! When overfeeding flowers with nitrogen, only one green mass is collected, and few buds are tied.

Excess nitrogen is also the cause of fungal diseases, so all fertilizers are applied exactly according to the norms. During the period of budding and flowering, two or three additional dressings will be quite enough. Suitable:

• complex fertilizer for flowers;
• infusion of wood ash;
• superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

To get more buds on the side shoots, pinch the main stem of the dahlia. The buds that have faded must be removed. To obtain seeds, leave a few buds at the end of the flowering period.

In the last days of August, at the beginning of autumn, in many regions there are already cold nights, there is a possibility of cold snaps. Dahlias can be covered with non-woven fabric, and during the day, when it is warm, the plants can be opened. Such measures will extend the flowering of these wonderful plants by one and a half or two weeks.

In case of violation of the rules of agricultural technology: thickening of plantings, improper watering, which led to waterlogging of the soil, dahlias can be affected by diseases. Among the common ones:

• leaf spot;
• fusarium;
• white rot;
• verticillosis.

For treatment, drugs Oxyhom, Fitosporin are used (used according to the instructions), and the affected parts of the dahlias (or the plants themselves) must be removed from the beds.

From aphids, whitefly caterpillars, whiteflies, treatment of dahlias with Fitoverm, infusions of ash with the addition of soap, infusion of garlic or tobacco dust helps. For slugs, if they are present in small quantities, dusting the soil around the flowers with wood ash, ground pepper, as well as manual collection of insects helps. If there are a lot of slugs (for example, in a rainy summer), then you will have to use granules of the Thunderstorm, Slime-eater or superphosphate preparations.

Conclusion

There are no particular difficulties in growing dahlias from seeds. But with proper and proper care, these magnificent and unpretentious plants will always delight you with beautiful and lush flowering.

How to get dahlias from seeds: growing and caring for them excites many garden flower lovers. Dahlias are flowers with a huge number of varieties. Each variety has its own shades. They bloom all summer until mid-autumn. Bushes reproduce in several ways: roots and seeds. Caring for them is not very difficult.

Some varieties of dahlia

This crop, growing in almost every household, is represented in stores in many varieties. There are more than 15 thousand of them registered! Let's take a look at some of them:

1. Single row. This is the name of the varieties with the arrangement of flower petals in one row. This plant has a flat bud always open. The stem grows 25-50 cm high.
2. Peony. They have more lush inflorescences with petals located in several rows. The bud is quite large. It can reach a diameter of 20 cm. The leg is 60 to 120 cm high.
3. Collar. They look spectacular thanks to two rows of petals of different sizes. Each row can be painted in different shades of colors.
4. Pompom. These dahlias have gorgeous spherical buds with a diameter of 3 to 9 cm.Some flowers grow up to 20 cm.
5. Cactus. In appearance, they resemble a bristling hedgehog. This look is created by the inflorescences rolled into a tube. They also look like needles.
6. Funny boys. Differs in a very lush flowering. Flowers diameter 10 cm. Does not form tubers. An annual plant.
7. Dandy. Semi-double variety with original inflorescences of various colors. The plant belongs to undersized varieties.
8. Piccolos can be grown in pots on the veranda and in the flowerbed. The variety is undersized, 40-45 cm high.
9. Unvins Dwarf up to 60 cm in height has branched stems with flowers 6-9 cm in diameter. There are a lot of color shades.

The largest number of shades can be found in decorative varieties. Their flowers are large, from 10 cm and more. The size of a bud of 25 cm is not uncommon. They are simple and terry. You can grow these dahlias from self-grown seeds.

Also read: Technology of growing strawberries for seedlings

Growing flowers from seeds

How to plant dahlias: choose growing from seeds or tubers? If you buy seeds in a store, then you will definitely get a bag with a mixture of different types, but about the same height. Having planted them in the garden, you can soon see many colorful buds of different colors, shapes and sizes. But their growth will be approximately the same. Stunted ones bloom earlier than their tall counterparts. For tall plants, it is a good idea to build supports, otherwise the flowers can fly around like a dandelion.

Seedling seeds can be grown on their own. To do this, you need to carefully look at the faded buds. On many of them, achenes will be found. It is firm and has a light green tint. When ripe, it turns dark beige and resembles a small bump. When it dries up (this can be seen by the flaking scales), it's time to collect the seeds. They are useful for growing dahlias from seeds. Seeds ripen in autumn with high humidity during rains.The boxes must be protected from precipitation with a waterproof film. When frost occurs, it is better to cut off the stems with bolls and bring them into the house. In a container with water, they will ripen in a couple of weeks.

Ripe boxes are cut from the stem and carefully opened. There are 10-15 seeds inside. Under favorable conditions, they can be stored at home for 3-4 years. How to grow a crop and when to plant seeds?

Growing seedlings begins with preparing the soil. In the fall, you need to take an equal amount of sand, turf and humus, mix them and sift them. Next, the soil must be warmed up and treated with a manganese solution. This is done in order to combat diseases and all sorts of pests. The treated soil is poured into dishes (containers, boxes) and moistened. Dahlias should be planted with seeds to a depth of 1-2 cm. The distance between them is 3 cm. Containers with soil and seeds are placed in a warm place where the temperature is maintained from 23 to 25 degrees. Boxes with future seedlings require good lighting. They need to be closed on top with transparent film.

After 10 days or a little earlier, sprouts appear. The film is removed from the boxes. So that the seedlings are not too stretched out, they need to continue to be well lit. Seedlings need to be moistened. It is better to do this with a spray bottle, without eroding the soil. Stagnant excess water will lead plants to disease. For annuals, seeds are planted at the very beginning of April. If you plant them a month earlier, then by autumn the flowers will have a fairly powerful and strong root system.

When 3-4 leaves appear on the stems, dahlia seedlings need to be dived. For this procedure, separate glasses are prepared for each plant. They need to be filled with the same soil in which the seeds grew. A hole is made at the bottom of each cup to drain excess water. Each seedling is carefully dug up and planted in a glass. The sprout is sprayed from the spray bottle. By May 10-20, the sprouts should be ready for planting in the garden. But you should not rush to disembark. Better to wait until the frost threat has completely disappeared. In the meantime, you can harden the seedlings by taking them out into the open air for 5-10 minutes.

Dahlias from seeds (video)

Planting plants in open ground

Summer Dahlias: They must be grown in specific locations. Dahlias are planted and grown in a well-lit flower bed, fenced off from the wind. If a good wind blows, the dahlia can turn into a dandelion, which quickly loses its petals. It is good if the flower bed is located on some elevation. This will prevent water from stagnating in the ground. The soil is desirable to have a neutral or slightly acidic composition. In the fall, the place is fertilized with humus, manure or compost.

Before planting in open ground, each plant is watered abundantly and left for 2 hours. Then it is removed from the glass and planted in the ground. If peat cups were used during the picking, the plants are planted directly in them. A little humus mixed with ash is poured into the hole. The distance between plants is about 25 cm. Plants usually take root quickly and without problems. By the middle of summer, bright flowers of various shades appear. Dahlias continue to bloom until early November. Blooming flower beds can be seen in numerous photos and videos that are in specialty stores, magazines and brochures.

Dahlias from seeds: preparation for sowing (video)

Conclusion on the topic

Dahlias are beautiful and beloved by many. There are a huge number of their varieties. Photos with their image can often be found on the pages of magazines. The congratulatory videos also feature these lush flowers. Many varieties are popular. For example: Funny guys (a whole large family), Figaro Mix, Piccolo, Harlequin Mix, Dandy, Bishop's Children, Rigoletto Mix, Diablo Mix, Minion, Monarch, Dandelion and many others.

Dahlia seeds can be grown on their own.

In the spring you can plant them and grow seedlings. Seedlings are planted in open ground flower beds, where beautiful flowers bloom by the middle of summer.

Caring for the plant is not particularly difficult. You should only monitor the possible appearance of diseases. The main ones are: gray rot, fusarium, white rot. With gray rot, brown spots appear on the leaves and transfer to all parts of the plant. Leaves and buds dry out and die off. The cause of the disease is waterlogging. Fusarium causes death of the root system, which rots at the base. White rot affects individual shoots, on which all flowers die. Planting dahlias: seeds can be bought or grown - this is a cheap option for decorating the area around the house. You can take a photo in the summer and admire it in the house in the winter.

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Dahlia can be safely called the queen of autumn flowers. This beautiful plant adorns gardens and flower beds until the first frost - at a time when their other inhabitants have already faded. Its cultivation has not only decorative, but also practical purposes - large, bright flowers attract bees, so if you plant them next to vegetable beds, they are provided with pollination. In addition, dahlia is a rather unpretentious culture, which, subject to certain rules, is very easy to grow on your own plot.

Dahlia annual

History and interesting facts

There is a beautiful legend regarding the origin of this flower. Millions of years ago, when a period of severe cold began on Earth, people struggled to keep warm, but the last fire eventually went out. A beautiful flower grew in its place, the petals of which resembled tongues of flame. He easily survived the ice age, and when sunlight returned to the planet, he began to multiply, and since then has symbolized the all-conquering vitality.

Dahlia annual

If we talk about scientific facts, then Central America (Peru, Chile, etc.), as well as the southern regions of the North, are considered the birthplace of dahlias. These flowers have been known to man since the time of the Aztecs and Mayans - the plants that the Indians grew up to six meters in height, so their stems were used as water pipes. Another useful property of dahlias, which the aborigines knew well, is that their tubers can be eaten (although this applies only to wild plants growing in warm regions).

Dahlia annual terry

Dahlia seeds came to Europe in the 18th century - they were brought to Madrid as a vegetable crop. However, the taste of the tubers did not impress the inhabitants of the Old World, but the beauty of the flowers won the heart of the Spanish king. Since that time, a real boom in the cultivation of this plant began. Its seeds were worth their weight in gold, and ordinary gardeners who grew a flower quickly became millionaires.

Geogin yellow

Description

Dahlia belongs to the Asteraceae family. Its plants can be annual or perennial, and many gardeners prefer the first type. The fact is that this thermophilic flower cannot winter in the middle lane, so the tubers have to be processed and stored until the next sowing. This creates certain difficulties, since during the winter they are often affected by diseases and dry up, so it is much easier to grow annual dahlias.

Bush of annual dahlias

In terms of their decorative properties, they do not differ at all from their perennial counterparts. These are low (about 80-120 cm) plants, the diameter of the flowers is about 10-12 cm, and 10-15 flowers can bloom on one stem at once. They bloom in June-July, and retain their bright colors until late autumn.

Dahlias - queens of the autumn garden

Popular varieties of annual dahlias

Dahlia cultivation begins with the choice of planting material, which depends on the wishes and preferences of the gardener. So, if you need to get the first flowers as early as possible, it is recommended to pay attention to undersized varieties, because the higher the plant, the later it will bloom. The most popular varieties of annual dahlias are:

• "Funny boys". It is the most widespread variety of dahlia and is often seen in gardens and city flower beds. It belongs to the dwarf forms, and reaches about 70 cm in height, and got its name due to the varied and bright color of flowers. Flowers of the "Merry Fellows" can be double or semi-double, with petals predominantly cream, yellow and burgundy, stems and leaves are elastic, bright green;

  One-year-old dahlia "Funny guys"

• Figaro... A compact plant, no higher than 30 cm in height, but its small size is more than offset by a lot of advantages. Firstly, this variety is the earliest of all annual varieties of dahlias, and, secondly, its flowers are distinguished by an unusually bright, intense color;

  Dahlia "Figaro"

• Unwins Drive Highbreads... Low, up to 60-70 cm plants with semi-double flowers of various shades. The bushes are sprawling, with dense foliage, the color of which can vary from pale green to purple. Up to 10 inflorescences can bloom on one bush at the same time;

  "Unwins Drive"

• "Pompon Mix"... Plants have rather tall (70-120 cm) stems with graceful small flowers, which in appearance slightly resemble pompons. At least 16 plants bloom on one bush at the same time, and on some of them their number can reach 40. Flowers of this variety are long and well preserved, therefore it is especially recommended to grow it for subsequent cutting;

  "Pompon Mix"

• "Hast Dandy"... A mixture of low (35-55 cm) dahlias, which are of the collar type. The bushes are dense, with a lot of foliage, on which from 6 to 15 flowers can bloom at the same time. The petals are red, crimson or purple in color and have a small white border inside. The variety is suitable for creating flower beds and flower borders, growing in containers and for cutting.

  Variety "Dandy"

Growing seedlings

For sowing seeds, you can choose any time in early spring, the optimal time is March and early April. If you need to get material for subsequent reproduction, this should be done earlier.

1. The first stage is the preparation of seedling containers. They need to be filled with planting mixture (sand-peat-perlite mixture is best suited), and make small holes in plastic containers.

   Preparing seedling containers - making drainage holes

   Wash the pot

2. At night, the seeds are sometimes placed in warm water with 2 to 1 aloe juice added, but this is not necessary.

   Dahlia seeds

   Soaking seeds in potassium permanganate

3. Sow seeds into prepared soil, sprinkling lightly on top.

   Sowing

4. Cover the container with plastic or glass and put it in a warm, well-lit place.

   Cover the pots with a lid or plastic wrap

5. The first shoots appear after two to three days, after which the coating can be removed, but this should be done very carefully so that the bright rays do not burn the young leaves.

   First shoots

6. After the seedlings grow a little, they need to be transplanted into separate containers (dahlias definitely need a place, otherwise they will only grow in height). For transplanting, it is best to use a mixture of peat, sand or sod land, into which the sprouts are transplanted, deepening them into the soil to the first lower leaves.

   Seedlings ready for picking

   Dahlia transplant

7. As soon as young plants take root, they need to be fed with any complex fertilizer, taking half the dose recommended in the instructions.
8. Dahlias grow quickly enough - as soon as they become tall enough, they should be pinched at the level of the fourth leaf.

   Topping

If done correctly, the work will result in strong, sturdy shoots that can be transplanted into a permanent place.

Don't forget to water the sprouts

Video - We sow dahlias in a snail

Transplanting seedlings

Where to grow dahlias

Young dahlias should be transplanted after warm weather sets in, otherwise the last frost can destroy the plants.

In order for the seedlings to acclimatize better, in about two weeks they need to begin to "accustom" them to natural conditions. In sunny weather, it is taken out into the fresh air, first for five minutes, then for ten, gradually increasing the time the seedlings stay outside. The planting process itself is as follows:

1. A couple of hours before transplanting, the soil in the containers should be well moistened (if they grow in cups made of peat or paper, this can be omitted).
2. The landing site has been prepared since the fall. A well-lit, draft-protected area is chosen, best of all with loose soil that has neutral or low acidity. It needs to be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers, and if the soil is too acidic, add a little lime. After that, dig up the ground well and make markings for the beds.

   Landing fossa

3. In the spring, small holes are dug in the selected area, and a pinch of ash and a little compost are added there, mixing them well with the ground.
   

   It is important that there is a sufficient distance between the holes - if the selected variety of flowers is high, it should be at least 70 cm, for low - about 50, for dwarf - 20-30 cm.

   Wood ash

4. Plant seedlings in the holes (if they have grown strongly, you need to deepen them to the first lower leaves), water and mulch the soil.

Seedlings planted in the ground

Dahlia seeds can be planted directly in open ground. This is done not earlier than the end of May - the seeds are sown, covered with foil and looked after in the same way as for any other annual crops. True, the first flowers in this case will appear only towards the end of summer.

Root tubers of annual dahlias

Planting dahlias in open ground

Seedling care

Unlike perennials, caring for annuals is fairly straightforward. As soon as the seedlings are taken in, they are fed with complex fertilizers and watered immediately to avoid scalding the root system. Next, planting must be fertilized two more times - before and after the flowers appear, and as soon as the plant blooms, fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium must be used (fertilizers with nitrogen are recommended to be used in minimal quantities).

Plants need to be spilled regularly, weeds and faded inflorescences should be removed, but it is recommended to additionally water them only during dry periods - the rest of the time, natural precipitation is enough for them. We must not forget that dahlias are very sensitive to low temperatures, and if late frosts are expected, it is better to cover them with a special non-woven cloth at night.

Tear off faded inflorescences and cut off flowering

How to collect dahlia seeds

Diseases and pests

The most common diseases of annual dahlias are gray and white rot, as well as fusarium. A sign of the former are brown spots, which eventually grow to large sizes, after which the damaged areas dry up and fall off. Fusarium, on the other hand, affects only the roots, as a result of which the plants rot at the very base. There are no effective measures to combat these unpleasant phenomena, therefore it is easiest to prevent them: do not plant flowers in wet and swampy places, do not overmoisten the soil. In addition, you should regularly inspect the planting and get rid of sick specimens so that the disease does not spread to neighboring ones.

Spray dahlias with fungicide if necessary

As for pests, aphids, slugs or bedbugs can settle on dahlias.They are fought with the help of insecticides, as well as the destruction of infected plants. Slugs can be expelled by scattering sawdust or red pepper between the stems - the mollusks will not be able to move on them, and will soon leave their favorite place.

Keep dahlias away from aphids and ticks. To this end, they can be sprayed with an insecticidal soap solution.

Based on the foregoing, we can say that growing dahlias is not difficult, but very exciting. With proper care, these plants will delight the eye with bright colors from the beginning of summer to the very frost.

Video - Growing dahlia