Breeding dahlias from your own seeds is an adventure that offers a sense of fulfillment and excitement. By growing dahlias from seeds, you save money and have the potential to create something new and unique. The thrill lies in not knowing what you’ll get, as each seedling can surprise you with its characteristics. This process allows for the possibility of breeding a new cultivar that could potentially be shared with others.
Why Breed Dahlias from Seed and Not Tubers?
When cultivating dahlias from seed, it’s essential to understand that the resulting plants won’t be exact replicas of their parent. This is due to open-pollination and cross-pollination with surrounding dahlia varieties, which can introduce genetic material from multiple sources. In fact, each seed contains DNA from not one, but two parent plants: the pollinator and the plant bearing the disc florets.
On the other hand, tubers grown from cuttings will be true to their parent, inheriting only its genetic traits. This distinction is crucial for breeders seeking to develop new dahlia varieties. To initiate this process, seeds must be the starting point. With nature-based projects, it’s wise to plan for variability and unpredictability, as even with careful planning, not every seedling will exhibit desirable traits or consistent quality flower production.
In fact, I’ve found that only about one in 30 dahlia plants grown from seed has the potential to become a valuable new cultivar. The incredible diversity of dahlias can be attributed to their octoploid nature, with eight sets of chromosomes that undergo complex genetic reorganizations, resulting in an astonishing array of types and cultivars.
While this process can yield exciting surprises, it’s essential to approach breeding with a ‘let’s see’ attitude, acknowledging the unpredictability of the outcome. Not only is this process enjoyable, but it can also be a cost-effective way to cultivate dahlias, as tubers can be expensive depending on their type and popularity.
When to Sow Dahlia Seeds
To coax vibrant blooms from dahlia seeds, it’s essential to provide a head start several weeks before you want to see flowers. The pace at which subsequent seedlings grow is influenced by factors like climate and soil conditions, ultimately determining when those beautiful blooms will emerge.
Unlike planting tubers, sowing seeds requires not only germination but also the establishment of roots, tuber development, and greenery growth – a more laborious process that, fortunately, accelerates as the seedling matures. A reliable guideline is to sow your seeds after the last frost danger has passed. To gain an advantage, you can start by potting seeds indoors in a seed starting mix, nurturing them until they’re ready for transplantation when the weather permits.
What Types of Dahlia Seeds are Best for Breeding
When seeking seeds for dahlia cultivation, options abound beyond harvesting from your own plants. Seed companies offer a diverse range of selections, including spiral, giant, rare mixed, dwarf, and dinnerplate varieties. Ultimately, the choice is yours, depending on your goals and preferences. Another viable option is to collaborate with local flower farmers, who can provide you with their seed stock. This approach allows for exploration of breeding possibilities.
The type of dahlia seeds you seek may depend on intended use and personal preference. Categories to consider include…
Attracting Pollinators
While open-faced dahlias can be an attractive option for attracting pollinators from the moment they bloom, it’s worth noting that many varieties will eventually unfurl to reveal their full beauty as they mature. Ultimately, most dahlias will provide a valuable source of nectar and pollen for these important visitors regardless of whether they’re fully open or not.
Size and Visual Impact
When it comes to dinnerplate dahlias, one can’t help but be struck by their showstopping presence. However, the size of these statement flowers can vary greatly depending on factors such as seed production methods – whether they were exposed to open-pollination by insects or deliberately cross-pollinated by the grower of the parent plant. It’s essential to consider that certain cultivars, like ‘Cafe au Lait’, are hybrids, which means their seeds won’t produce plants identical to the original.
This can result in a unique yet unpredictable outcome when growing these dahlias.
Ground Cover
When it comes to creating a stunning floral display, small dwarf dahlias are an excellent choice. These compact varieties can be used to create a vibrant ‘carpet’ of flowers in your garden. If you’re looking for specific cultivars to achieve this effect, consider options like ‘Small World’, ‘Unwin’, and ‘Milena Fleur’. These varieties offer the same beautiful blooms as their larger counterparts, but are perfectly suited for smaller spaces or for creating a dense, uniform display.
Cut Flowers
When it comes to dahlias, the number of petals can have a significant impact on their longevity in floral arrangements. Specifically, varieties with more petals than those found in open-faced, singular types tend to enjoy longer vase lives. To take advantage of this, gardeners and florists alike should seek out seeds from decorative types such as giants, cacti, pompons, decorations, or dinnerplates.
Sowing Dahlia Seeds
To start growing dahlias, begin by preparing the soil or using pots with a good quality seed starting mix that retains moisture but drains well. For direct sowing outside in USDA Growing Zones 8 to 11, wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature reaches around 65-70℉. Alternatively, start dahlias in pots by filling seed trays or cells with the same type of mix, planting one seed per pot or cell about a quarter inch deep, and covering lightly.
Sow the seed point end down, making sure it’s close to the edge of each pot or cell to encourage tuber formation.
Dahlia seeds typically take 14-28 days to germinate in suitable conditions. Keep the pots or trays in a warm location with direct light for at least six hours daily and maintain consistent moisture levels, but avoid overwatering.
Once the seedlings develop at least four fully shaped leaves on their main stem, pinch off the top shoot to encourage better growth and promote more stems.
As strong greenery grows above the seed starting mix, prepare to transplant the dahlias once the last frost has passed. This will give you a fuller, more productive display of dahlias.
How to Care for Dahlias
Dahlias, as tender perennials, are vulnerable to various environmental factors that can compromise their health. Over-watering, heavy rainfall, consistently moist soil, strong winds, and humid conditions can all take a toll on these beautiful flowers. In fact, the risk of disease and pest issues begins even before they’re planted, making it essential to take proactive steps to support their growth.
To reduce the risk of damage, plant dahlias in mounds of well-rotted compost or well-draining potting mix, ensuring the soil is free-draining. A spot with plenty of sunshine or partial shade will also help promote healthy growth. Make sure to provide adequate space between plants, leaving around 12-18 inches for air circulation and reduced risk of powdery mildew. To support their growth against wind and rain, use garden stakes or floral netting, especially for larger varieties like dinnerplates.
Keep the soil consistently moist by watering at soil level, avoiding overhead watering that can encourage fungal diseases. Additionally, protect your dahlias from pests like snails, earwigs, and slugs using traps made of old plastic pots and newspaper or crushed eggshells. As the dahlias bloom, be sure to take photos and label them to keep track of which varieties you’ve grown. You may even want to highlight those that stand out as your personal favorites for breeding purposes.
If you’re not interested in seed-saving, simply cut off spent blooms to encourage further growth. In the fall, allow the greenery to die back naturally before lifting the tubers and storing them until next year’s growing season. Lifting allows you to inspect the tubers’ condition, divide them if desired, or trade with other growers. Be mindful of USDA Growing Zones 8-11, where dahlias can be cold hardy, but still vulnerable to excessive wetness and freezing temperatures.
Monitor long-range forecasts to avoid exposing your dahlias to unsuitable conditions that can lead to rot and reduced blooms in the following year.
Hand Pollinating
When cultivating dahlias for specific characteristics, it’s essential to exert control over the breeding process. One way to achieve this is through hand-pollination. This technique allows you to carefully select the pollen parent, ensuring more predictable results. To hand-pollinate dahlia flowers, start by gently collecting pollen from the desired parent flower using a small artist’s paintbrush.
Then, transfer this pollen onto the disc floret of the other dahlia you’re working with, aiming to introduce the selected genetic material into your breeding program. For added assurance that the pollination process is successful and free from any external influences, it’s recommended to isolate the parent flower before hand-pollinating by wrapping its head in gauze.
This simple yet effective step ensures a higher degree of control over the outcome, allowing you to fine-tune your breeding efforts for the desired dahlia characteristics.
Next Seasons Breeding and Seed Saving
Once the blooms have been pollinated, allow them to mature on the plant by letting them dry out on the stem. This is crucial for seed development, as premature harvesting can hinder germination when planting. To check the seed’s readiness, inspect the outer seeds which should be plump and teardrop-shaped. Unlike sunflowers, dahlias won’t have a central core covered in seeds; instead, the first few layers will be seeds, gradually becoming less developed towards the center.
If you notice crown or leaf gall on your dahlia plant, it’s best to discard the seed, as this disease can spread and infect the seed. To ensure the longevity of your saved seed, carefully separate it from any paper-thin petal material and store it in an air-tight container away from direct sunlight and heat. Use a material that prevents moisture and potential pests from entering. Come next year, repeat the process by planting the seeds and observing what develops.
Cultivate those flowers that exhibit desirable characteristics and remove those that don’t. This continuous cycle will allow you to breed the perfect dahlia blooms for your garden.
How to Get Your Breeding Dahlias Recognized
The thrill of success is palpable when you’ve finally bred a dahlia that speaks to your heart. As you prepare to share this stunning creation with the world, it’s essential to consider the next steps. One avenue for sharing your achievement is through trade with fellow enthusiasts and experts. The American Dahlia Society offers a wealth of information and guidance on registering new varieties, making it an invaluable resource.
Online platforms like dedicated Facebook groups focused on homegrown dahlias provide opportunities for networking and trading tubers with like-minded individuals. Additionally, national shows in your country offer a chance to showcase your breeding accomplishments alongside other passionate growers. Don’t forget to look out for local events, such as flower shows or gardening competitions, where dahlia entries are welcome.
With these options available, you’re well on your way to sharing your passion with the world.
