The Olde Creamery

Dahlias

GROWING DAHLIAS FROM SEED

HYBRIDISING DAHLIAS

OUR SEEDS ARE OPEN POLLONATED, WHICH MEANS THAT WE LET NATURE, PREDOMINATELY BEES, BUT MANY OTHER INSECTS DO THE WORK OF TRANSFERING POLLEN TO EACH DAHLIA FLOWER. DAHLIAS ARE CLASSIFIED AS OCTOPLOIDS, WHICH MEANS THEY CARRY EIGHT CHROMOSOMES, UNLIKE MANY LIVING THINGS WHICH ONLY HAVE TWO, INCLUDING US!
WE COLLECT THE SPENT FLOWER HEADS, SORT FOR SEED & TEST PERIODICALLY FOR VIABILITY (PRESENCE OF AN ENDOSPERM) ALL BY HAND – SOME CULTIVARS PRODUCE LITTLE TO NO SEED, OTHERS ARE BOUNTIFUL
A DAHLA SEED IS NEVER TRUE TO THE PARENT PLANT, BUT IT CARRIES THE DNA CHROMOSOMES OF BOTH TO CREATE A UNIQUE FLOWER, SOMETIMES THE NEXT MUST-HAVE BLOOM OTHERS THE UGLY DUCKLING

THIS IS PART OF THE FRUSTRATION & WONDER OF HYBRIDISING DAHLIAS!

GERMINATION 

WE RECOMMEND STARTING OFF YOUR SEEDS INDOORS, AROUND 6-8 WEEKS BEFORE THE LAST FROST.  FOR US IN VICTORIA, THIS IS USUALLY MELB CUP WEEKEND, SO WE AIM TO PLANT SEEDS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. THEY WILL START BLOOMING APPROXIMATELY 100-120 DAYS AFTER SPROUTING.
START YOUR SEEDS, BY PLACING THEM INSIDE A SHEET OF MOIST PAPER TOWEL, PLACING THEM INSIDE A RESEALABLE SANDWICH BAG WITH THE PARENT CULTIVAR WRITTEN ON THE FRONT. PLACE THE BAG IN A WARM AREA, AROUND 20C IS IDEAL, AND AFTER THREE DAYS, CHECK THEM DAILY. AS THEY GERMINATE, CAREFULLY TRANSFER THEM TO INDIVIDUAL SEED CELL GROWING TRAYS, FILLED WITH A GOOD QUALITY SEED-RAISING MIX & PLACE UNDER A GROW LIGHT OR ON A SUNNY WINDOWSILL.
ONCE THEY ARE GROWING THEIR TRUE LEAVES ITS TIME TO REPOT THEM INTO INDIVIDUAL POTS. WHEN TRANSPLANTING ADD SOME SLOW-RELEASE FERTILISER TO YOUR MEDIUM. KEEP THEM MOIST AT ALL STAGES POST GERMINATION, NOT WET. YOU CAN FEED ONCE A WEEK WITH A 1/4-STRENGTH LIQUID FEED TOO.
ONCE ALL RISK OF FROST IS PAST THEY ARE READY TO PLANT IN YOUR GARDEN. TO HARDEN THEM OFF BEFORE PLANTING, PLACE THEM OUTSIDE IN FILTERED SUNLIGHT EACH DAY. STARTING FOR ONLY ONE HOUR AND INCREASING DAILY OVER A WEEK.
IN AROUND 8-9 WEEKS THEY WILL ALREADY HAVE FORMED A SMALL TUBER! YOU CAN ALSO SINK THE POT INTO THE GROUND ENTIRELY, THIS MAKES LIFTING THE FIRST YEAR’S TUBERS MUCH EASIER COME WINTER FOR STORING!
FOR MORE INFORMATION FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS @THEOLDECREAMERYAU INCLUDING YOUTUBE!
YOU CAN ALSO JOIN YOUR LOCAL DAHLIA SOCIETY & THE FACEBOOK PAGE “DAHLIA GROWERS -AUSTRALIA”

HAPPY GROWING – JAMIE xx

 

Please enter your details below to be notified of when we release new content.

Our subscribers also get first access to our tuber sales and new product releases too!

Accommodation

Our Rates

  • Monday - Thursday $140

    Price per night. Public holidays require 2 night min stay. Pets welcome at $25 per stay.

  • Friday - Saturday $150

    Price per night. Public holidays require 2 night min stay. Pets welcome at $25 per stay.