While dahlias are typically grown from tubers, you can certainly be grown from seed. The only thing to know is that if you collected the seeds from a dahlia you grew, it will not grow true to what you had in the garden. Only tubers will stay true to type. Growing dahlias from seed is how new varieties have been created.
With that being said, you will want to check your last spring frost date for your Zone 8 location and plant the seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before that date. Once the threat of frost has passed, you can start by hardening them off (slowly introducing them to outdoor conditions) before planting in your garden or in a container.
In the fall, you can collect the tubers from your dahlia plants and store them over winter to be planted the following spring, as the tubers do not do well in cold winter conditions.
Hi Courtney,
While dahlias are typically grown from tubers, you can certainly be grown from seed. The only thing to know is that if you collected the seeds from a dahlia you grew, it will not grow true to what you had in the garden. Only tubers will stay true to type. Growing dahlias from seed is how new varieties have been created.
With that being said, you will want to check your last spring frost date for your Zone 8 location and plant the seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before that date. Once the threat of frost has passed, you can start by hardening them off (slowly introducing them to outdoor conditions) before planting in your garden or in a container.
In the fall, you can collect the tubers from your dahlia plants and store them over winter to be planted the following spring, as the tubers do not do well in cold winter conditions.