Gardener shares cheap way to grow dahlias without costly tubers

A garden expert has shared her go-to cheap way to grow your own dahlias in your garden.

Amy Chapman, known online as ‘IntheCottageGarden’ is a popular gardener who has grown a social media following of over half a million followers across Instagram and TikTok by sharing her top tips on how to best grow things in your garden,even when you’re on a budget.

In one of her most recent videos posted to TikTok, she shared how you can grown your own dahlias without spending a fortune on tubers.

“Did you know you can grow your own dahlias from seed – here’s how,” she said before diving into how she grows her dahlia flowers.

“Dahlias are such beautiful flowers, but they can be really expensive to grow. Most people grow them from tubers, but to cut costs, I like to grow some of mine from seed,” she revealed.

To start the process of growing dahlias from seed, she explained that the process can be started in the spring time.

“I start mine by filling a module tray with some compost, giving it a water and then sowing one seed per cell about half a centimetre deep,” she explained, showing her process in the video.

She went on to say: “You can even save your own seeds from dahlias, but because they cross pollinate, you might end up with a mix of different colours and shapes.”

After having planted the seeds into a module tray, the next step is to make sure to keep them somewhere warm until the frost is gone.

“I’ll keep these somewhere warm until they germinate, about 15 to 20 degrees celsius or 60 to 70 degrees fahrenheit,” she said.

“Then I’ll grow them outdoors, but somewhere with protection from frost, like a cold frame or poly tunnel and I’ll plant them into their final position when the risk of frost has passed.”

Your dahlias will then continue to grow in their new home. As the flowers are perennial, they will continue to grow in your garden for years to come, blooming every summer and autumn.

And if you choose to pick some for a bouquet, the plants will eagerly replace the cut stems with new flowering shoots.