Alkarty product note

Alkarty offers dahlia flower seed packets (usually 20–30 seeds per pack), suitable for growers who enjoy experimenting with varieties and starting from seed. If you have a specific Alkarty pack code or packet instructions, follow those local notes alongside the guidance below.

1. Seed vs tuber — quick explanation

• Tubers give you a clone of the parent variety (predictable flower form and size) and are the most common way hobbyists grow show-quality dahlias. :
• Seeds are great for bedding or trial plants and for hybridizing — plants grown from seed may differ from the parent and often form small tubers in the first season. Seed-grown dahlias can still flower the first year but are less uniform. :

2. How to grow dahlias from Alkarty seeds (step-by-step)

3. Soil, light & watering

4. Feeding, staking, deadheading & pruning

• Fertiliser: Use a low-nitrogen, higher phosphorus/potassium feed once growth is established (avoid excesive nitrogen which gives foliage at the expense of blooms). Slow-release or fortnightly liquid feeds work well. :
• Staking: Stake early for tall varieties and tie stems as they grow. This prevents wind rock and broken stems.
• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms frequently to encourage new flower production and extend the season. Regular deadheading also channels energy into tuber development before frost.
• Pinching (optional): Pinch out the growing tip on young plants to promote bushier plants with more flowering stems (commonly used for bedding types). :

5. Pests, diseases & overwintering

• Pests: Watch for aphids, slugs, earwigs and spider mites; monitor early and treat organically or with targeted controls as needed. :{
• Diseases: Good airflow and avoiding wet foliage reduce fungal disease risk. Rotate planting sites if possible.
• Overwintering tubers: If you grow tuberous dahlias, lift and store tubers in frost-free, cool, dry conditions in colder climates; seed-grown plants usually produce small tubers that can be stored or replanted depending on size. :

6. Benefits & advantages of growing dahlias from Alkarty seeds

• Cost-effective & curious: Seeds are inexpensive and let you try many plants for a small outlay — great for bedding and experimentation.
• Genetic variety: Seed-grown plants offer surprising and unique flowers — perfect if you enjoy novelty and breeding potential.
• Good for cut flowers: Many dahlias give long stems and a huge range of bloom types, excellent for arrangements and markets. :
• Educational: Growing from seed teaches propagation and hybrid selection — a rewarding project for growers and students. :

7. Troubleshooting — quick tips

• Seeds not germinating: Check temperature, keep medium moist, and avoid burying seeds too deep—try fresh seed if germination remains poor. Leggy seedlings: Provide more light and slightly cooler temperatures after emergence to produce stocky plants. :
• Few flowers: Ensure full sun, reduce excess nitrogen feeding, deadhead, and stake as needed.