F1 Imported Dalia Mix Color 10 Seeds

This F1 imported decorative dahlia delivers a lively mix of colours on strong, uniform plants, the hallmark of first-generation hybrid vigour. Each bloom opens into the full, rounded, densely petalled form that makes decorative dahlias so popular, giving you reds, pinks, oranges and bright pastels from a single sowing. The flowers are superb for filling summer borders and equally generous as long-lasting cut stems for the vase.

Planting

Sow seed about 0.6 cm deep into cell trays, starting indoors roughly 4 to 8 weeks before planting out. Germination is fastest at 18 to 21°C, with seedlings appearing in about 3 to 14 days; temperatures above 24°C slow things down. Pot on as true leaves appear so plants never become root-bound. Harden off and transplant about 3 to 4 weeks after the last frost, once nights stay near 13°C, spacing bedding plants 23 to 30 cm apart in full sun.

Fertilizing

Work well-rotted organic manure (around 5 kg/m2) into the bed before planting. Once growing, feed every two weeks with a potassium-rich liquid feed such as tomato feed to drive flowering, and avoid excess nitrogen that pushes leaf over bloom. A phosphorus-rich feed encourages larger, denser flowers.

Care

Grow in fertile, free-draining soil at pH 6.5 to 7 in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot with at least 8 hours of direct sun. Water deeply once or twice weekly, more in heat. When plants reach 20 to 40 cm, pinch out the top 7 to 10 cm for bushier growth. Watch for slugs, aphids and powdery mildew. Blooms follow in roughly 100 to 120 days.