Growing Dahlias

Hannah
May 5
2 min read

A beginner’s garden diary

I’m still very much a beginner gardener, learning as I go, but this year I’ve fallen in love with growing flowers, especially dahlias.

There’s something really satisfying about watching small tubers and seedlings slowly turn into vibrant, flowering plants full of colour and character.

This blog is a record of my journey so far, the flowers I’m growing, and the varieties and colours that have really stood out to me.

Why I Started Gardening

I didn’t start gardening with a huge plan. It was more about curiosity and wanting to grow something I could actually see progress with.

Flowers felt like the perfect place to start:

They’re visual and rewarding
They change constantly through the season
You can experiment with colour and variety
And no two plants ever seem to behave exactly the same way

Dahlias quickly became my favourites.

Dahlias have completely won me over. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and colours that they almost feel endless in variety.

Some are bold and dramatic, others are soft and delicate. That contrast is what makes them so interesting to grow.

At the moment, my plants are still in their early stages with around 3–4 true leaves, so I’m still in that “patient waiting” phase before the real show begins.

What I’ve learnt so far:

They grow at different speeds depending on variety
Some shoot up quickly, others take their time
Early care really matters for strong plants later on
Patience!!!

My Dahlia Varieties:

Left to right: Velvet Crush, Mister Frans, Peaches and Vanilla, Orange Nugget, Arabian Night, Strawberry Cream, Crème de Cassis, Bohemian Spartacus, Café Au Lait, Islander, Sylvia, Polka.

What I Love About the Colours and Varieties

Even at this early stage, I’ve already been looking ahead at what these plants will become.

What really draws me to dahlias is the range of colours and forms, from:

Deep, rich reds and burgundy tones
Bright pinks and warm oranges
Soft pastels and creamy whites
Bold, almost neon-like varieties

Some blooms are perfectly symmetrical, while others are more open and wild. That unpredictability makes them feel really special.

Final Thoughts (So Far)

As a beginner gardener, I’m still learning a lot, but growing dahlias has already been incredibly rewarding. Even in their early stages, they’ve shown me how much variety and personality plants can have.

Right now, it’s all about patience, watching them grow slowly, noticing the differences between varieties, and preparing for the burst of colour that’s still to come.

I’ll update this as the season progresses once the flowers start to open properly.