This Starlight Bedding mix is easily established from Dahlia flower seeds and produces gorgeous shades of bronze, salmon, apricot, orange, scarlet, crimson, yellow, and lavender. The flowers add a lovely spot of color to the summer garden. They are very heat resistant and are excellent for bedding plants and make lovely, large starry flowers with petals that fold back, creating a stunning effect. They typically grow only 16 inches (40 cm) tall.

SOWING

Sow in Spring (March - June)

Fill cells or pots with a free-draining, seed sowing compost, and stand in water so that the compost is thoroughly damp, then allow to drain.

Sow the seeds onto the surface of the compost and cover them with soil. Cover the trays with clear or milky polythene to maintain humidity, until the first seedlings are visible. Keep moist at all times.

As soon as the plants are large enough to handle (approx. 3 weeks), prick out into 7cm (3in) pots to grow on at 15 to 18°C (59 to 65°F). Harden off and plant outdoors 30 to 45cm (12 to 18in) apart in soil with good nutrient content.

Take prevention against slugs – they love Dahlia seedlings!

Germination within 7 days at 18 to 20°C (65 to 68°F)

It cannot grow in the shade, prefers moist soil.