Unwins Dwarf Mix
What's special about Unwins Dwarf Mix
Compact 18-in bushy plants in every color. Best for pots and edging.
Growing this variety
Unwins Dwarf Mix follows the same growing basics as Dahlia (from seed). Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Dahlia (from seed) family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Sow indoors, transplant after frost to rich soil. Seed-grown dahlias bloom the same year, in every color under the sun. Dig the small tubers formed by fall and store frost-free — next year you have named clones for life.
Grower's tip
Deadhead relentlessly and dahlias bloom until frost. Bishop's Children is the classic seed strain with dark bronze foliage and single hot-colored blooms.
Soil preferences
Loose, well-drained soil — bulbs rot in wet feet.
6.0–7.0
Compost + bone meal or rock phosphate worked into the planting hole.
Watering
Water in at planting, then only during active growth. Let bulbs go dry during dormancy.
Deep watering at the base. Avoid overhead watering after leaves die back.
Overwatered: soft, mushy bulbs at harvest; basal plate rot. Underwatered: small bulbs, thin necks.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water at the base in the morning. Overhead water batters open flowers and spreads botrytis on tightly-packed blooms.
Temperature tolerance
60–75°F (15–24°C) during growth
40–60°F (4–15°C)
Hardneck garlic, shallots, and daffodils need a cold winter to bulb properly. Tender bulbs (dahlia, gladiolus) must be lifted in cold zones.
Container growing
Yes — great in containers
8+ in deep, wide enough to space bulbs 2–3× their diameter
Deep pot for tulips and daffodils; shallow bowls for crocus.
Detailed harvesting
For garlic and onion: dig when the bottom 3 leaves brown and top leaves still stand. Loosen with a fork, don't yank. Cure whole plants 2–3 weeks in a warm, airy, shaded spot.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
After curing, trim tops and roots. Store hardneck garlic 4–6 months, softneck 8+ months in a cool (50–60°F), dry, dark spot with airflow. Never in the fridge.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Culinary staple (allium bulbs), cut flowers (tulip, daffodil, lily), forced blooms indoors, or perennial garden color.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Propagate by offset bulblets, not seed — bulbs mature much faster from a clove/bulb than from seed.
Not applicable when replanting clones. Cross-pollinated seed rarely comes true.
Save the biggest, firmest bulbs each year and replant. Over generations you build a locally-adapted strain.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for dahlia (from seed) in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Unwins Dwarf Mix Dahlia (from seed) notes
Unwins Dwarf Mix Dahlia (from seed) seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow dahlia (from seed) from what you already have
Bulbs propagate from offsets and bulblets, not seed. Every year the parent bulb makes more of itself underground.
- 1At harvest or dormancy, lift the clump and gently split off the smaller side-bulbs.
- 2Cure the bulbs 2–3 weeks in a warm airy spot until the necks are dry.
- 3Save the biggest for eating and the medium-sized ones for replanting.
- 4Replant at the recommended time for this crop, point-up, at the depth listed above.
Storage: Bulb strains adapt to your garden year over year — the older your stock, the better it grows.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Dahlia (from seed) varieties
Bishop's Children
90 daysDark bronze-purple foliage with single flowers in scarlet, orange, and pink. AGM winner — the iconic seed dahlia.
Cactus-Flowered Mix
100 daysSpiky-petaled semi-double blooms in bright mixed colors from seed.
Decorative Giants Mix
100 daysLarge, showy double blooms in a bright mixed color range.
Figaro Mix
85 daysAAS-winning compact 14-in double dahlia — earliest and most uniform seed strain.