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How to Grow Dahlia From Seed

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I don’t know if you know this but Dahlias are so easy to grow from seed. They make beautiful cut flowers adding whimsy and wonder to any garden they reside. You can start your Dahlias from seed outside directly in the garden or start them early indoors and get a jump on the garden season.

This blog post may contain affiliate links and if you make a purchase you will be helping me continue my love and passion for gardening.

close up of dahlia blooming outdoors

Before you begin you will need to source out Dahlia seeds. There are many retailers that will have seeds in stores starting in January and sometimes earlier. If you want more variety than what’s in store I suggest ordering online. Here are some of my favorite places to shop online.

Park Seed

Seedville USA

Amazon

Etsy

Now that you’ve got your seeds it’s time to decide when and how you want to plant them. The easiest way to start Dahlias from seed is to plant them directly in the garden after your first frost date. You will follow the depth requirements on the seed packet then once planted water them in and let nature do the rest! Kidding, well not entirely. You will need to keep watch for birds and other critters that would love to dig up and eat your seeds

Inside or Out?

gardener planting seeds on a tray of soil

Outside

Whether you start your Dahlia seeds inside or out is up to you. Both options are wonderful depending on your situation. Starting your Dahlia seeds outside will be the easiest by far but you will have to deal with pest pressure.

Birds, chipmunks, squirrels among many others will be after your seeds as soon as your plant them in the ground. Aside from watering nature will take care of them for you. You will have stronger seedlings that grow into healthy plants.

Follow the planting guide on the seed packet for planting outside in ground. You will likely need to plant your seeds about 2 inches apart and and inch or so down in the soil.

If you also love Zinnias you can learn how to grow them here!

Inside

To grow indoors you are going to need patience and space because Dahlias sprout and grow very fast! Here’s what you need to get your Dahlias started.

Seed Starting Supplies

Seed Starting Mix

Small Pots

Grow Light

Dahlia Seeds

You can get high tech/ expensive with seed starting if you want, but you can totally do it low cost. All you need is what’s listed above. Using seed starting mix when starting seeds indoors is important because seed starting soil is sterile. Potting soil can have bacteria that can aid in seedling death called damping off. So you need to keep clean tools, pots and soil for the best germination rates.

a close up shot of a dahlia flower in full bloom

How to grow Dahlia From Seed

Fill your pots with seed starting mix then depending on the size of your pots plant your seeds 1/2 inch down, cover with soil and water them. Be prepared to keep your seed mix consistently moist. Dry soil can be the death of young seedlings

If you don’t have strong window light or overhead grow lights you will get leggy (stretched) seedlings. While you can grow your seeds in a window sill but I highly recommend you get a grow light or two.

Aside from overhead lighting you will want to keep your seedlings in a warm area of your home. Sunflower seeds don’t need to much heat to germinate but do best in a warm room.

Dahlia Sprouts

Once your Dahlia seeds sprout you will want to make sure to keep the soil moist, light consistent and the space warm. Seedlings need at least 13 hours of daylight. This is made easier by the use of artificial lights. You can leave your grow lights on for at max 16 hours a day to keep your seedlings happy.

When you begin seeing roots growing from the bottom of your pots it’s time to repot your plants. If your outdoor temps are warm enough ( Above 46 degrees at night) you can transition your seedlings into your garden.

To learn how to transition your seeds I recommend you read this post!

If it’s not yet time to plant your seedlings outside then continue with regular care until the weather is right. You may have to repot your seedlings several times before transitioning them out into the garden.

Planting Outside

Once you’ve transitioned your seedlings it’s time to plant. You can plant your seedlings in containers, raised beds or in ground. When you plant be sure to use an organic fertilizer to feed your plant. Annuals grow quite fast and are very heavy feeders so make sure to provide them with fertilizer all season long.

pink ball dahlia flower in selective focus photography

Growing Dahlia from seed is such a great way to add beauty and life into the garden and what’s amazing is that you can collect seeds from your own plants and grow your own stock year after year. Dahlias are amazing in potting arrangements and come in so many different heights. You can add them to your landscape or in a cut flower garden.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

How to grow Cilantro from Seed indoors

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Cilantro is an amazing herb and grows very easily from seed. It’s native to the southern regions of Asia and Europe and what’s even cooler is that Cilantro seeds have even been found in Egyptian Tombs! Meaning it’s been around for a very long time. Cilantro grows best in cooler weather so growing your spring or fall garden will yield you the best growth. Here’s how to grow Cilantro!

Grow Cilantro

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure for more information

Buy Seeds

With so many awesome retailers that offer seeds online the world is your oyster when It comes to where to buy seeds. Here are some of my favorite places to shop online for seeds. If you prefer to go in store you will find most retailers carry seeds in the spring.

Park Seed

Seedville USA

Etsy

Seed Starting Tools

Seed Starting Mix

Small Pots

Grow Light

Seeds

Trowel

You can get high tech and expensive with seed starting if you want, but you can totally do it low cost. If you need to go the low cost route shop at Dollar Tree or another Dollar store in your area. They all carry seeds and seed starting equipment in spring. All you need is what’s listed above.

Using seed starting mix when starting seeds is important because seed starting soil is sterile. Potting soil can have bacteria that can aid in seedling death called damping off. So you need to keep clean tools, pots and soil.

Getting Started

Now that you’ve got your seeds and supplies it’s time to plant. Add your seed starting soil to your pot and follow the planting directions. Typically planting two seeds per pot or cell if your using planting cells. Two seeds just in case one doesn’t germinate. As your Cilantro grows you will want to keep potting up, not allowing your seedlings to become root bound. Cilantro grows a long tap root and can often struggle after transplanting outside.

variety of green plants

Watering

Now that your seeds are planted it’s time to talk about watering. Keeping seedlings watered is so very important. If you let your seedlings dry out you risk damping off. It’s best to water seedlings from the bottom so put them on a tray and allow them to soak up all the water they can within an hour.

Air Flow

When growing Cilantro from seed or any seeds rather, you need air flow. Warm temps and moist soil are a recipe for mold so keep your seedlings in an open area or keep a small fan nearby to help.

close up shot of coriander

Light

Cilantro seeds need light to germinate so keep your potted seeds in a very bright room or under grow lights. Seedlings need at least 14 hours of light to grow properly. If you choose to not use a grow light make sure to provide as much light as you can to your seedlings. Overhead light being the best.

Transitioning

When your area is no longer at risk of freezing temps you can begin transitioning your seedlings outside. Here’s how you do it.

Acclimate seedlings

Planting

Once your seedlings are fully acclimated it’s time to move them to their final location. When you grow Cilantro it’s best to not plant them in full direct sun nor during the summer. The summer heat can cause your Cilantro to bolt (Bolting is when your plants flower and go to seed earlier than expected) and after your vegetables bolt the flavor changes. Spring and fall are a great time to plant your Cilantro seedlings. Plant them in a space that gets part sun so 4-6 hours of sun with some shade relief.

Fertilizer

Cilantro thrives with a nitrogen rich fertilizer. Be careful not to over fertilize. Over fertilizing can cause issues within the plant. One issue being a change in flavor. Follow the directions on the package and opt for organic fertilizers if possible.

close up photo of watering crops

Ongoing care

Cilantro is an easy and delicious herb to grow. You can begin harvesting when your plant is at least 6 inches tall. Keep on a regular water and fertilizing schedule and you will have happy healthy plants.

Happy Gardening!

Ciearra

How to grow Sunflowers from Seed

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Sunflowers are some of the most gorgeous flowers you can grow! They make amazing cut flowers and are very easy to start from seed and maintain. They come in all different varieties, colors, and heights. There’s one for everyone and every size garden.

sunflowers

This blog post may contain affiliate links and if you make a purchase you will be helping me continue my love and passion for gardening.

Where to Buy Seeds

With so many retailers that sell seeds the world is your oyster when It comes to where to buy seeds. Here are some of my favorite places to shop online for seeds.

Park Seed

Seedville USA

Etsy

Inside or Out?

gardener planting seeds on a tray of soil

Outside

Whether you start your Sunflower seeds inside or out is up to you. Both options are wonderful depending on your situation. Starting your sunflower seeds outside will be the easiest by far but you will have to deal with pest pressure.

Birds, chipmunks, squirrels among many others will be after your seeds as soon as your plant them in the ground. Aside from watering nature will take care of them for you. You will have stronger seedlings that grow into healthy plants.

Follow the planting guide on the seed packet for planting outside in ground. You will likely need to plant your seeds about 2 inches apart and and inch or so down in the soil.

If you also love Zinnias you can learn how to grow them here!

Inside

To grow sunflowers indoors you are going to need patience and space because sunflower seeds sprout and grow very fast! Here’s what you need to get started.

Seed Starting Supplies

Seed Starting Mix

Small Pots

Grow Light

Seeds

You can get high tech with seed starting if you want, but you can totally do it low cost. All you need is what’s listed above. Using seed starting mix when starting seeds indoors is important because seed starting soil is sterile. Potting soil can have bacteria that can aid in seedling death called damping off. So you need to keep clean tools, pots and soil.

growing sunflowers

How to grow

Fill your pots with seed starting mix then depending on the size of your pots plant your seeds 1/2 inch down, cover with soil and water in. Be prepared to keep your seed mix moist. You don’t want to let your pots dry out.

If you don’t have strong window light or overhead grow lights you will get leggy (stretched) seedlings. While you can grow your seeds in a window sill but I highly recommend you get a grow light or two.

sunflower seed planting

Aside from overhead lighting you will want to keep your seedlings in a warm area of your home. Sunflower seeds don’t need to much heat to germinate but do best in a warm room.

Sprouts

Once your seeds sprout you will want to make sure to keep the soil moist, light consistent and the space warm. Seedlings need at least 13 hours of daylight. This is made easier by the use of artificial lights. You can leave your grow lights on for at max 16 hours a day to keep your seedlings happy.

When you begin seeing roots growing from the bottom of your pots it’s time to repot your plants. If your outdoor temps are warm enough ( Above 46 degrees at night) you can transition your seedlings into your garden.

To learn how to transition your seeds I recommend you read this post!

If it’s not yet time to plant your seedlings outside then continue with regular care until the weather is right. You may have to repot your seedlings several times before hand.

Planting Outside

Once you’ve fully transitioned your seedlings it’s time to plant. You can plant your seedlings in containers, raised beds or inground. When you plant be sure to use an organic fertilizer to feed your plant. Annuals grow quite fast and are very heavy feeders so make sure to provide them with fertilizer all season long.

sunflowers in shallow focus lens

Growing Sunflowers from seed is such a great way to add beauty and life into the garden and what’s amazing is that you can collect seeds from your own plants and grow your own stock year after year.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Start Seeds Indoors! Here’s What You Need to Start!

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So you want to start a garden and you’re ready to start some seeds indoors? Seed starting season is upon us, and if you’ve never started your own seeds, there are some things your going to need to be successful. I don’t want to scare you with these items, because you can literally start seeds with a paper towel and a ziplock bag; but if you want to make this a long term hobby there are certain things you are going to want to have at your disposal to make life easier.

start seeds indoors

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

Start Seeds Indoors! Here’s What You Need!

Seeds

If you want to start seeds indoors, you are going to first need to get some seeds. Usually starting in late January, you will start to see seed kiosks popping up at your local big box stores, grocery stores, and greenhouses. You can also find a ton of seeds online if you prefer to not buy from your local stores.

Unsure of where to shop online? Check out this post with the 12 best places to buy seeds online.

When gardening for the first time, I recommend starting with what you actually like to eat; don’t get caught up buying tons of vegetable seeds or flowers you don’t like. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the garden, so pace yourself and start with a few veggies and flowers you love.

Pots

Once you know what you want to grow and have your seeds, you need to think about what you’re going to plant them in. You can save money and use milk cartons, yogurt cups, etc; or you can buy seed starting trays. There are so many options when it comes to seed starting pots. Dollar stores often carry plastic pots for plants, and you get about 6 for $1.25; big box stores may charge a little more, or you can shop online.

Soil

Next up is soil. You can use regular potting mix, but when you use seed starting soil you will have a higher success rate with your seedlings. Seed starting mix is sterile, which means no bacteria to infect your seedlings and cause damping off disease.

Grow Lights

You need light for your seedlings; of course you can put them in a sunny window to grow, but in my experience this makes for leggy and stretched seedlings. What works best is overhead lighting. So when starting seeds indoors, grow lights work best if you don’t have a greenhouse. There are so many options for grow lights, so choose what works best for your setup.

Seed Starting Helpful Extras

You’ve got the basics down; now let me show you some helpful extras. I promise you these are so handy and you will want to add them to your seed starting set up.

starting seeds indoors

Drip Trays

Drip trays are the only way you will survive seed starting season. Seedlings need to be kept moist so drip trays come in handy so that you can water your seedlings in place.

Watering Cans

Using a watering can with a long spout is best when it comes to watering your seedlings or filling trays and bottom watering. It makes for less mess.

Shelving

Shelving comes in so handy. You will need a place to set up your seed trays and hang up your lights above your seedlings. These shelves are perfect.

Heat Mat

There are some seeds that need heat to germinate and usually a warm room will suffice, but adding heat will speed up the germination process.

Starting seeds indoors is a rewarding experience, and it’ll save you money in the long run. Buying everything up front can be costly so DIY, and shopping sales and clearance will be your best friend when you first start out. If you’re a first time gardener or indoor seed starter, take it slow. Buy the essentials, seed starting soil, pots and a grow light. It can be overwhelming the first year but hang in there and you will be rewarded when your plants begin to flower and produce food for you!

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

10 Things Gardeners Should Do During Winter

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The Winter season can be a tough time for everyone. Its cold, dark, depressing, and there’s not a ton to do besides wish for warmer weather. I feel like for us gardeners, it can be even more dreadful because we are not outside doing what we love, which is tending to our gardens. I’ve got a list of 10 things to keep gardeners busy over winter.

red wooden house near trees

Read Read Read!

I know you’ve got a ton of gardening books or other books lying around that you haven’t touched all season or at all. Winter is a great time to pick up a book and study or be lead on a great adventure. Be sure that you are taking notes for the next garden season.

Organize your Seed Collection

If you’re like me, you probably have seeds all over the place. Now is a great time to get new seed containers and organize your collection. Having an organized collection will help you find the seeds you need when you need them.

Deep Clean and Sterilize your Containers and Tools

This is very important for my seed starters. You need to have clean pots to start your seeds in to help prevent spreading disease and dampening off of your seedlings.

Plan your Next Garden Season

Winter is the time for planning and drawing out garden design. Once the season starts, you can still plan but it gets so busy once it’s warm enough to plant.

Save Money for Projects

Now that the season has ended, it’s a good time to plan next year’s garden budget and save money for the garden. Gardening can get expensive real quick, so create a plan and stick to it.

Visit your Local Greenhouses and Conservatories

These places are a refuge during the winter months and provide so much inspiration for the garden. Many Conservatories offer a reduced price day and/ or special events days.

Make Lists and Source Products

Make a lists of needs for your garden then source out best prices. Compare prices and buy what you need for cheaper. During the winter you can get some great clearance deals.

Take Gardening Classes

Sign up for gardening courses online or in person; there’s always something to learn about plants and soil.

The winter months can be dark – both literally and figuratively – but any one of these tips can help you past the time until spring. I hope you enjoyed this list of what gardeners should do over winter.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

The Full Guide to Growing Garlic! It’s Easy!

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Growing garlic is so rewarding and easy. Home-grown garlic tastes so much better than store bought garlic hands down. Not only does garlic taste better home-grown, but you can try so many different varieties which offer many different flavors. Once you grow garlic for the first time, you will always grow your own garlic.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

two white garlics. growing garlic
Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com

Growing Garlic

You can buy garlic from just about anywhere. There are many websites, big box stores, and plant nurseries that sell garlic bulbs for fall planting. You can even grow the garlic you buy from the grocery store! Before you pick out your garlic, you will want to know your growing zone. There are many varieties of garlic and they all grow differently in different zones. If you want garlic that you know will grow well for you, it’s best to shop with a garlic grower within your state or similar growing zone. I grow garlic in Ohio, so I order my garlic from a garlic seller right here in the Buckeye state. I know that the garlic I order from them should do well for me.

Soil

A good garlic harvest starts with planting in good soil. Garlic grows best in loose soil with a PH between 6.2 – 7. Anything lower means your soil is a bit too acidic, and you will need to add in lime to get your levels up. You can use at-home soil tests that are widely available in store or online. Here’s a test you can snag from Amazon. Growing garlic will require a loose soil. Tilling your native soil will help loosen it up and if needed, you can add in compost to help keep the soil fluffy.

Fertilizing

Prior to planting, I add in my fertilizer. I also like bone meal, which is great for planting your garlic in because it helps give your cloves a little root boost prior to winter. Once spring approaches, I start fertilizing regularly with an organic fertilizer. My favorite to use is fish emulsion. When your garlic begins to produce scapes, lay off on the fertilizer so that your garlic can focus its energy into bulb production.

bunch of aglio di paceco on a surface
Photo by Fredox Carvalho on Pexels.com

Planting

Separate each bulb into cloves, making sure to leave the skin on the individual cloves. Any cloves that are small, rotted, or dried can be left out. Plant your garlic in rows and space out your bulbs 6 – 8 inches apart to leave enough room for your clove to develop into large bulbs. I plant my garlic pointy side up no matter if its hard or soft neck garlic. Planting garlic two to three weeks before your first frost is a great time because it allows the garlic time to set roots before the first frost. After planting, we place a small layer of mulch over the top.

The Garlic Flower

Beginning in May or earlier or a little later depending on your growing zone, you will begin seeing your garlic send up flower stalks also known as scapes. Scapes are delicious but take energy away from the growing garlic bulb. Most gardeners cut these off once they start to curl.

Want to know what to do with your garlic scapes? Check out this post!

Harvest Time

Harvesting time may vary depending on where you live but the rule of thumb is when the lower leaves dry and fall off. If you want to take a peek at your bulbs to see if they are big enough; feel free to pull the soil back from the bulb. If you think they need a little more time in the ground, then leave them for a week or two more. The latest I’ve harvested is mid-July. If you leave the bulbs in the ground too long, you risk the chance of them splitting and you don’t want that, as those bulb won’t store very well.

Drying and Storage

Curing your garlic can seem daunting. All you need is a space that is dry or not too humid and has good airflow. You can put your garlic in your garage or on a covered porch. Be sure if it’s not windy you keep a fan on them to aid in the drying process. I cure my garlic on wire racks in my screened in porch. The goal is for the wrappers around the individual cloves and the bulb to dry at the same pace. It takes around 3-4 weeks for the garlic bulbs to fully dry. Once they are dry you can cut the stalks back and store your garlic. Garlic shelf life depends on how you store them and the variety of garlic you grew.

For Tips on what to do with all of your garlic check out this post!

Growing garlic is one of the easier vegetables to grow. They are low maintenance and there aren’t many pest issues to deal with. Keep up with watering and fertilizing, and you will soon be harvesting your own delicious garlic straight from the garden.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

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