No seeds in Dwarf Dahlias?

I have watched oodles of Youtube videos on seed collecting including Dahlia seeds and when I copy what they have done, wait until the head dries, etc etc, all I get is a big nothing.

Has anyone been able to collect seeds from these flowers and if so, can you tell me how please?

 

Are they ones you grew from seed Lori.

 

I think you have to wait well beyond the dead heading stage for seed to form.
Often the old bud fills up with water and rots first so you have to sometimes give it a squeeze to get the excess moisture out from time to time in wet weather.

 

Yes, @pete I grew these from bought seeds and that is what confused the heck out of me! I waited until some were papery and still no seeds or perhaps I was too late and they already all fell out.

If anyone has done this, some pointers would be great.

Yes, @JWK , I plan on collecting tubers. I've taken 12" long strips of clear plastic, put a slit in one end so I can thread the other end through the slit and that tail end will have a name and colour noted on it. Hopefully these "labels" will hold onto the stems for identification in case all the flowers are gone by the time I get to digging.

 

Problem with saving seed is you have to leave the dead flowers on and it can stop the plant doing its best regarding flowering.
Think I'd prefer to do as @JWK says and just go with saving tubers and cuttings next year.

 

You know @pete , you're right. I'm going to lob off all of the dead heads and just save the tubers. After all, I've got the stems labelled so I can sort the tubers when I'm ready to pull them. And I also have lots of shredded paper ready for storing them. I know, I know. They recommend packing in peat moss but last year I found out the paper works just as well. A few squirts of water to add a bit of moisture and then next year, it gets recycle. So, one re-use before recycle instead of direct to recycle.

Edit: but I'm still pissed I couldn't collect seeds!!!

 

They weren't a f1 hybrid by any chance, were they?

 

I have no idea what they were. Oh wait.. I just looked up the ones I had ordered and it does say "hybrid" there is no F1 but I feel there is definitely and F in there, to me!

 

FI hybrid bedding plants can, but not always, be sterile, so no seeds.
The idea is if they dont produce seed they will flower more prolifically.

 

I have about 30 Dahlias ,most of which were grown from ( pkt) seeds but I must admit I have never considered harvesting fresh seeds. I prefer to deadhead them twice a day to encourage more blooms so the spent flower heads don't stay around long.

Propagating via their tubers is the best way to get a true version of the parent plant.

You've got me thinking now that I might have a go at collecting some seeds, as it would be fun to see what variations to the parent plant we get.

 

I believe they are self fertile regarding pollination but need some help (interference) to ensure success. Also agree that they need to be fully ripe before collection, and thoughly dry before storage.

 

Yes, the bees, which I have herds of, were busy at all of my dahlias but alas, @pete must be right, this hybrid is not going to give me any seeds.

 

WOW. My dahlias were on their last legs so I've dug them up and am preparing to put the tubers in shredded paper. Lots and lots of tubers. Unbelievable!

 

Its amazing how big those tubers can get first year from seed.
I grew those big 4ft /5ft high ones a long time ago from seed and the tubers were massive.