On 4/8/2015 2:20 PM, zxcvbob wrote:
Do they need to wait until the soil is warm, or plant as soon as it
thaws and nights are usually above freezing? Or do they need to be
started indoors in pots, then set out like tender annuals?

I almost bought a dozen bedding dahlias at Sam's Club today, but then
thought it might be too early. I know they are day-length sensitive;
that's why I've never tried starting 'em from seeds (days are long
while it's still cold up here)


If you want them to bloom before later summer/fall, start them indoors
in pots right now.

If you live in the Twin Cities area or south of that, you can plant
them outdoors around the end of May. Average last frost date falls
within the first half of May, depending on specific location.

Also, if you're in southern Minnesota you're almost certainly in zone
5. Local rosarian Jack Flaker wrote an article about the changing
climate zones in Minnesota and how the USDA documentation is outdated.
You can read it he
http://www.greenmanstudio.com/images...0Now%20MSP.pdf