Poochella, thank you - that helps a lot. I'll repot them into milk cartons as I'd planned, and water them sparingly. They're all coming up and the leaves look really good, so I can't have screwed things up too badly yet. :-) I have a heater in the greenhouse - it never falls below 50 (normally it stays around 58-60 at night and on cold days, but if it drops into the teens at night, it gets down around 50 or so). So freezing isn't an issue at all. I have veggies and annuals growing out there right now that I started from seed - a freeze in the greenhouse would be a complete disaster for our gardens this year. Russ, I did say 13 hours of "daylight", not "sunlight". My greenhouse is situated where the sun hits it very early in the morning, and is on it all day, no trees or anything shading it at all (doors and vents stay open all day on warm, sunny days to keep the heat managable between 70 and 85 or so, and there are fans running in there 24/7). There are about three microclimate zones in my yard - the greenhouse is in the warmest, full sun microclimate, where I have roses (my favorite flowers) starting to leaf out already. I have all manner of annuals and veggies growing out there in the greenhouse, and none are getting leggy at all, so I'd think that if there's enough light for tomatoes, there's probably enough light for the dahlias to get started. They're coming up fine, as I said, the leaves look good, so I think they're getting plenty for now. Obviously as the days get longer, they'll have light longer. I'm not on the "mountain side" of the state - south-central Montana (where I live) is closer to a desert than the cooler mountain regions in the western parts of the state. And I never said I didn't like dahlias...I said my husband loves them (which he does). I like the flowers, but I have more of a passion for roses personally (don't have to dig them up in the fall). Maybe I'll fall in love with dahlias after growing them for a season or so - but I won't know if I don't try! My hubby doesn't care much for typing or forums, and he would never "make" me ask anything, anywhere "for him" (he wouldn't have asked for himself either...he'd just throw them in a pot and let them grow or not, as his dad does). I asked of my own free will, because I was interested in how to get them the best start possible. It's my nature to jump into whatever I decide to do with both feet. I am interested because I love my husband, he loves dahlias, and that makes me want to have some in the garden for him, regardless of some extra work in spring and fall. Have you never grown something just because someone in your family really likes it? In any case, thanks for the advice. I'm sure we can get the dahlias off to a good start this year now.

HMMM,I had not thought of CHipmunks! I know we have squirrels so that is a possiblity. From the damage I found today I think I am going to be at least lifting and saving one tuber off of each as back up this winter. And making sure the rest is buried deep and mulched. It could be that these were not planted deep enough last time. Anyhow, the potted dahlias are all in now! Now about the rest of the big glad order.... It is an almost overwhelming job to catch up after taking so long off gardening. Maybe I am glad this summer is the coldest on record since sometime in the 1800's here! Then no one will know that things actually never got planted! But I expect to have enough dahlias no one will notice the missing zinnias and sunflowers! Dahlias sell better anyhow at my flower stand!

How beautiful, Judy. I have heard and seen nothing but praise for the Cafe au Lait dahlia, and it does look good with your exquisite roses. You should see the Google images of bridal bouquets using Cafe au Lait dahlias and roses, if you haven't. Oh, please show us more photos of your garden. They don't have to be new ones...anything. Diane

Lovely bloom and I see several more buds. I don't disbub my dahlias though have been told that doing so allows the remaining flowers to get larger. This year some critter is nipping the flower off. I find the flower with barely any stem on the ground. Today I cut the recent bloom shortly after it opened and brought it inside. Planted mine late as well so not many blooms yet. If I have lots of blooms and am expecting a frost I make bouquets to share with my neighbors. Had enough for eight bouquets last fall.