Seattle flower growing advice for urban gardeners

I grow flowers on about 450 square feet in West Seattle, so everything on this page has been tested in a small, rainy, urban yard by someone who has made most of my flower screw ups.

This is where I keep what I've learned about growing flowers in Seattle: when to plant ranunculus corms, how to get dahlias through a wet spring, and which cool-hardy annuals like poppies and snapdragons can handle a Pacific Northwest winter.

The posts below are the real-time version, failures included. If you'd rather start with the full guide, check out how to grow ranunculus in Seattle.

Growing Flowers in Seattle

Attention all dahlia-planting procrastinators: Get your tubers in the ground

If your dahlia tubers haven't gone in the ground yet, here's how to plant them in Seattle and still get blooms by summer.

Attention all dahlia-planting procrastinators: Get your tubers in the ground

If your dahlia tubers haven't gone in the ground yet, here's how to plant them in Seattle and still get blooms by summer.

FAQs about growing dahlias in Seattle

The dahlia questions new Seattle growers ask me most, answered from my own small urban yard.

FAQs about growing dahlias in Seattle

The dahlia questions new Seattle growers ask me most, answered from my own small urban yard.

  • When should I plant dahlias in Seattle?

    Late March, historically our last frost, through mid-May. I usually plant in the first two weeks of April and have blooms by mid to late July.

    Dahlia planting advice 
  • Can I plant poppies and snapdragons in winter in Seattle?

    Yes, cool-hardy annuals like poppies and snapdragons do well planted in November or December or even January.

    Winter planting advice for poppies and snapdragons 
  • Do I need a big yard to grow cut flowers?

    No. My grow space for my flower farm is about 450 square feet of raised beds, and I grow hundreds of flowers a year on it.

    About West Seattle Flower Farm