I know the big flowers are always going to tend later, just because they need more time to grow to that size, but I get so impatient!

What BIG flowered dahlias have you found bloom the earliest for you?

I think 'Mom's Special' was the first of my big ones to bloom this year. I remember Vassio Meggos showing up pretty early too, but that plant got run over, so I didn't get any flowers from it this year.

I've read many times that the large and giant varieties are the last to bloom. I don't necessarily agree with that, maybe on average. But Fleurel, Kelvin Floodlight and Alfred C are among my first dahlias to bloom every year. There are a few more bigger ones that usually aren't far behind. But there are several factors that can influence early/late blooming, like weather, fertilizer and the quality of the tuber or clump.