A Primer on Disease in Dahlias
Insects, specifically thrips, aphids and tarnished plant bugs, are the primary vector for disease in dahlias. Viruses can also be transmitted from soil and can be spread via the tools used during planting, harvesting and dividing. Through their ongoing research, the American Dahlia Society (ADA) estimates that 87% of healthy, asymptomatic dahlia stock does carry at least one dormant virus. Disease in Dahlias is characterized by a classic set of symptoms effecting the way diseased plants look or behave; however disease is NOT the only factor which can cause these visible cues. Similar symptoms could be the result of poor soil health or plant nutrition. The only way to know for certain is to test the plant material for virus however, access to testing is not readily available and is quite expensive. That said, the ADS recommends that growers should strive to grow healthy asymptomatic plants, meaning plants that grow and bloom vigorously and do not display outward signs of virus, even if they do carry a dormant virus. These are the goals and expectations that I aspire to on my farm.
My Promise
In order to ensure the healthiest tuber stock possible, I've implemented a prevention plan to mitigate the spread of disease that I feel is right for my farm. To that end, I promise that I adhere to the following practices:
I am committed to using sustainable farming methods and nurturing the soil biome and our field ecosystem to reduce pest pressure. We are fortunate that pest pressure in our flower field is typically low. In the case of our Dahilas, insect pressure has mainly been from Japanese Beetles that chew the petals. We overcome this by bagging our blooms with organza bags. While this ensures our blooms are pristine, be mindful that the remainder of the plant is still exposed to insects.
I meticulously sterilize all tools with 10% bleach solution between plants at all stages of production.
I do not open my Dahlia field to the pubic or for u-picks which ensures that sterilization practices are not compromised.
I ruthlessly cull any plant that shows visual symptoms which COULD BE interpreted as virus. When in doubt, I pull the plant and dispose of it (and the surrounding soil where appropriate) rather than taking the chance of allowing suspected disease to spread to other plant stock.
I personally hand plant, hand harvest and hand divide all of our tubers here on the farm. I do not resell imported tubers or tubers from other sources and I will only ever share my best tuber stock with my customers.
The above measures represent my best effort to ensure that my tuber stock remains as healthy as possible; however, bearing in mind the ADS statistic that 87% of asymptomatic dahlia stock does harbour at least 1 dormant virus, the fact that plant stock that has been asymptomatic can transition to showing signs of virus at anytime, and the reality that insects are everywhere, it is impossible to guarantee that our tuber stock is virus free without testing each and every plant. Furthermore, your soil health and growing conditions will greatly effect tuber health once planted in your garden. Having been fully transparent regarding these factors, please understand that we will not provide refunds for plants that display signs of virus once planted in your garden during the 2025 growing season or beyond.
What You Can Expect
Tuber Size - All tubers are sold as single tubers, not clumps. Tuber size and shape varies widely according to the variety. Some dahlia cultivars make long skinny tubers and some make large round tubers. Some are wrinkly. Some are smooth. Please note that a tuber the size of your baby finger will grow a healthy, vigorous plant just as well as a tuber the size of your fist.
Viability - Prior to shipping all tubers are carefully inspected to ensure they have at least one viable eye and are true to name. It is possible that the eye may not be apparent to you at the time you receive your shipment. Identifying eyes is a skill that comes with practice however, as your tubers transition out of dormancy and begin to "wake up" the eye(s) will become more apparent.
Availability - All varieties will show as coming soon on the product page until the sale opens. Once the sale begins, the items in your cart are not "held". It is therefore possible that items may have been automatically removed from you cart before you complete the entire checkout process (and your total adjusted accordingly). This means that another shopper was quicker than you and that variety has sold out. While I understand how disappointing this can be, it is a limitation of our web platform which is out of my control.
Your Responsibilities
Accuracy - It is your responsibility to ensure that you provide your correct mailing address and email at checkout. We can not be held accountable for errors in the information you have provided that result in shipping errors.
Appropriate Shipping Option - There are two shipping options available at checkout...shipping or local pick up. Choosing the pick up option (see below) is your promise that you will collect your order on one of the dates provided. If you are not able to pick up on either of those dates, please choose the shipping option as no other pick up options are available. Refunds will not be provided for orders that are not picked up.
Shipping
We are pleased to offer Canada wide, flat rate shipping, with tracking via Canada Post for $20. Due to export regulations, we do not ship outside of Canada. Tubers can not be shipped until temperatures are consistently warm enough to prevent freezing during transit. In our growing zone this typically occurs mid to late April. Orders will be processed in the order in which they were received. Once your order is ready to ship, we will notify you by email.
Pick Up
If you are local to us, we encourage you to select the pick up option at checkout. Pick up will be available in Whitby on Sat., May 10th from 10am to 1 pm or at Clarington Farmer's Market on Sunday May 18, from 9 am to 1 pm. Pick up details will be provided by email. If you are not able to pick up on either of these dates, please choose the shipping option. Refunds will not be provided for orders that are not picked up.
What to Do When You Receive Your Tubers
Dahlia mail is the best mail! When you receive your tubers, open them right away. Confirm that your order is correct and inspect your tubers for damage. Tubers are stamped with the variety name and will be packaged in bags with vermiculite. Condensation is the enemy of tubers. If condensation has formed open the bag part way to let out the trapped moisture. Store your tubers in their bag of vermiculite in a cool, dark place. The ideal temps for tuber storage are 4-10°C and they absolutely can not be placed anywhere they might freeze. You may notice that your tubers have or are beginning to sprout. This is perfectly normal and a sign that your tubers are ready to grow. Try to avoid breaking the sprout off but if that happens it's okay, the tuber will grow another one. Tubers can be planted after all danger of frost has passed. For those local to us, this is typically mid-May.
Changes and Cancellations
Please shop carefully. Once placed, orders may not be changed or cancelled.
Refund Policy
Once tubers leave our farm we entrust them to your tender loving care and we are no longer responsible for loss of any kind. We have provided our best advice to set you up for success in the "What to Do When You Receive Your Tubers" section above.
Canada Post flat rate shipping does includes insurance up to $100. Where loss involves packages that are not delivered as expected, it is the buyers responsibility to follow up with Canada Post using the tracking number provided in your shipping confirmation email.
If you are concerned about the quality of the tubers you’ve purchased from us, please contact us within 3 days of receipt, providing clear photographs illustrating your concern. Refunds, exchanges or credits will be made soley at our discretion. No refunds, exchanges, or credits will be issued after the 3-day period.
Thank you for supporting our farm. I look forward to sharing our Dahlias with you!
