Prior to ordering, please read our Tuber Sale Policy carefully so that you make informed choices about purchasing from us. Choosing to purchase from our tuber sale implies that you understand and accept these terms.
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 each individual plant for virus however, access to testing is not readily available and is very 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. This is the standard 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 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 has typically been 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, my practice is to pull the plant and dispose of it (as well as the surrounding soil where appropriate) to mitigate the risk of allowing suspected disease to spread to other plant stock.
I personally hand plant, hand harvest and hand divide all of the tubers on my farm. I do not resell imported tubers nor do I sell tubers from other sources. I will only ever offer my best tuber stock that has been grown out on my farm and observed for a minimum of 1 year.
The above measures represent my best effort to ensure that my tuber stock remains as healthy as possible; however, bearing in mind the ADS advice 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 can greatly effect tuber health once planted in your garden. Having been fully transparent regarding these factors, please understand that I will not provide refunds for plants that display signs of virus once planted in your garden during the 2026 growing season or beyond.
What You Can Expect
Tuber Quality - All tubers are sold as single tubers, not clumps. Tuber size and shape varies widely according to variety. Some dahlia cultivars make long skinny tubers, some are large and round. Some are wrinkly. Some are smooth. These discrepancies are not cause for concern. Rest assured 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 apparent.
Availability - All varieties will show as "COMING SOON" on the product page until the sale opens. Once the sale begins, items in your cart are not "held". It is 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 option to pick-up tubers 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 $25. 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 late April to early May. Purchases will be processed in the order which they were received. Once your order is ready to ship, we will notify you by email.
Pick Up
We are pleased to offer free local pick up for those in our area. Pick up will be available in Whitby on Sat., May 9th from 10am to 12:30 pm or at Clarington Farmer's Market on Sunday May 10, from 9am to 12:30 pm. Pertinent details will be provided via email in the days leading up to your pick up date. 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
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 or wood shavings. If condensation has formed, open the bag part way to allow trapped moisture to escape. Store your tubers in their bag of packing material, 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 late mid-May.
Changes and Cancellations
Please shop carefully. Once placed, orders may not be changed or cancelled. Should you wish to add to your order, we will combine shipping for orders to a single destination, provided your total order still fits in your Canada Post flat rate shipping box.
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 includes insurance up to $100. Where loss is due to packages that have not been delivered as expected, it is the buyers responsibility to follow up with Canada Post using the tracking number provided in your shipping confirmation email. Where necessary, the buyer is responsible for making a claim for the loss directly with Canada Post.
If you are concerned about the quality of the tubers you’ve purchased from us, please email us within 3 days of receipt, providing clear photographs illustrating your concern. Emails can be initiated via "Contact Us" on our homepage. 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!
