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| Hi
I am planning to try planting Dahlias from next year and would like some advise.
Thanks for all your help. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| There's lots of places in Canada that you can order from. I like Ferncliff Dahlias , and hopefully Abloom will be up and running again this year.They are both in B.C. There is also Sid's in Nova Scotia Canada he has very good prices. There are lots of U.S. growers that will ship to Canada...you just have to pay to have your tubers inspected, but that's very simple and the supplier arranges to do that and you just pay with your order. Try Swan Island Dahlias, or Connells They are both very good. I had some very bad luck with FGL in Quebec. They sent crappy Tubers and would not refund a cent...They claimed I was so far away I could be lying...Who needs that! You can always look at the BIGLIST Dahlia locator on the net and that will give you a list of lots suppliers and thier websites loaded with pictures and some info on each flower... or see if there is a dahlia club in your area that might be having a tuber sale in the spring.Your a bit early to be buying tubers ...but never tooo early to be thinking about buying tubers ;-) Good luck on your hunt for tubers...I really think sopping for them is as much fun as growing them! Jan |
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| I second the nudge to Ferncliff Gardens- beautiful tubers that just bolted out of the ground and many were the first to bloom regardless of variety, size, location. What's their secret????? I also wish Abloom would get their American Shipping inspection passed, or whatever you call it. It's a great site with a broad variety of dahlias. Nice owner too. Too bad about your dealings with FGL, Busy-girl. Guess a little public honesty about their wares is their just due. What on earth does "so far away, you could be lying" have to do with the crud they sent you? I'd be happy to return some of the #*()@ tubers I've received on my own dime, but instead I just shop elsewhere. Taking photos of bad tubers, especially if the vendor marks them, is one way of verifying your complaint. This year was bad for Lowes/Home Depot tubers: 6 were NOT what was on the package label, and a couple from another bag went straight from package into garbage being hopelessly dry/shrivelled messes. Quality control was way down at their supplier's end. I won't fall for those again, but am still growing a variety I got at Costco about 10 years ago. Other dahlia-philes have actually had good results from Costco tubers, so that might be a less expensive option for a start. Ritug, It's a good idea to get your wish list together early and place orders in October/November/December, if you can. Most places fill orders first come-first served. I just got Connell's Open house post card. "25th and FINAL Show Garden Event." It is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, if you're anywhere near Tacoma, WA the week before Labor Day |
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| Wynne's Dahlias ship to Canada & they'll get the certificates in a bunch so they don't charge you as much as the places that make you pay the full amount. They also take them up for you & mail them from Canada so they don't get hung up in customs. I know this because I've been with our plantlady when she's taken them across- we had to wait almost 2 hours until the inspector got there after waiting about 1/2 hour in line-- but they don't even charge extra for that! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Wynne's Dahlias
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| I will definitely stay away from FGL...not to worry Poochela! He really did make my blood boil! Out of all the tubers over 30% failed.. and those are only the ones that failed miserably...not to mention the ones that where runty plants or didn't grow as described. You know I really would have cut him some slack if he would have responded to my emails or apologized ...but no .....Oh well I've vented...now I'm going to forget about him!!! I will however shop from Wynne's next year...I really like that they will go the extra mile....or several, for their customers. I would love to see all the flowers at Connell's or even Swan Island....it would be a fantastic weekend trip...but who would watch my dahlias? Somehow no matter how full the garden is with dahlias I am always under the impression that there will magically be more space next year... Janice |
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| Hello all Thanks for sharing your advise with me. Really appreciate it. Wynne's Dahlias is a great website and provides so much information about Dahlias. AFter visiting that website I am wondering if I can also start growing Dahlias from seeds? Does it work or is it really not worth the time? Thanks |
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| It really works if you can save the seed, but you won't get the same dahlia as the parent plant. Dahlias from seeds are easy to sprout and grow. If you get something you like, you can dig up and store those tubers from the seedling. |
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| ritug, I am from zone 5 Ontario as well. Actually close to Guelph, ON. I will be pulling my dahlias in late September likely. If you are in my area, send me an email. I usually have too many and discard quite a few tubers. If you want to see the colours, you could actually help me dig them, and I could show you how I prepare them for winter storage. LOL |
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- Posted by trustmissy 5MidMich (My Page) on Tue, Sep 1, 09 at 20:12
| I have had bad luck with Connell's for two years in a row. My husband ordered them for me this year as a surprise - I would not have ordered from them again. The bulbs I bought from my local Meijer's Shopping Center are far superior. I contacted Connell's three times before they finally responded and I was told that all I had to do was let them know which tubers didn't grow and they would replace them next year. I just hope the replacements (if I get them) are better than the ones they sent me this year. I wonder why others have better luck with Connells? |
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| I've bought from Connell's for years online, by catalog, or in person at the NW Flower and Garden Show. If there were ever any problem, which was once, the tuber was replaced immediately. In that case, I emailed that a tuber arrived with a gash, but I thought it would grow ok- just an FYI. In two days, I had a replacement in my hands, unasked for, shipped by Connell's. Incredible. Their customer service was supreme in that instance. I hope your post doesn't herald a downturn in quality or service for them. |
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- Posted by plantlady2008 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 1, 09 at 22:52
| Word at the ADS show this year is that Connell's is closing. The kids have decided that there's more money in selling the land to developers than there is in growing dahlias. It's too bad- after Les & Viv built the business up all those years to see it go like that. |
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| Well that's sad news, especially after all the hard work of the elders. They aren't making any more land in the urban counties though, that's for sure. Different generations, different interests, I guess. |
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