Dahlia Tuber FAQ

When will my order ship?

Dahlia tubers will ship when there is no risk of freezing, usually in late March or early April, depending on your location. 

 

Can I place an order for pick up? 

Yes, we offer local pick up from Mississauga, Ontario. Select the pick up option in the checkout. 

 

Can I order if I live outside of Canada?

No, unfortunately we only ship our products within Canada.

 

When do I plant my tuber? And how do I take care of my dahlia plant?

Plant dahlia tubers when there is no risk of frost in your area. Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. Dig a hole 10-15 centimetres deep and amend the soil with compost, well rotted manure and/or a balanced fertilizer. Place the tuber horizontal in the hole with the eyes facing upward. Cover with a few inches of soil and add a stake to support your dahlia plant as it grows. Ensure you do not puncture the tuber when you insert your stake. 

Do not water your dahlia until you see green shoots emerge from the soil. Watering your dahlia before you see shoots can cause tuber rot. Once you see green shoots, ensure you water your dahlia plant consistently. 

If you are planting more than one dahlia (and we highly recommend you plant as many as your garden can handle!) leave 30 cm between plants. 

When your plant is 20-30 cm tall, give them a hard pinch by cutting 7-10 cm of the main stem. This may seem harsh, but it will encourage your plant to grow side branches which means more flowers to come! So pinch away! 

In addition to providing your dahlias with lots of sunlight and water, you will want to fertilize your dahlia plant once a month during growing season with a 5-10-10 fertilizer, or any fertilizer that has half as much nitrogen as potassium and phosphorous. Huh? Let me say that again, look for one where the first number (the nitrogen content) is half that of the latter two numbers. 

As you dahlia grows, ensure you tie it to the stake so it doesn't fall over or break during a windy day. I recommend using a 4-5 ft stake and tying it with gardening twine. 

 

When can I cut my flowers and how do I keep them looking as fresh as possible? 

Dahlias are cut and come again flowers. That means, the more you cut, the more flowers will grow. Cut your flowers in the early morning or evening when the temperatures are coolest. Avoid cutting your dahlia in the heat of the day to avoid unnecessary stress. 

Cut dahlias when they are almost fully open as they don't open much once cut. They typically last 4-7 days in a vase. To ensure the longest vase life, follow these four tricks:

1. Cut the stems on an angle while the are submerged in water. I fill up a bowl in my sink. Better yet, recut the stems every day using this same method. 

2. Give them fresh water every day. Dump out the old and fill it up again. Better yet to wash the vase.

3. Add some sugar and/or bleach in the water to give them some food and help cut down on the bacteria in the vase. 

4. Finally, never put your bouquet in the sun. Keep it in a cool, shady spot. 

 

How do I take care of my dahlias over winter? 

Dahlias need to be dug up over winter and stored in a cool location. A hard frost will kill your dahlia tuber. I cut down the green growth down to 1 foot and let the dahlia rest for 1-2 weeks in the ground in mid October in Zone 6b. 

Carefully dig your tubers up and clean them off. Leave them to cure in a cool and dry place for about 3 days. Once the skin on the tuber is hard, bring them inside. 

I divide my tubers in the fall but you can also store them in clumps or divided into individual tubers in a medium such as peat moss, wood shavings or vermiculite. You will want to store them in a place the is cool 5-10 degrees Celsius with some humidity so they don't dry out. 

If storing individual tubers, you can also wrap each tuber in a bit of cellophane to ensure it doesn't dry out. 

Periodically (once a month) check on your tubers to make sure they aren't shrivelled or rotting. Toss any that are rotting so they don't infect the rest. 

 

How do I divide my tubers? 

Using a sharp tool, locate the eyes of your tuber. Each tuber will need a viable neck and at least one eye. Carefully cut the tuber from the clump ensure each tuber has a visible eye to grow from next season. 

 

 

 

Summer Bouquet Subscription FAQs

When do your subscriptions begin?

We are a seasonal flower grower. Our summer bouquet subscriptions run July to August and our Fall Dahlia Bouquet subscriptions run September to mid-October. 

 

Do you deliver? 

Yes, we offer free delivery to locations in Clarkson, Lorne Park and Port Credit. All other locations are pick up only. The pick up location is in Clarkson, Mississauga. 

 

When are the bouquet subscription dates? 

Summer Weekly Bouquet Subscriptions Dates: July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 6, 13, 20, 27.

Summer Bi-Weekly Bouquet Subscriptions Dates: July 2, 16, 30 and August 13, 27.

Summer Monthly Bouquet Subscriptions Dates: July 2 and August 6. 

 

When and where can I pick up my bouquet?

Pick ups are located in Clarkson, Mississauga. We offer pick up on Tuesdays at anytime but we recommend in the morning (8AM - 11AM) or early evening (5PM - 7PM). 

Bouquets will be left in a cool location outside with your name on a card. 

 

Can I pause my bouquet subscription if there is a date I know I will be away?

Yes, you can pause one of your bouquet subscription dates and it will be added on to the end of your subscription. Please let us know at least 3 days in advance if you wish to pause your subscription. If not, you can gift it to a neighbour or loved one or donate it to a local senior's home. 

 

Can I order a summer bouquet subscription for delivery in Thunder Beach?

Yes, you can! Summer bouquet subscriptions will be delivered in Thunder Beach on Thursdays or Fridays (if requested).

 

Can I gift a bouquet subscription? 

Yes, they make excellent gifts. Please make sure the recipient lives within the delivery area (Clarkson, Lorne Park or Port Credit) or that they are available to pick up their bouquet on Tuesday from Clarkson, Mississauga. 

 

Can I add à la carte bouquets to my subscription? 

Yes, you can! If you wish to receive an extra bouquet, or two, or three with your regular bouquet subscription, please let me know by emailing me at edieroweflowers@gmail.com to arrange it.