Why I only sell Dahlia Tubers that have fresh active sprouting "eye"

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The short version, I only want to sell viable tubers. While you might spot eyes in the fall – which are helpful for dividing – a dahlia tuber hasn't truly proved it is viable until it has a fresh, actively sprouting eye in the spring. This is why I've made the commitment to only ship dahlia tubers with a visible eye.

I've purchased many tubers from various growers over the years, and I've decided I simply don't like receiving dahlias without a fresh eye. Even if it's likely a good tuber, I don't want to be the one taking the risk and constantly monitoring it. I've had too many in my own batches that never produced an eye, proving that viability isn't a given. I need proof! 

Another huge advantage to only selling tubers with eyes is that it's a vital step in disease monitoring. This year, for instance, I caught signs of leafy gall on just one single tuber. Because I practice sanitation and sterilize my cutting tools, I wasn't worried about the disease spreading. Instead, I could immediately discard that tuber and the rest of the plant it came from. I mark my dahlias by farm location, allowing me to isolate the potentially infected area. We won't be utilizing that section for dahlias this year; instead, I'll be growing an ornamental grass to help clear the area of any lingering disease. I'm incredibly grateful I waited until that dahlia had fresh eyes!

I've also been amazed by the sheer number of beautiful, seemingly viable looking tubers that simply never grew anything. Perhaps it was my cutting mistakes, I'm not sure. But after giving them a solid 10 plus weeks to sprout, and nothing happened, I knew they weren't viable.

For all these reasons, come March, I started pulling all my boxes of dahlia tubers from their winter slumber, eager to help them begin waking up and producing a new "eye".  


  • "Stay tuned as I share more about my dahlia planting journey, including my process for waking up tubers and preparing them for the ground!"
  • "What are your non-negotiables when it comes to dahlia tubers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!"

Fresh Eye Popping Out


 

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