Introduction
There is nothing quite like the excitement of seeing the first dahlia blooms of summer. These spectacular flowers offer an incredible range of colors, shapes, and sizes, making them a favorite for both garden beds and floral arrangements. Whether you are looking for massive dinnerplate varieties or charming little pompons, the success of your garden begins with the quality of the tubers you plant.
Choosing where to order dahlia tubers is the first step toward a rewarding growing season. At Longfield Gardens, we want to help you find the best plants for your space and ensure they arrive ready to thrive. This guide is for home gardeners who want to understand what makes a high-quality supplier and how to select the best varieties for their unique landscapes.
Finding a reliable source for your plants takes the guesswork out of gardening. When you start with healthy, professional-grade stock, you are much more likely to enjoy a season filled with vibrant, healthy flowers.
Why the Source of Your Dahlia Tubers Matters
When you decide to add dahlias to your garden, you are making an investment in your summer landscape. Not all dahlia tubers are created equal. The health, size, and storage conditions of the tuber directly impact how quickly it grows and how many flowers it produces.
Professional Quality vs. Retail Leftovers
Many gardeners are tempted to pick up tubers from big-box retail stores. While these can sometimes work, they often sit in warm, dry environments for weeks or months. This can lead to tubers that are shriveled, dried out, or lacking a viable "eye." The eye is the small bud where the new growth begins. Without a healthy eye, the tuber cannot grow.
When you order from a specialized supplier, you are getting stock that has been stored in climate-controlled environments. Professional suppliers understand that dahlias need specific temperature and humidity levels to remain dormant but viable. By ordering from a trusted source, you ensure your plants haven't been stressed before they even reach your soil.
Variety Accuracy and Selection
Another reason the source matters is variety accuracy. There is nothing more disappointing than ordering a soft peach dahlia like 'Cafe au Lait' and having a bright red flower bloom instead. Reliable suppliers have rigorous labeling and tracking systems to ensure the variety you see on the screen is the one that appears in your garden.
Specialized sources also offer a much wider selection than local shops. You can choose from different flower forms, including decorative, cactus, ball, and border dahlias. This allows you to plan a cohesive garden design with specific heights and color palettes in mind.
What to Look for in a Dahlia Supplier
Knowing what to look for helps you choose a supplier that will support your gardening journey from start to finish. A good supplier provides more than just a product; they provide trust and expertise.
Detailed Plant Information
A high-quality website should offer clear details about every variety. You should be able to find information on:
- Expected plant height
- Flower size (from miniature to dinnerplate)
- Bloom time (early, mid, or late summer)
- Recommended USDA hardiness zones
This information helps you practice the "right plant, right place" rule. For example, if you have a small garden, you will want to look for shorter border dahlias rather than six-foot giants that require heavy staking.
Transparent Shipping Policies
Dahlias are tropical plants and are very sensitive to cold. A reputable supplier will not ship tubers when there is a risk of them freezing during transit. Look for a company that coordinates shipping schedules with your local planting time. This ensures that the tubers arrive when the soil is warm enough for them to be safely tucked into the ground.
Clear Quality Guarantees
We believe that you should feel confident in every purchase. A company that stands behind its products is a company you can trust. Look for a 100% quality guarantee. This typically means the items arrive in prime condition and are true to the variety named on the label. If there is a problem with the quality upon delivery, a good supplier will work with you to make it right through replacements or credit.
Key Takeaway: Choose a supplier that offers climate-controlled storage, accurate variety labeling, and a strong quality guarantee to ensure your dahlias get off to a healthy start.
The Longfield Gardens Difference
We take pride in being a reliable partner for home gardeners across the United States. Our goal is to make gardening feel accessible and achievable for everyone. To do this, we focus on the basics of plant health and customer support.
We work with experienced growers, including those in world-renowned bulb-growing regions like Holland. These growers have perfected the art of producing vigorous tubers that are ready to perform. Once the tubers arrive at our facility in Lakewood, New Jersey, we maintain them in optimal conditions until they are ready to be shipped to you.
Our team also maintains a trial garden. This allows us to evaluate different varieties firsthand. We observe how they grow, how they stand up to weather, and how many blooms they produce. This practical experience means the advice we give is based on real-world results. When you order from us, you are getting varieties that we have tested and approved for home gardens.
When Is the Best Time to Order?
Timing is one of the most important factors in dahlia gardening. Because dahlias are popular, the most sought-after varieties often sell out early in the season.
Early Ordering for the Best Selection
The best time to start looking at dahlia tubers is in the winter, usually between January and March. This is when catalogs and websites are fully updated with the season's offerings. By ordering early, you secure your favorite colors and shapes before they are gone. Even though you are ordering in the winter, the supplier will hold your order until the appropriate planting time for your area.
Shipping and Planting Windows
Ordering early does not mean you will receive the tubers immediately. Most suppliers ship based on your USDA hardiness zone. For dahlias, this usually means the tubers will arrive about two weeks before the ideal planting time in your region.
Dahlias should not be planted until the soil is warm and all danger of frost has passed. Planting them too early in cold, wet soil can cause the tubers to rot. Waiting for the right weather is much better than rushing the process. Your supplier handles the timing for you, so you don't have to worry about storing the tubers for too long at home.
Understanding Different Dahlia Forms
When you are browsing where to order dahlia tubers, you will encounter many different categories. Understanding these forms will help you choose the right ones for your garden goals.
Dinnerplate Dahlias
These are the stars of the show. Dinnerplate dahlias produce massive blooms that can reach 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Varieties like 'Kelvin Floodlight' or 'Thomas Edison' create a dramatic focal point. Because the flowers are so large and heavy, these plants often need sturdy stakes for support.
Decorative Dahlias
Decorative dahlias are the most common type. They have broad, flat-tipped petals and a classic "flower" look. They come in a vast array of colors and are excellent for cutting. Varieties like 'Labyrinth' are prized for their unique color blends and reliable performance.
Cactus and Semi-Cactus Dahlias
These dahlias have narrow, pointed petals that curve backward, giving them a spiky, starburst appearance. They add wonderful texture to garden beds and look sophisticated in bouquets. 'Arabian Night' is a popular choice in this category for its deep, rich color.
Ball and Pompon Dahlias
If you love symmetry, these are the dahlias for you. Ball dahlias have spiraling petals that form a perfect sphere. Pompons are similar but even smaller. These varieties are incredibly sturdy and have a long vase life, making them favorites for floral designers.
Border and Mignon Dahlias
Not everyone has room for a five-foot plant. Border dahlias are compact and usually stay under two feet tall. They are perfect for the front of a garden bed or for growing in containers. They produce many small flowers and generally do not require staking.
Key Takeaway: Match the dahlia form to your garden's needs. Use dinnerplates for drama, balls for cutting, and border varieties for containers or small spaces.
What to Do When Your Order Arrives
Once you have decided where to order dahlia tubers and your package arrives, there are a few simple steps to ensure success.
Inspect Your Tubers
Open the box as soon as it arrives. A healthy dahlia tuber should feel firm, similar to a potato. It is normal for tubers to have a little bit of loose soil or peat moss on them. Look for the "eye," which is a small bump or sprout near the neck where the tuber attaches to the stem. Some eyes are very small and hard to see until the tuber warms up, which is perfectly normal.
Temporary Storage
If the weather is still too cold to plant, you can store your tubers in a cool, dark, and dry place. A basement or a cool closet is usually ideal. Keep them in the packaging they arrived in, as this helps maintain the right moisture balance. Do not let them freeze, and do not leave them in a hot garage or in direct sunlight.
Preparing for Planting
Wait until the soil temperature reaches about 60°F before planting. A simple way to check is to wait until you are ready to plant your tomatoes or other warm-weather vegetables. Dahlias love sun, so choose a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of direct light.
Success Steps After Delivery
- Open the shipping box immediately to allow air circulation.
- Keep tubers in a cool, dry spot (40–50°F) until planting time.
- Check that your planting site has well-draining soil.
- Prepare your stakes or support systems before you put the tubers in the ground.
- Wait for the soil to warm up—patience is the key to a healthy start.
Planning Your Dahlia Garden Layout
When you are ordering your tubers, think about how they will look together in the garden. Planning your layout ahead of time makes the planting process much easier.
Height and Spacing
Dahlias vary greatly in height. When ordering, check the mature height of each variety. Place taller dahlias at the back of the border and shorter ones toward the front. Most dahlias need about 18 to 24 inches of space between them to allow for good air circulation. This helps keep the plants healthy and reduces the risk of leaf issues later in the season.
Color Coordination
You can create different "moods" in your garden based on the tubers you choose. For a romantic look, choose soft pinks, creams, and lavenders like 'Cafe au Lait' or 'Milena Fleur'. If you want a high-energy garden, go for bold oranges, reds, and yellows like 'Orange Turmoil' or 'Kelvin Floodlight'. Because dahlias bloom for a long time, these colors will be a major part of your landscape from mid-summer through the first frost.
Growing in Containers
If you have limited space, many dahlias grow beautifully in pots. Look for "gallery" or border varieties that are naturally compact. Use a large container with drainage holes and high-quality potting soil. Containers dry out faster than the ground, so you will need to water more frequently during the heat of summer.
Common Questions When Choosing Tubers
Many gardeners have similar questions when they are deciding where to buy their plants. Clearing up these common points of confusion can help you feel more confident in your choices.
Single Tubers vs. Clumps
When you order from a professional supplier, you usually receive a single tuber rather than a large clump. This is because a single healthy tuber with a visible eye is all that is needed to grow a full, robust plant. In fact, single tubers often establish themselves more quickly and produce a better root system than large, undivided clumps.
The Role of Holland Growers
You may notice that many high-quality dahlias come from Holland. The Netherlands has a long history of expertise in bulb and tuber production. The soil and climate there are ideal for growing vigorous plants. We work closely with these expert growers to ensure that the dahlias we offer meet the highest standards for health and variety purity.
Shipping Restrictions
It is important to note that due to agricultural regulations, some plants cannot be shipped to certain states. For example, we ship only to the 48 contiguous United States. We cannot ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or US territories. Additionally, some specific plants, like certain alliums, may have restrictions in states like Idaho. Always check the shipping notes on the supplier’s website to ensure they can deliver to your location.
Ensuring Long-Term Success
Ordering the tubers is just the beginning. To get the most out of your purchase, follow a few simple care rules once the plants are growing.
Watering Correctly
Dahlias do not need much water until they have sprouted and are a few inches tall. Once they are established, they prefer deep watering rather than frequent light sprinkles. This encourages the roots to grow deep into the soil, making the plant more stable and drought-resistant. If the soil feels dry a few inches down, it is time to water.
Supporting Your Plants
Taller dahlia varieties are essentially heavy bouquets on sticks. To prevent them from toppling over during a summer rainstorm, it is best to provide support. Place a stake in the ground at the time of planting so you don't accidentally poke a hole through the tuber later. As the plant grows, gently tie the main stem to the stake.
The Joy of Cutting
One of the best things about dahlias is that the more you cut them, the more they bloom. Cutting flowers for vases encourages the plant to produce new buds. If you don't cut the flowers for bouquets, make sure to "deadhead" them. This means cutting off the faded blooms before they start to produce seeds. This keeps the plant's energy focused on making new flowers.
Protecting Your Investment
Since dahlias are perennials in warm climates but tender in cold ones, you have choices at the end of the season. If you live in a region with freezing winters (Zone 7 and colder), the tubers will not survive in the ground.
You can treat your dahlias as annuals and simply order new, fresh tubers from us each spring. This is a great way to try new varieties every year without the work of storage. Alternatively, you can dig up the tubers after the first frost, clean them, and store them in a cool, dry place over the winter to plant again next year. Both methods are rewarding; it just depends on how much time you want to spend in the garden during the autumn.
Summary of the Ordering Process
Ordering dahlia tubers should be a simple, enjoyable part of your gardening year. By choosing a reputable source and planning ahead, you set yourself up for a season of incredible color.
- Research: Look for suppliers with clear variety descriptions and quality guarantees.
- Order Early: Secure your favorite varieties in late winter.
- Trust the Timing: Your tubers will arrive when it is safe to plant in your zone.
- Prepare Your Site: Choose a sunny spot with good drainage.
- Enjoy the Growth: Watch your humble tubers transform into the stars of your summer garden.
A Focus on Quality
At Longfield Gardens, we are committed to providing the highest quality dahlia tubers to help you create a beautiful yard. We stand behind our plants with a 100% guarantee because we want you to be successful. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced grower, we are here to provide the support and the plants you need for a stunning floral display.
FAQ
When is the best time of year to order dahlia tubers?
The best time to order is during the winter months, typically from January through March. This is when suppliers have the best selection available for pre-order. Your order will then be held and shipped to you in the spring when it is the correct time to plant in your specific USDA hardiness zone.
How do I know if the dahlia tubers I ordered are healthy?
Healthy tubers should feel firm to the touch, similar to a fresh potato, and should not be mushy or excessively shriveled. You should look for a "growing point" or "eye" near the neck of the tuber. If you don't see an eye right away, don't worry; they often become more visible once the tuber is exposed to warmth and light.
Can dahlia tubers be shipped to any state?
Most suppliers ship to the 48 contiguous United States. However, due to strict agricultural regulations, many cannot ship to Hawaii, Alaska, or international addresses. It is always a good idea to check the shipping information before you finalize your order to ensure they can deliver to your zip code.
What should I do if my dahlia tubers arrive before I can plant them?
If your tubers arrive and the ground is still too cold or frozen, keep them in their original packaging in a cool, dark, and dry place. A temperature between 40°F and 50°F is ideal. Do not let them freeze, and avoid keeping them in a damp area where they might grow mold before you are ready to plant.
Conclusion
Ordering dahlia tubers is an exciting step toward a more colorful and vibrant summer garden. By selecting a supplier that prioritizes quality, variety accuracy, and proper shipping timing, you give your garden the best possible foundation. Remember to look for firm tubers, clear variety information, and a solid guarantee to ensure your gardening experience is rewarding and stress-free.
- Choose a trusted supplier like Longfield Gardens for professional-grade stock.
- Order in the winter to get the best selection of colors and forms.
- Wait for warm soil before planting to ensure the health of your tubers.
- Enjoy the process of watching your dahlias grow into spectacular blooms.
Growing dahlias is one of the most rewarding experiences a gardener can have. By starting with high-quality tubers and following a few simple steps, you can turn any sunny spot into a breathtaking display of summer color.
We look forward to helping you grow the garden of your dreams. Explore our selection and get ready for a season filled with magnificent blooms.
