Mr Optimist

Bloom Size: 4-5 in
Plant Height: 2-3 ft
Bloom Style: Informal Decorative
Color: Red/Yellow

We want your tubers to arrive safe, sound, and ready to wake up for the season. Because dahlias are highly sensitive to freezing temperatures, we plan our shipping schedule carefully around the weather.

• Shipping Schedule: Shipping begins in mid-to-late April or as soon as spring temperatures allow for safe transit. We actively monitor weather patterns along the shipping route to ensure your tubers don't freeze in transit.
• Shipping Rate: We charge a flat $10 shipping fee per order.
• Carrier & Tracking: Orders are shipped via commercial carrier. As soon as your shipping label is created, you will receive an automatic email with your tracking number so you can follow your tubers' journey.

Dahlias are live agricultural products, which means successful growing depends on a mix of nature, storage, and care. We inspect every single tuber before it leaves our hands to guarantee it is viable, healthy, and has a visible eye.

• Order Issues upon Arrival: Please open and inspect your box immediately upon arrival. If a tuber is damaged during transit or if there is a discrepancy with your order, notify us via email within 7 days of delivery with photos of the issue. We will gladly issue a refund or a replacement if stock is available.
• Inventory Oversights: Because we deal with live tuber stock, unpredictable winter storage conditions can occasionally affect our final spring inventory. In the rare event that a variety you ordered does not meet our quality standards by shipping time, we will immediately issue a full refund for that item.
• Returns: Due to the risk of spreading plant diseases and the perishable nature of live tubers, we do not accept returns or physical exchanges.
• Growing Season Disclaimer: While we guarantee a healthy, viable tuber at shipping, we cannot be held responsible for crop failure due to improper planting, pest damage, rot from overwatering, or extreme weather conditions later in the season.

Congratulations on your new dahlias! When your box arrives in the spring, your tubers are ready to go. Here is how to give them the best start in your garden.

 

Receiving Your Tubers

Open your shipping box immediately. Your tubers have been packed in a breathable medium (like wood shavings or vermiculite). If you aren't ready to plant them right away, store them in a cool, dark, dry place (ideally between 40°F and 50°F) until your region's last frost date has passed.

 

Planting Out

• Timing: Wait until all danger of frost has passed and your soil temperature reaches about 60°F. A good rule of thumb: if it's safe to plant tomatoes in the ground, it's safe to plant your dahlias.
• Location: Pick a spot that gets full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily) and has well-draining soil. Dahlias hate "wet feet."
• Depth & Spacing: Dig a hole 4 to 6 inches deep. Lay the tuber horizontally at the bottom of the hole, with the "eye" or sprout pointing upward. Space your plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
• Support: Dahlias can grow quite tall and top-heavy. Place a sturdy stake or support structure in the ground at the time of planting so you don't accidentally pierce the tuber later.

 

The Golden Rule of Watering

Do not water your tubers immediately after planting. There is enough moisture locked inside the tuber to feed the plant until it wakes up. Watering a dormant tuber in cold, wet soil is the number one cause of rot. Wait to water until you see the green shoots physically poking through the soil surface. Once established, they enjoy a deep watering 2 to 3 times a week.

 

Summer Care & Blooms

Once the plant is about 12 inches tall, pinch out the center growing tip. This feels counterintuitive, but it forces the plant to branch out, resulting in a bushier plant with significantly more flowers. Expect beautiful blooms from mid-summer all the way until the first hard frost of autumn!