Shipping Dahlias

Krista · 2023-04-25T01:23:44+00:00

Cuttings: is there an ideal stage when shipping cuttings is most successful? I have a cutting to share that I took 8 days ago. I just found roots poking out...

Emilyp

I have used wax paper and carboard boxes as packing material for cuttings for several years now. It does a good job of keeping moisture at the right level. I started shipping this way to reduce our single use plastic usage, but it has really proven to be a great method for cuttings health. I am glad to see others are following suit. I got the idea for paper based packaging from Halls of Heddon.

Emilyp

@"MissyWeitzel"#p16660Yes!!! I do not think that sending powdery mildew is an acceptable buisiness practice. I worry that so many people are experiencing this from so many seller- people are swearing off cuttings. It is possible to grow and ship cuttings without mildew with the right preventative steps and effort.

MissyWeitzel

@Emilyp could probably teach a class on shipping cuttings. I've heard nothing but praises for Brambleside cuttings (and loads of complaints about many other sellers). I think it's incredibly difficult with all sorts of things that can go wrong and I will stick to tubers thankyouverymuch.

Emilyp

MissyWeitzel Thanks Missy! I spend much of my time thinking of ways to improve : ) I totally understand your stance with the current state of cuttings being shipped.

Teddahlia

We need more sellers of pot tubers. They can be very small as was proven by Halls of Heddon that shipped very small pot tubers grown in 3 inch pots(grown in a green house). Someone who has a greenhouse (need lights and heat in the winter) could take a cutting and turn it into pot tuber in about 60 days. Yes. they would be small but they would ship without special packaging or overnight delivery. The recipient could take multiple cutting or just plant it like a tuber. We also buy used cars and Ken Greenway sold used pot tubers(actually donated to the club). I would buy a used pot tuber. Of course, it needs to have an odometer that shows low mileage. 😳

LoriDee

Teddahlia I just received my first pot tuber from Teresa of one of Allens varieties. It was a little clump in vermiculite but I potted it up & it has a sprout ready to cut off already. I hope to experiment by planting some "pinchlines" this season in small pots & see how they do 🤷

SteveM

It's just a guess, but I suspect the percent of diseased cuttings buyers receive is about the same as the percent of tubers they receive that either rot or do not have eyes. I don't order many cuttings but I have never had problems with mildew or disease on any of them.
Selling/shipping cuttings is much more difficult than selling/shipping tubers. With cuttings a vendor needs to get the cuttings rooted in time for the ship date but not be too large(old) for the shipping material being used. You can pack tubers several days in advance of the ship date but cuttings have to be packed just before shipping. If tubers take a week to arrive it is not problem, a cutting that spends a week in the mail is never a good thing.
Brambleside cuttings were the best I've ever received, I hope it is worth all the headaches and they keep shipping cuttings for many years.

Emilyp

SteveM Thank you Steve! I hope so too 😊 The logistics and the potential for shipping issues that are out of your control weigh heavy for sure! It is not for everyone, and every year I develop a tick in my left eye by the end of shipping season... but to me, it feels wonderful to pick and send a beautiful green plant vs digging through a dusty, peat-filled tub in a cold garage searching for an eyed up tuber 😅

LoriDee

Teddahlia interesting, I always thought it was just on the surface. I have a section in my field (that I don't dig) that has seemed to get PM every year so maybe it is in those plants. I should try a fungicide. I also unfortunately have a bit of bindweed in the field & it seems to hv PM on it's leaves & spreads it to the dahlias it starts creeping up onto.

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