Question 1

When will fall-shipped tubers arrive?

Accepted Answer

Fall-shipped tubers typically arrive in late November to early December. Please check our shop page for this year's dates.

Question 2

When will spring-shipped tubers arrive?

Accepted Answer

Spring shipped tubers typically arrive in April, regardless of recipient's agricultural zone. Please check our shop page this year's dates.

Question 3

How do I purchase Fall shipping?

Accepted Answer

There are two ways to upgrade to fall shipping.

AT CHECKOUT: If you are placing your first order of the season
Shop as normal, then at checkout, select "Fall shipping" as your shipping option. That's it!

AS AN UPGRADE: If you would like to switch from spring shipping to fall shipping
If you have already placed an order where you selected spring shipping, you can purchase the Fall Shipping Upgrade for $5 separately in a second order.

For 2025, whether you purchase fall shipping up front or add it on later, total shipping cost will be $13 + $5 = $18 for fall shipped orders.

Unless you call or email us, if you have selected fall shipping on any of your orders, we will assume all orders you place before the fall shipping window has passed are orders you want delivered in the fall.

Any new orders you place after your box has been shipped in the fall will be delivered in spring.

Question 4

What's your guarantee on orders shipped in the fall?

Accepted Answer

We will of course replace any tuber that was not viable upon arrival, either through our mistake or through frost exposure, or if it's discovered to be mislabeled in the spring (This is extremely rare but it does happen!).

After your receipt of healthy tubers we cannot issue any refunds, replacements or credits for any reason for Fall shipped orders. You are responsible for the safe overwintering and subsequent care of your order.

You must contact us within three days of receipt of your package, as confirmed by package tracking! We cannot replace any tubers that are damaged as a result of exposure after successful delivery or failure to immediately store after arrival.

Question 5

What is the Fall shipping window for 2025?

Accepted Answer

Boxes will be shipped no earlier than November 17th and no later than December 8th.

Question 6

How will my dahlias be packed?

Accepted Answer

Fall-shipped dahlias will be packed in a box with natural fiber insulation and a 72 hour heat pack, via 3-day mail, either USPS or UPS.

Question 7

Wait! What if I don't want Fall shipping?

Accepted Answer

Don't worry, the only way someone's order will be shipped in the fall is if they purchase the shipping upgrade. If you don't do that, your order will ship in the spring as normal.

Question 8

I already placed an order - can I change it to fall shipping?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you have already placed an order (or multiple orders), just purchase the fall shipment upgrade on our website.

Please be careful to use exactly the same shipping and email address you used for all previous orders, or your orders may not be combined.

If you've placed multiple orders and want them all shipped in the fall, you only need to purchase one fall shipping upgrade.

Question 9

Can I get some tubers shipped now, and others sent in spring?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you purchase fall shipping, any tubers you've ordered prior to the fall shipment date will go out in the fall.

If you place any additional orders after fall shipments have left our doors, an additional shipping charge will apply, since the order will be sent separately in the spring.

Question 10

How come more sellers don't offer this?

Accepted Answer

Very few sellers offer fall shipping, for a variety of reasons. You may be surprised to learn that "tubers don't like cold" is not the biggest one.

Since packages are in temperature controlled environments most of the way, most shipments in fall would likely be totally fine with no extra precautions (heat packs, faster shipping speed, insulation, etc) until the box is dropped outside at the customer's door.
 
The biggest reason people don't offer fall shipping is that they simply can't finish the harvest in time to do it.

Processing dahlias is a ton of labor, and most flower farmers have a million other things to do in the fall. Many operations wait until the spring to divide; most take their time and do it slowly over the winter.
 
We, however, have gotten pretty good at putting together a great seasonal team to finish the harvest quickly, which means we can get the tubers to you earlier than almost anyone else!

Question 11

What's the benefit of Fall shipping?

Accepted Answer

Some growers in warmer climates would prefer to have their tubers on hand much sooner than spring shipping typically allows. Others like to wake their tubers up early for indoor pre-potting or taking cuttings.

Question 12

Is there any difference in tubers shipped in Fall vs Spring?

Accepted Answer

Functionally, no!

The main difference you might notice in fall shipped tubers from our farm is that there maybe fewer actively growing sprouts, since the plants will have been recently killed off by frost here in NJ.

When we ship in the spring, we warm our tubers up early, so that many of them are already sprouting by the time they reach you! We do not do that for fall shipped tubers, since many people will be putting these guys right to bed upon receipt.

If temperatures are warm after the first killing frost, some fall shipped tubers will have put out new sprouts. However, most will have eyes that are in various stages from very swollen to visible, but dormant.

Question 13

I'm new to dahlias - should I take Fall shipment?

Accepted Answer

No, probably not! If you have little or no experience with overwintering, we'd advise you not to take fall shipment.

Even when you do everything right, a certain percentage of tubers still rot, shrivel, mold, get eaten by critters, or otherwise spoil in storage every year. We'd recommend new growers try overwintering with "free" tubers you grew yourself before attempting it with purchased tubers.

However, nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you have your heart set on it, you can always try it. The safest way for a new grower to have success with your investment during your first overwintering is to wake your tubers up early and take cuttings, maybe even for most of the winter.

This is because while you're taking cuttings, you're actively observing, watering, and caring for your plants.

Question 14

Why does Fall shipping cost extra?

Accepted Answer

The Fall shipping upgrade fee will be in addition to the regular shipping calculated at checkout.

The upgrade will cover the cost of additional packaging, heat packs, expedited shipping, and significant labor cost required for successful fulfillment in November.

We have invested quite a lot of time in figuring out how to offer you the lowest possible shipping rates. Many, if not most, sellers simply offer expensive flat rate USPS boxes. This makes their lives easier at fulfillment (we totally get that!) but passes on an additional cost to you, the consumer.

We've spent many hours figuring out the most cost efficient way to package and ship tubers safely to save you as much as possible.

We are also happy to offer free combined shipping which is one of the most requested but most difficult parts of tuber fulfillment.

As a result, our average spring-shipped order costs significantly less than most other sellers, and our average Fall-shipped order will cost only a couple dollars more than most sellers' spring shipped boxes that have none of the costlier special considerations for cool weather shipping.

Question 15

I don't see eyes on the tubers I just received

Accepted Answer

If you can't spot the eyes on your dahlias, please send us a video and/or photos immediately using our customer service form, and give us a call once you have, so we can look at the media together and help you find the eyes.

If we can't see a viable eye either, we will refund, credit or replace the tuber.

You must contact us within three days of receipt of your order! We cannot replace tubers that do not sprout in the spring.

Question 16

What if my Fall-shipped tubers don't survive the winter?

Accepted Answer

The most heartbreaking thing! We know.

Every year, a certain percentage of tubers do not survive storage, even when you do everything right.

When you order Spring shipments of tubers from farmers like us, we shoulder the burden of winter storage for you. In the rare event of storage failure, we issue refunds or substitutions as you direct us to, and you are taken care of.

When you take Fall shipment, you shoulder the risk of winter storage. We cannot offer refunds  or replacements for healthy tubers which shrivel, get lost, mold, rot, get munched on, or otherwise do not survive the winter under your care.

Farmer Andy's Dahlia FAQ