1 Ticket to Dividing Dahlias Masterclass (3 hours/class)
Sunset View Farm | 27 Pierce Road, Lafayette NJ 07848
Bring your own overwintered dahlia clumps for a three hour session with a master dahlia divider! Learn how to take full advantage of the incredible multiplication dahlias give each season by becoming a master divider yourself.
Saturday March 22nd. March 29th, April 5 and April 12 TBD
Morning session: 10am-1pm
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm
If the March 22nd sessions fill up, we will open sessions on March 29th and possibly in April. Please use the "notify me when available" feature to get on the waitlist for these other sessions if you can't make the March 22nd date!
This class is for those who have overwintered their own undivided dahlia clumps and would like to learn how to divide them for yourself under the practiced eye of a professional dahlia farmer.
You will work on your own tuber stock under expert instruction - we will not be providing clumps for you to practice on, so please do not register if you do not have your own clumps to bring!
Over the last several years, Dan and Andy Grinthal have divided hundreds of thousands of dahlia tubers, and trained hundreds of people on the delicate process of turning messy clumps into neat, individual, viable tubers.
If you're unsure just where to cut; you're having trouble finding the growth points; you're afraid you're breaking too many necks; or if you have no idea what any of that means, and you'd like to learn dahlia dividing from square one: this class is for you!
We'll teach you how to get the maximum number of individual tubers out of any clump by training you on:
- How to properly wash clumps before dividing
- How to handle your dahlia clumps during the process to avoid breakage
- How to spot eyes (growth points) on the neck, crown, and under the crown
- How to tell the difference between plant structures that are commonly mistaken for growth points and true growing eyes
- How to tell if a damaged tuber is still viable or not
- Proper sanitation techniques to avoid spreading common dahlia diseases
- The best tools to use for difficult clumps, and more!
There are myriad videos available online (many of which are quite good) but nothing beats hands-on, personal instruction. Class sizes are limited to 12 participants to ensure everyone gets plenty of individual help.
The price of your ticket will pay for itself in greatly increased multiplication of your tuber stock, which means more dahlias in your garden this year and in future seasons! The value is twofold: Andy and/or Dan will be on hand to guide you as you divide the clumps you work on during this session and provide an expert hand for especially challenging clumps; and after your class you'll leave with the confidence and skill to get more out of every clump you divide on your own in future seasons.
Workshop structure
Greeting and intro
Anatomy of a dahlia clump and anatomy of a tuber
Handling and washing demonstration
Initial dividing demonstrations
Group work time and individual instruction
Clean up and Q&A
- - -
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
What to bring
We will provide all necessary tools, but kindly bring:
- Your own undivided dahlia clumps (as many as you like!)
- Containers for the individually divided tubers you'll take home
- Labels for your containers
- Warmly layered clothing
- Waterproof footwear, if possible
- Notetaking material
Check your email for a confirmation of your reservation - no physical tickets will be mailed
Just tell us your name as the party head when you arrive and we'll check you in. Easy!
Tickets are non-refundable, but you may transfer them
If you find you cannot make it on your chosen date, please let us know and you can choose a different available date, or transfer your ticket to anyone you like.
Changes to reservations
We’re happy to switch you to another class if space is available. However, please give us as much notice as you can, and be aware that if the class you want to switch to is already full, we cannot overload it in order to give everyone personal attention!
Getting here and parking
Use 27 Pierce Road, Lafayette NJ 07848 in your GPS. We have two driveways: one asphalt, one gravel. Take the gravel entrance and follow it behind the solar panels, where you will find plenty of parking in a mulched area.
Check-in - Please be on time!
We will hold our class either in our high tunnel or the red barn. Someone will be there to direct you. In order to respect everyone's time as paying participants, please arrive a little early so you are ready to get started right at 10 am (morning session) or 2 pm (afternoon session)
Photos are welcome
Ticket holders are welcome and encouraged to take photos and videos, so long as other participants don't mind.
Rain or shine
This workshop will be held rain or shine.
Questions or comments?
Call us at 973-579-7382 or email us at contact@sunsetviewfarm.com
Thank you so much for joining us. We're looking forward to time spent enjoying the world's most beautiful hobby together!
Linda, Andy, Emma and Dan Grinthal @ Sunset View Farm