Homestead Dahlias

I have ordered several times from Homestead. Although they are very slow in filling orders, they are always generous with "freebies" and I love surprises. They have a competitive price and a good selection.

The price and selection seemed good so I took a chance. I received four of the seven varieties I ordered. The remaining three were taken from my list of substitutes which I was prepared for. There were also a number of free bonus varieties included in my order. Though my order was prepared with care, out of the seven varieties I wanted, only four have sprouted and thrived. I had much better success with the tubers I ordered from others.

This is my first time to leave a negative comment, but feel I need to do this. I am an experienced dahlia grower for about five years. Have ordered from many dahlia growers over the years with positive results. Decided to try Homestead Dahlias for an order, despite the fact that no one had evaluated this company on this website. Their website is nice and the prices were great. I ordered Bristol Stripe, Hollyhill Spiderwoman, Poetic and Normandy Lisanne. My alternatives were Ariel, Procyon, and Rubobs Lady. They sent me Gabreill Marie, Ariel, Procyon and Rubobs Lady. The cost was $16.00, plus $8.00 for shipping. A small package arrived, about 8X8 inches with the 4 plants inside it. There were no actual tubers, but 4, 2-3 inch plants with some leaves on them. Needless to say, I was surprised! I sent an email to Homestead Dahlias explaining that I needed more information on these plants. I was assured that they would grow into dahlias if I placed them in a sunny location and kept them moist. I planted these tiny plants in a sheltered area with lots of sun and moisture. I have very rich, black organic soil. These plants died within a week. On August 13, 2010 I sent a letter to Homestead Dahlias requesting a refund. To date, I have heard nothing from this company. Lesson learned for me.....will not order from companies unless they have some kind of rating from other gardners.