Comments regarding Swan Island Dahlias

I am making this comment neutral because I've purchased tubers in the past and have no complaints about them. I received an email about their new website and thought I'd take a look. I was dismayed to see that they offer Bayer 3-in-1 Insect, Disease and Mite Control. This product contains a neonicotinoid. These pesticides have been implicated in bee declines and new information links them to songbird die-offs. Dahlias are fairly easy to grow, and dousing a plant in a number of pesticides for a single problem is unsound no matter what the product contains. I emailed the company and received an empty response about offering their customers choices and promoting bee safety. I will not purchase tubers from them again.

Pro: Very reliable company and tubers very robust looking when they arrive. This is my second year ordering dahlias from Swan Island. I ordered about 10 tubers last year and another 10 this year.

Con: Small plant size and also fewer blossoms when they emerge. This year I also ordered from k. vanBourgondien and Longfields Gardens. The Swan Island tubers looked the healthiest of the 3 mail order companies but 2 months later, some of theirs are the smallest plants, both in diameter of plant and height. (planted in the same area, under the same sun and soil conditions). Swan Island sends one big, well marked tuber. The other companies sent tuber clumps - some of which were small and dried out. But those sad looking clumps of tubers produced much healthier looking first year plants.

Posted on August 28, 2010, updated October 31, 2010
I ordered two collections during the early winter of 2009, and then I received a note that they had suffered some freeze damage and would be making some substitutions when my order shipped in the spring of 2010. The bulbs looked good and all of them sprouted.

As these 25+ dalihas began to bloom, the bloom size was 2-3 inches in diameter, occasionally 4 inches, mainly orange and purple, which were supposed to be 4-7 inch blooms. We are now at the end of the summer and this has not changed, although some of the plants have reached 4-5 feet in height.

As best I can tell, these varieties would be rejects anywhere else. I am giving them a negative based on the quality of blooms and the lack of variety in collections that were supposed to all be different.

"On Aug 28, 2010 5:28 PM, Swan Island Dahlias responded with:

Dear Chuck1933,

I am so sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your dahlias that you purchased from us for spring 2010. We are truly disappointed that you have a posted a negative feedback regarding this matter before contacting us and giving us the opportunity to help you with these dahlias. We absolutely guarantee them to grow and be beautiful for you. There are many growing conditions or reasons that could cause the results you are seeing. And would have loved to have helped you with your dahlias...

There is still plenty of growing time left for us to help you with them if you would like - please contact us at 1-800-410-6540.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Gitts-Eubanks
The Gitts Family
Swan Island Dahlias "

Posted on March 5, 2010, updated March 6, 2010
I initially ordered three dahlias, all of which arrived in great shape. I tried, however, to add a fourth to my order, and was told it would be no problem so long as I confirmed the addition. I did so, but the shipment was sent without said addition. When I sent an email questioning the shipment, I never received a reply. So, in short, what I received was as promised but I hoped for better communication (and action) on the subsequent addition.

I received a mailer pack with free catalog cards. They say buy direct from the grower.