About Us

We’re a backyard dahlia grower based near St. Paul, MN. We grow dahlias as a hobby and sometimes have a small number of extra tubers to sell.

We understand that dahlia viruses are a widely discussed topic within the dahlia community, and growers often have different perspectives on how they should be managed.

As a plant biologist with a Ph.D. in Plant Biological Sciences, I recognize that not all plant viruses have the same impact. My primary concerns are viruses such as Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Tobacco streak virus (TSV), which can significantly affect plant health and are more readily spread. I am generally less concerned about Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) unless it is associated with reduced plant vigor, such as stunted growth, poor flowering, or other noticeable declines in performance.

Throughout the growing season, we carefully inspect our plants and remove any that do not meet our standards for health and vigor. However, we do not perform laboratory virus testing and instead rely on visible symptoms during routine inspections. It's also important to recognize that virus symptoms can vary considerably depending on environmental conditions, plant stress, cultivar, and the stage of infection. Some infected plants may remain completely asymptomatic, while others may show symptoms only under certain growing conditions.

If you are comfortable purchasing from a small grower who prioritizes healthy, vigorous plants but does not conduct laboratory virus testing, we would be happy to have you shop with us.

Follow along on our journey on Instagram @mike_sicau