Looking at some LA auctions and see some sellers are stating Spring 2015 shipping even though temps in their area are in the 70's and projected to be that when auctions end.

When "Spring" arrives, things could be pretty frosty in those areas until May-ish.
I know everyone sets their own rules, but have you bid on an auction where you might have to wait 7 or 8 months for delivery?

There are also some "Spring" shipment daylily auctions listed on Ebay and that could be pretty risky imo.

Having lived in Florida for some time now, I admit I probably have a stilted look at gardening...

Just wondering if anyone buys that far ahead? (At my age, I'd forget I ordered)

Even though temps might be in the 70's some northern folks do not like to dig and divide their plants after a particular date, some use Labor Day as the cut off. Also possible the seller is listing a df (2 blooming size fans) and by spring the second fan will be "blooming size".

I've never worried about bidding on the LA for spring shipment even though it may be 7 or 8 months away. Years ago I would have 50 to 150 plants coming in the spring...oh those were the days...and I would bid for any daylilies I really wanted to add to the garden. Now there are maybe 10 -20 that come in the spring. I do keep a written list of the plants I've won and the seller. Also keep a sticky note of the plants won near the computer so I don't goof and forget I already won that one! There is also a sticky want list.

I don't do Ebay.

I do. As Char mentioned it's getting late to divide and replant things in the north which is the likely reason that they are listed for spring. I have purchased several plants that will be spring delivery for me usually in April or May. It is a risk in the sense that if you want something and the seller suffers some form of crop loss it can mean you won't have the plant for a year but otherwise, if you deal with reputable sellers you should have no problems.

For me, waiting until spring is assurance that the plant is growing and maybe increasing.
If I take delivery in the fall, I will pot it and put in the greenhouse until early May. Greenhouse space is limited and I enjoy receiving plants in the spring.

LA venders are more than willing to give you a choice of replacement plants if the plant suffers because of unexpected bad weather as Floridians suffered this past winter.

Good answers.

But if northern daylily growers are not prepared to ship until Spring, why don't they list their items closer to the time they want to ship?
They also could have winter loss, illness, etc.

As a potential seller, listing now for Spring shipping would give cash flow....that seller I'm watching on Ebay could have a lot of $$$ collected.
(No I'm not buying from him; just watch what he does. I have purchased daylilies/seeds from others on Ebay and haven't had a bad deal, thus far.)

Wild's last catalog gave a number of reasons of why to plant in the Fall....like root growth, etc.

A few plants I got this Spring came in with "Spring sickness." I guess that is what that twisty look is called. Looks like they are having a bad hangover...
They didn't bloom, so I couldn't use them this year. They were from Eden and LA sellers.

Actually I now have enough new plants, seedlings and seeds to play with and should put a sling on my bidding finger...........

Xenacrockett said:
Just wondering if anyone buys that far ahead? (At my age, I'd forget I ordered)

I certainly don't. In fact, I tend to buy only from Florida growers, and usually only when I've seen the plant performing in their Florida garden. Every time I've broken that rule, I've lived to regret it.

Xenacrockett said:Good answers.

But if northern daylily growers are not prepared to ship until Spring, why don't they list their items closer to the time they want to ship?
They also could have winter loss, illness, etc.

Part of it is also trying to capture a market. First one to list a plant is likely to get more for it.

I have some plants I plan on listing but I just don't have the time right now to do that. My garden chores are not yet done for the year.

I never bid on plants that far ahead of time. A month or so about does it for me. My word, you dont know if someone might pass, or disappear, or if a cold winter might wipe out alot of what they were selling. Most of all, who knows if you will even want the plant that much in 8 months, or if a new spring or fall intro might catch your eye.

When I really got into daylilies this year, I purchased from Eden not realizing it would take forever to get my plant.
It was one of those buy 1 get 1 deals.
I did eventually get the 2 plants, but neither of them bloomed this year even though they were registered by a Florida hybridizer.

Won't be doing that again.

6-8 months is a long time to anticipate plant delivery only to recieve an email stating that half of what I won did not live through winter (Polar Votex) or DL did not multiply as expected. So you get a refund but no plants that you have dreamt about all winter. Depressing. To long for me.

Acerbob said:6-8 months is a long time to anticipate plant delivery only to recieve an email stating that half of what I won did not live through winter (Polar Votex) or DL did not multiply as expected. So you get a refund but no plants that you have dreamt about all winter. Depressing. To long for me.

I agree. Meanwhile your money is tied up while you could be finding other sources for what you want.

Yes it is disappointing to wait that long and then get an email to say the plants died from the bad winter. I lost about 80% of my sell plants from this past winter. I actually quit listing stuff thank goodness because I didn't know how things were going to go. I mean when the weather doesn't call for freezing or says right at freezing and then we get 8 degree temps with snow/sleet that sat around for 3 days it's hard to prepare for it plus all the other hot freeze hot freeze cycles (that wasn't suppose to be freezes). We normally have very mild winters and this past one did us in really bad. I had to refund a lot of money but I actually had another seller who let me have his plants as replacements and if he didn't have the exact one I had a list of other plants they could choose from. I would say 99% were happy with the replacements since they were some they were wanting anyway.

tink3472 said:Yes it is disappointing to wait that long and then get an email to say the plants died from the bad winter. I lost about 80% of my sell plants from this past winter. I actually quit listing stuff thank goodness because I didn't know how things were going to go. I mean when the weather doesn't call for freezing or says right at freezing and then we get 8 degree temps with snow/sleet that sat around for 3 days it's hard to prepare for it plus all the other hot freeze hot freeze cycles (that wasn't suppose to be freezes). We normally have very mild winters and this past one did us in really bad. I had to refund a lot of money but I actually had another seller who let me have his plants as replacements and if he didn't have the exact one I had a list of other plants they could choose from. I would say 99% were happy with the replacements since they were some they were wanting anyway.

Which is why so many sellers restrict shipments to a specific period.

Another thing to remember is that when sellers like Michele (Tink) have to refund money for a plant that died is that not only do they lose the income from the sale but the Lily Auction fees they paid to sell the plant are NOT refunded. The Lily Auction marketed the plant and they get their money up front, regardless of what happens after that.

farmerbell said:Another thing to remember is that when sellers like Michele (Tink) have to refund money for a plant that died is that not only do they lose the income from the sale but the Lily Auction fees they paid to sell the plant are NOT refunded. The Lily Auction marketed the plant and they get their money up front, regardless of what happens after that.

Yes, it is costly to have a business and sometimes one pays whether money is made or not.

I used to have spaces in antique malls and had to pay rent even when hurricanes and bad weather forced them to shut down.
It frequently costs money to list items on Ebay whether or not a sale is made.

Another business killer can be elections. When the 2000 election was undecided for 6 weeks my late husband's business was in the pits; cost us plenty.

I've given refunds and paid for "repairs" after an item was received. I figured it was better to bite the bullet then than have any tarnish on my selling reputation that might prove more costly in the long run.

Yes, it hurts to give away one's merchandise and profit. Being a small business owner isn't for everyone.
But sometimes the best job you can find is the one you create for yourself.

Living in the middle south, I order my daylilies anytime from early spring to late fall. Our daylily club has two plant sales per year. Our fall sale is October 11. Of course, WE are our best customers!! The daylilies will be planted as soon as we take them home. Kaye in Arkansas

A good reason to have a local daylily club, Kaye.
I hope we can get one going in the Ocala, Florida area for those reasons.

In Ocala, your right in between the Lake City and Orlando clubs. Altho I havent been for two years, I got some of my best plants at the lake city meetings. Ill have to check, I think the national convention should be back in FL soon.

I've been to the Lake City meeting and it was very nice.
Lake City is, however, 70 miles away and Orlando is even farther.
Unfortunately, I don't enjoy interstate highway driving any longer and don't go often.

Marion County has been one of the fastest growing markets in Florida and there should be enough daylily lovers around to get a club going or at least give it a try.

Xenacrockett said:

Marion County has been one of the fastest growing markets in Florida and there should be enough daylily lovers around to get a club going or at least give it a try.

One of the pioneers in daylily hybridizing lived in Ocala. My house was just a few streets beyond hers, and I had to pass her garden on the way to and from work. For that matter, I passed it on the way to and from just about anywhere I went.

I'm referring to Ophelia (Mrs. Bright) Taylor, winner of the Stout Medal and other awards. She was a gracious lady. I don't remember the year of her death, but it was around 1970. There was another well-known grower in Ocala at the time, Benton (Mrs. Marion) Thomas. She did a lot with miniature daylilies, but never actually registered anything as far as I know.