Dahlias: When to dig up and how to store them? This information is relevant for many gardeners. After all, gardens often have different varieties of these flowers: single, double, and semi-double. Dahlias are perennial flowers. A big advantage of these flowers is that they are not affected by low temperatures and bloom until the frosts of early winter.
Interesting! The ancient Aztecs already knew of these flowers and used them extensively. However, the Aztecs didn't decorate the space around their homes with dahlias; they ate the tubers of these flowers. The stems contain a lot of water, and the tubers themselves were excellent for satisfying hunger. The material is useful. Aquilegia: planting and care in open ground, photo.
Growing dahlias isn't difficult at all, and you don't need to keep a close eye on them to enjoy even their late autumn blooms. However, preserving the tubers until spring and enjoying their blooms again requires a bit of effort. Let's look at dahlias: when to dig them up and how to store them (with photos).
About the time of digging
Until the real cold weather sets in, these flowers They need to be covered with soil. Otherwise, the sprouting buds may freeze and simply not survive until spring. When you notice the leaves are starting to freeze, you can begin the process of digging up these flowers. This involves several important steps.
First, you'll need to trim the stems to 15 cm from the ground. This will prevent the flowers from breaking off when you dig them up. Next, dig around each bulb from several sides. To avoid damaging the bulb, it's best to dig with a pitchfork rather than a shovel.
Next, use a pitchfork to pull out the flower tubers, along with the root ball. It's easier and more convenient to dig them out with a partner. Don't pull the stems out of the ground.
Important! To avoid confusion about the varieties of the dug-up tubers, it's best to prepare signed forms in advance. These will then be distributed near the storage area for the planting material.
The tubers will need to be given a couple of hours to air out. Then you can wash the flower tubers and inspect them carefully. If there are any brown or reddish lesions, they should be carefully removed. Otherwise, the entire tuber will simply die over the winter.
Long roots should be trimmed to an optimal length of 10 cm. If the roots are thin, they will dry out over the winter, so they can also be safely removed. Roots that have already become moldy should also be removed; they won't do any good during storage.
Important! All work with tubers is carried out with clean and disinfected tools. Before cutting, the tools must be heated in a fire and then cooled.
Forums report that in the fall, you can not only wonder when to dig up and how to store dahlias, but also divide the bush. Dividing will help the bush rejuvenate. It's important that each section retains buds and a piece of the plant's neck; this will ensure the divided bush blooms and delights in the spring. Be sure to sprinkle the cut sections with ash for disinfection. Dividing the bush shouldn't be done more than once every five years.
Before storing the tubers, they need to be disinfected. To do this, soak the tubers in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. Then, leave them until completely dry, then store them in a cool room for 10 days before storing.
Where to store?
Dahlias: When to dig them up and how to store them indoors? There are several options. You can stack the tubers in a dry box in a single layer and place them in a cellar, covering them with a light layer of dry sand. Inspect the tubers several times during the winter and remove any rotting specimens.
Advice! If the planting material has dried out, it's not getting enough water. Simply moisten it slightly and then return it to storage.
Alternatively, dahlia tubers can be stored in paraffin. Melt the paraffin and carefully dip each tuber into the heated paraffin. Then place them in boxes and store in a cool place. This method of storage preserves almost all the tubers.
This basic and useful information On the topic of dahlias: when to dig them up and how to store them. Every gardener may have their own storage secrets and methods for digging up tubers. But before developing their own methods, it's important to master the established ones. We hope you'll be able to save all the tubers of these beautiful flowers, plant them in the spring, and enjoy a long, beautiful bloom.
When to dig up dahlias in the fall and store them in winter
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Irina
My mother has been growing dahlias for decades. In the fall, she digs them up, shakes the soil lightly, lets them dry out a bit, and then puts them in the cellar. She never washes or disinfects them. So, I think it's unnecessary. The simpler you care for your plants, the better they grow. The only thing you need to do is visually inspect them for rotten tubers, otherwise the whole bush will be lost.
Larisa
I never bother with such details either. I dig them up with a lump of soil, let them dry thoroughly, and then lower them into the cellar with the lump still attached. In the spring, I soak the soil in a basin of water—all the tubers are juicy and not overdried. I only attach tags in the fall to avoid confusion between varieties.
Mila
I plant dahlias every year—they bloom beautifully in a variety of colors and form large bushes. Before the frost, when the dahlias have finished blooming, I dig them up with a lump of soil. I have potatoes on their roots. I tear them off, put them in a box, cover them with a lump of soil, and put the box underground—the temperature there is ideal for storing both vegetables and seedlings. In the spring, I pull them out and plant them in a pot, and then, when the sprouts emerge, I transplant them outside.