How to Dig Dahlia Bulbs in the Fall
Dahlia bulbs, also called tubers, need to be dug up in the fall and stored over winter to protect them from freezing temperatures. Store dahlia bulbs in a cool, dry place such as a garage or root cellar. This allows the plants to remain healthy so they can continue to bloom in the spring. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 1 gallon plastic bag
- Small hand pruning shears
- Scissors
- Knife
- Permanent marker
- Bleach
- 5 gallon bucket
- Vermiculite
Instructions
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1
Cut back all of the foliage to six inches above the ground after a hard frost has blackened the foliage. Remove the mulch from around the base of the plants. Use a shovel to carefully dig around all sides of the dahlia to loosen the roots. Slide the shovel down and under the plant and lift it up slowly.
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2
Remove all of the excess dirt from the tubers by spraying them with a gentle stream of water. Trim all of the feeder roots. Set the tubers out to dry overnight.
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3
Locate the eyes at the base of the stalk. Remove the new tubers, retaining at least one eye on each tuber. Clean the ends of the tubers and remove as much of the stalk as possible without damaging the eyes.
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4
Mix a solution of one cup of bleach into three gallons of water. Place each clump of tubers into the solution for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove them from the bleach solution and allow the clumps to dry for 20 minutes. Label each tuber with a permanent marker.
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5
Set the tubers out to dry for at least one day. Place 5 to 8 of the same variety tubers into one-gallon sealing plastic bags with 2 to 3 cups of vermiculite. Store the bags in a cool, dry place. Check them periodically throughout the winter for rot.
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