How to Store Dahlia Bulbs in Winter
Dahlias are prized in many home gardens for their large, intricate blossoms. Available in a large range of colors and in giant and dwarf varieties, dahlias grace summer gardens with their many petaled flowers. Dahlias are not frost tolerant. The bulbs, which are actually tuberous roots, must be properly dug and stored for winter while they are dormant. Proper storage ensures that they survive the cold months undamaged. They are then replanted in the garden the next year to bloom again. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut back the stems to 6 inches tall after the first frost in autumn blackens the leaves. Use sharp shears to cut back stems and remove any remaining leaves.
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Loosen the soil around the dahlia using a hand-held garden fork. Lever a spade under the bulb and lift it from the soil.
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Hang the bulbs with the stems pointing down in a dry place for two weeks. Place them in mesh bags to keep the stems in place and allow air flow around the bulbs.
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Fill boxes with dry peat moss. Place the bulbs in the peat moss so they aren't touching one another. Store in a dry, dark place at a temperature between 40 and 45 degrees F.
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Check the bulbs every two to four weeks. Look for soft spots, shriveling or other signs of disease or rot. Cut off any damaged parts with a sharp, clean knife.
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Place any cut bulbs that have begun to shrivel in a bucket of water for 12 hours to rehydrate. Hang them for an additional two weeks so the excess moisture dries before returning them to storage.
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Tips & Warnings
Use shoe boxes to store the dahlias.
Substitute dry vermiculite for peat moss if it is available.
Store dahlias in a sealed plastic bag with no peat or vermiculite if desired. Bulbs are more likely to rot with this method if not checked often.
Dig immediately after the first frost; additional frosts will permanently damage the roots.
Store where mice and other pests cannot access the bulbs.
