Tuber overwintering

Sulphur would help with any fungal attack.

I think it depends a bit on the size of the tubers. I find if I store small tubers "loose" then they often don't sprout in the Spring. Big clumps of tubers are fine. I have previously stored them in trays (perforated type, so plenty of air circulation, but I think it dries them out too much - might as well buy shrink wrapped packets of already-dead tubers in the local Shed :( )

This year I am going to pot them up in dry compost (the "soil" from the greenhouse - which starts the season as 50% manure and 50% compost heap) so that I don't have that job to do in the Spring. I will then store them "dry" in the garage or conservatory - they should be happy outside, so they won't mind some moisture. That's my theory anyway!

 

I lifted mine and gave them a wipe with kitchen roll then just put them in a pot in the garage. Planted them this year and they are fine!

 

FC when I lift tubers , I let them dry in the garage for about 2 weeks. Shake off any loose soil , and powder them with sulpher. I did find before using sulpher I had maggots coming out of one begonia tuber ! Wrap them in kitchen roll and then hang them from the roof in an onion net bag filled with shredded paper to keep them ventilated. I have used plastic bags with lots of holes cut in them as well. Don't forget to clearly label your tubers - you will not remember what type they are !
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elemental...Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item257e8b9546

 

I was just thinking of posting a similar thread.
My dahlia's are in pots. The pots were left out over winter and they survived. But this year I was thinking of putting the pots in a shed or on the greenhouse floor. Would I just leave the pots dry all winter?
p.s. one pot is no too full and so the bulbs from this pot will be going into the ground in spring. Would they be best left in the pots or taken out and stored?
Gazania

 

I did leave some in the planters as well over winter, but they were close to the house and not too wet. They have come through too.

 

Begonias I would treat differently to Dahlias. I would want them drier and much more important to dust with sulphur (particularly where the stalk came away from the crown).

I would leave them in pots. Trouble with pots (outside) is that the cold can penetrate from all sides - compared to the open ground where it is only the top surface from which the cold penetrates - so important that the pots are not somewhere with prolonged sub-zero temperatures.

I would leave in pot, kept somewhere protected over winter (obvious needs no light, particularly, whilst dormant) and plant out in the spring.

They will be OK with some cold, but they will tolerate dry-cold much better than wet cold. Containers are likely to be more free draining, particularly if you are on clay, and close to the house the cold not as severe, so that may be fine ... but if things decide to burrow in there and eat them ... or they rot in the wet ... then nothing for next year.

 

This is my first year growing Cactus Dahlias , and Mrs H and I are really impressed with them. As usual this thread has raised quite a few questions....................... On an average year , to what time will Cactus Dahlias bloom too ? When would you normally lift/store the tubers ? Are there any other 4 foot tall dahlia varieties I can consider?
TIA

 

Thanks Kristen, I shall leave my dahlia's in their pots and over winter them in my shed where they can be kept cool and in the dark.
gazania

 

"Depends"

If you start them off in February, with some heat, indoors / greenhouse, then "quite a bit earlier than if you leave them in the ground". Towards end July if you are lucky I would say, Early August if not. Maybe not until late August if they were left in the ground.

Not until the foliage has been blackened by frost - and even then no rush if it was a one-off frost. Its not unusual for that to be some time in December. However, if it gets very wet it miught be better to lift them earlier, as the Wet + Cold is going to increase the risk of rot.

Dahlia imperialis?

 

Now that's what you call a Dahlia !!!! Up to 30 feet tall.