Separating dahlia tubers

Is there an easy way to separate these tubers? I had a large clump from last year and have just today divided it into 4 parts, each with a stock. It has taken me ages.

 

A knife? Then just cut off the odd damaged tuber.

 

i will follow this thread cos I have some too! I did prise mine apart back in novemeber but havent a clue what to do now! think I will google! did some of yours kind of drop off when you were trying to seperate them?

 

Hya Lin and L-G what I always do with mine is take the tubers out of the ground turn upside down and pierce the bottom of the tuber and let it drain after a couple of days dry them with a cloth and put them in a cardboard box with straw or old newspapers round them keep them in a warm place but check them to make sure they dont dry right out, aftera while they will start to sprout again now is the time to take your cuttings for this year, at this time I spray mine and when you see the tuber starting to sprout just cut the tuber with the shoot on away from the main mass of tuber you can do this with all the tubers you have taken up from the garden hope this helps

 

Hi Nathan, so are you saying then I should be doing something with my tubers now? you can see I am a beginner at this?? my tubers at the moment are all dried out and are sitting in paper bags.Should I be potting them up now?

 

I would wait a bit longer but you could spray them with some tepid water just to get them to sprout are they very dry they are not shriveled up are they

 

erm... dunno . I have just put thm in a bag when they were dried. will have a llok. if they are shrivelled does that mean they are no good???

 

Hi l-g. As far as I know, they should still be firm, shrivelled is probably ok, but firm. Cheers...freddy.

 

I just leave mine alone until they show tiny shoots on the stems/tubers. Then I stick them in. Seems to work O.K. They'll let you know when they're ready

 

When I want to build up stock, I ...

Plant the old tuber in a propagating tray with no lid (ie fairly shallow, with bottom heat), using quite moist multipurpose compost. Place in a sunny, frost free location.

In about 3 weeks there should be new shoots (eyes) appearing from around the old stem.

Either cut the old tuber into pieces, each with an eye and plant on, Or, ...

When the shoot has its first (or second) set of leaves, cut the shoot off as close to the tuber as possible. Trim to just below the bottom node and place in a gritty multipurpose (dont push it in, make a hole, insert and firm around the stem), cover, either with a plastic bag, or place in a propagator and give it some bottom heat.

In about 3 weeks you will have a rooted cutting. Harden off and plant outside in late May for a first year late flowering.

 

Ps. shrivelled tubers are Ok, just means they've been badly stored, probably too warm and airy. Best to keep then cool and contained, I use a bucket lined and covered with newspaper and place in the garage.

If still unsure, plant seperately in a pot inside in late March, keep damp but not wet and keep looking for signs of growth. If nothing in 6 weeks then its unlikely to be of any use.

Soggy and smelly are NOT good. If its wet, s**** away the gooey stuff and place somewhere warm for a day or so. This should dry out/callus over any wound. If its still wet, then there's more gooey to be removed. When dry, dust the wound area with yelow sulphur and store. Check it again in a couple of weeks.