dahlias

Brought a little bag of these from local store months ago and they have bloomed lovely, can I leave these in the garden over winter, or do I have to take them up and replant in the spring? They are very pretty and would love to have them again next year

 

I think it depends how deep they are?

I have one in a pot, I'll probably just leave it and see what happens.

 

I have 4 tubers in the front garden, and they are probably about a hands deep, I don't mind if they can stay there but I would make the effort to take them up so I dont lose them. Thanks.

 

Here's a link which tells you what to do

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/dahlias-lift/

 

Thankyou for link, very helpful

 

Unless you have a very well drained soil and your tubers are fairly deep I would lift and store as shown in the link ..Just need drying off and keep stored in cool, frost free place till late spring next year. Leave till blackened by first frost before lifting ..

Dave

 

As Dave says - its worth lifting them. Its not just a matter of the cold, but they hate the winter wet as well.

 

I have tried leaving them in the past few years, not one of them returned. Can't say our heavy clay soil helps though.

This year I'm lifting and storing as below.....The tubers have almost tripled in size in some cases.

Does anyone know if it's possible to sucessfully divide dahlia tubers?

 

If you wish to divide them, start them growing in the spring and once the eyes start to grow you can see where to divide the tuber so that each section has some growing eyes with it .You can also take cuttings once the shoots are large enough..

Dave

 

I will be lifting Dahlia tubers at a clients on Saturday. They will be cleaned, dried, dusted with sulphur dust and stored in a frost free enviroment.

 

Many of the local allotment growers leave their dahlias in the ground as do one or two of my neighbours - seems there is no problem as they flower every year. My guess is that they mulch heavily after the first frost and then let nature take it's course.

 

Which part of the country are you talking about though Barnaby?

 

Thanks for the info Dave, I will check them next year and see if they can be divided.