Dahlias over winter

Hi all,

We bought a few dahlias from the local fete which have flowered beautifully August to early November. The flowers have now died off so could anybody tell me if I need to do anything to save them for next year? Sorry, not sure of type!!

Many thanks,

MrM

 

Hi Mr Morgan ,

Best thing to do is cut them down to 4-5ins above ground then carefully dig them up trying not to damage any of the tuber .Label each plant .. Remove surplus soil then put them someware dry and frost free tdry off a while (best placed upside down to allow any moisture in the tuber stems to drain .Once dried off remove any other soil and any damaged tubers .. Dust with sulphur powder and store till spring in dry frost free place .I just wrap mine in old newspaper. Check a couple of times during the winter to make sure all is well ..
Hope that helps ..

Dave

 

Dave you hit the spot I tottaly agree and if any one remembers my mates dad 83 who lost all of his last winter and who is not very well , and I planted over 30 new ones !!! they flowered their little socks off and I went down last week end and have done exactly what Dave has sugested and now kept in my frost free garage now until next March/ April I will take cuttings to bulk up his favourite ones but all kept in the greenhouse to grow on.

It only took two hours and I good tidy up of the garden and greenhouse at the same time , him and his wife so happy .

Spruce

 

Dave, good instructions, thanks. I will have to copy it out and index it somewhere safe. I've admired Dahlias from a far, and have seen a website with so, so many types on it. They are so beautiful. But have not gone there yet. So much stuff to do already with my gardens, then getting them ready for the winter etc. It is a matter of time.
I will also share your instructions with another garden forum I go on to.
Thanks.


Dahlia Photo Gallery by wicicala at pbase.com

 

Hi.

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I think I'm right in saying that one shouldn't let the tuber dry out completely, and become shrivelled. I think the idea is to keep an eye on them, and emerse them in water(not sure how long for) if they seem too dry.

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Hi Freddy its getting the balance right most people dig them up to early I can understand November waiting for a frost ??? if it happens .

I have have always lifted late and keep them in a even cool place this should rarely happen but when I plant up I have been known to soak them in a bucket especialy when you get them from the garden centre so yes you are right


Spruce

 

I did read somewhere that the longer you leave them in the ground the bigger their tubers will grow, so I'll be digging mine up within the next day or two now that the foliage has been blackened by frost (at last!). I'll probably leave a couple in situ as I'm convinced our winter will be mild this year and they will survive

 

you are right as well they do go bigger in the last couple of weeks ,, mound some more earth on top if you are leaving them in and just check for any slugs lurking about first

Spruce

 

I'll do that, Spruce, thanks.

 

Thanks All! Great advice as always. Just discovered that one has snapped of at base, I'm guessing wind (nature's not mine!:D) is the cause but might it just be possible that if I dig the tuber out that something might reappear next year? T'would be a shame to lose it!