Dig Up Your Dahlias NOW Before It's Too Late, by NatureBuz on YouTube. 13 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour plus 3 to 7 days curing
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Wait until a hard frost blackens the foliage. Cutting the stems down before that frost makes the tubers store poorly.
Cut the stems back to about 6 inches (15 cm) with clean pruners. Leave a short stub so you can handle the clump.
Write a label for each variety now and tie it to the stem stub. Unlabelled tubers all look the same by spring.
Loosen the soil about a foot out from the stem with a garden fork, then lift the clump gently. A spade slices through tubers.
Shake off loose soil but do not wash the tubers. Water invites rot during storage.
Cure the clumps in a dry, frost-free spot for 3 to 7 days so the skins toughen.
Divide the clumps now or leave them whole for spring. Each piece needs a visible eye near the stem to grow.
Pack the tubers in boxes with slightly damp peat moss or vermiculite. Keep them cool, dark and humid but not wet.
Check the boxes once a month and remove any soft or mouldy tubers. Dust cut ends with sulphur to help stop rot.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not seal tubers in plastic bags, since trapped moisture rots them.
Digging too early is as bad as digging too late, so wait for that blackening frost.
Store only firm tubers and throw out any that feel soft or smell sour.
Keep the storage spot between 40 and 50°F (4 to 10°C) and away from light.
Questions
Can I leave dahlias in the ground over winter?
In cold-winter zones the tubers freeze and rot, so lift them. In mild zones you can try leaving them with a thick mulch, but the risk is high.
Should I divide the tubers now or in spring?
Either works. Dividing now saves storage space, but each piece must have an eye, and spring division is easier to see.
What if my tubers shrivel in storage?
The air is too dry. Mist the packing material lightly so it is barely damp, not wet.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
