Store Your Dahlia Tubers The Easy Way, by Dahlia Hotline on YouTube. 50 min 5 s.
- Video length
- 50 min 5 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Wait until the first hard frost blackens the foliage, or cut the stems down to about 15 cm a week before lifting.
Label each plant with its variety name before digging, so tubers never get mixed up.
Loosen the soil about 30 cm out from the stem with a garden fork, then lift the clump gently to avoid snapping tubers.
Shake off loose soil and cut the stems back to 5 cm. Do not wash the tubers if you plan to store them dry.
Let the clumps dry upside down in a cool, airy spot for a day or two so moisture drains from the stems.
Check each tuber and cut away any soft, damaged or diseased parts with clean shears.
Pack the tubers in boxes with slightly damp vermiculite, peat or newspaper, leaving space between them.
Store the boxes in a dark place at about 5 to 10 C, such as a garage, cellar or frost-free shed.
Check the tubers every few weeks and remove any that feel soft or show mould.
Tips and common mistakes
Label every clump at digging time, since mislabelled tubers are a common frustration.
Keep the packing material barely damp, not wet, because too much moisture causes rot.
Do not store tubers near fruit, which releases gas that speeds spoilage.
A layer of snow can insulate stored tubers in the ground, but a hard freeze still damages them.
Questions
Can I leave dahlia tubers in the ground over winter?
In mild areas with good drainage you can try it, but in cold or wet climates lift them. Frozen or waterlogged soil usually kills the tubers.
What temperature should I store dahlia tubers at?
Aim for about 5 to 10 C in a dark, frost-free spot. Check regularly, since warm storage makes tubers sprout early.
Why are my stored tubers shrivelling?
The air is probably too dry or the packing material dried out. Mist the material lightly and reseal the box.
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.
