Dahlias for the winter: when to dig and how to store

Dahlias are controversial flowers. They are beautiful, no doubt about it. But depending on the time period and era, they were treated differently. During the times of kings and thrones, dahlias were considered “court flowers.” They were allowed to be planted and bred exclusively in royal gardens and front gardens. After a couple of hundred years, the attitude towards these plants changed: they began to be considered tasteless and were practically no longer planted in flower beds.

Another couple of centuries have passed, and what do we see? The number of varietal dahlias has increased significantly, and these flowers are again in demand and unique. It’s not for nothing that they say that everything new is well forgotten old. Therefore, let's talk not about the vicissitudes of history, but about whether it is necessary to dig up dahlias before the onset of cold weather, and how mandatory this procedure is.

When to dig up dahlias

The first sign that dahlias should be prepared for digging is the freezing of the above-ground parts. It is immediately cut off, the remaining rhizome is covered with peat and sawdust, this protects it from frost. The tubers should lie in the ground for 10-12 days, the peel will become denser and provide reliable protection from external influences in winter.

You should not dig up dahlias too early, this will worsen their storage in winter, and next year the flowering will not be as abundant, since the presence of green leaves promotes the formation of flower buds.

What to do with dahlia tubers in the fall and where to store them

There are several available and proven methods for storing dahlias. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Not everyone has a private house with a basement where they can store dahlias. Storing tubers in an apartment in winter is also allowed, you just need to know the specifics of this procedure.

Dahlias can be preserved in winter in several ways

How to store dahlia tubers in winter in paraffin and clay shell

Storing dahlias in a paraffin or clay shell is convenient because they take up less space and do not require the use of additional containers. Also, such methods are suitable for preserving planting material in apartment conditions. Each technique should be considered separately.

Feedback on storing dahlias

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Dahlias are stored well in perlite.

Feedback on storing dahlias

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Depending on climatic conditions, the timing of obtaining planting material from storage may vary. Gardeners recommend removing dahlias 2-3 weeks before the planned planting in the flowerbed. If you do this earlier, the young shoots may become too long. And delays in timing delay the period of flowering.

If it is not possible to pre-germinate the tubers, then plant them directly in the flower bed in advance.

If for some reason disinfection and disinfection of planting material was not carried out in the fall, then they can be carried out now. The technique is no different from that described above, recommended for autumn processing. Only now you don’t have to wait for the roots to dry well, and after a couple of hours send them to the garden.

Dahlias are as majestic flowers as roses. Of course, they are a little troublesome to grow and require time from the owner, but during the long flowering period it is impossible to take your eyes off the flowerbed. All efforts are compensated handsomely. Dahlias are often grown for cutting, receiving from this not only moral satisfaction, but also profit.

Preparing dahlias for storage

To the question of whether it is necessary to dig up dahlias, the answer is definitely yes. Then you need to carefully prepare them for wintering. The bush removed from the ground is washed well in water, removing the soil remaining on the roots. Next it should be divided.

The growing point of the plant has several buds. Each division should be left with 2-3 such buds. The main shoot can be easily cut into pieces before it becomes coarse, so division should be done immediately after you have finished digging up the bush.

Damaged, rotten and old parts of the plant are cut off, leaving a healthy young seedling. It is placed in a disinfectant solution. Fitosporin gives a good effect. This biological agent is not poisonous.

Planting dahlias in spring

Plant dahlias in the sunniest possible location. They are extremely sensitive to cold, so wait until the soil has warmed to 16°C before planting - usually about two weeks after the last spring frost.

Place the tubers horizontally in the holes, to a depth of 10–15 cm, and do not water until they sprout. I plant them in two rows in a 1m wide bed with 46cm spacing between plants.

As soon as the first leaves appear, provide the seedlings with deep watering 2-3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. When the plants reach a height of 30 cm, pinch them back by cutting off the top of the central shoot by 7.5 to 10 cm to encourage branching at the base of the stem. Then you will have more flowering shoots with longer stems.

Optimal storage conditions

In order for dahlias to overwinter well and not die during storage, certain conditions are needed. It is necessary to create a winter climate in the storage facility that meets the following indicators:

temperature within +2-+4 degrees;
required humidity 60-70%;
good air circulation.

At this temperature and humidity, the roots will not dry out and rot will not appear. Gardeners usually store planting material of these flowers in the winter in a cellar or warm shed. Be sure to periodically check the rhizomes, remove rotten parts, make sure that the temperature does not drop and the material is well ventilated.

Advice! If you remove the rotten part of the tuber, you can treat the cut with ordinary brilliant green. This is the first disinfectant to protect against various infections.

During storage, dahlias can become infected with fungus. Most often it comes from the soil, so after digging the plant is washed with water and dried well.

It is important to decide whether it is possible not to dig up dahlias for the winter. This becomes clear if we remember where they came from. The plant is native to countries such as Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico. Their warm climate differs significantly from the harsh Eastern European climate; these heat-loving plants simply will not survive the winter in Russia.

Two ways to store tubers

So, we have successfully waited for the moment when the flower tubers have corked, which means they have acquired a reliable protective shell. We have already taken them out of the ground, cleaned them and even treated them to remove pathogenic bacteria and fungi. It's just a matter of choosing a storage method. There are two such methods. We'll go into detail about each technology so you can make an informed and confident choice.

Method of “wintering” a week root tuber in parchment

To implement this method, you will need parchment paper (the same one that is used in cooking), as well as vermiculite, a mineral that has a layered structure. Dahlia tubers are best stored in vermiculite. But if you can’t get the substance, you can replace it with sphagnum. However, be prepared for the fact that the storage technology when using an alternative substance will no longer be so ideal.

Take parchment paper and pour vermiculite into it.
We put the root tuber there and wrap it tightly with the remaining parchment.
We fix the edges of the paper with rope or other available materials.
We put all the wrapped roots in a cardboard box in two or three layers and send them to a cool place with an air temperature below zero.

You can store root tubers packed in parchment either on a glazed balcony or in a cellar. It is important that the temperature in these rooms does not fall below zero. Ideally, the temperature should not fluctuate too much: the acceptable minimum is 5 degrees, and the acceptable maximum is 7 degrees Celsius.

Keeping root tubers wrapped in parchment in an apartment is strictly prohibited. In winter, our houses are heated, which creates a temperature in the room that is destructive for the bulbs. As a result, they simply dry out and actually become mummified. It will no longer be possible to plant such tubers in the spring.

Paraffin method

To be able to implement this storage method, it is necessary to purchase paraffin in a sufficiently large volume. If there is a candle company near you, great. But if not, you can buy paraffin wax at a hardware store or online. Fortunately, today you can find almost any product on the World Wide Web.

When starting work, do not use a gas hob under any circumstances. Paraffin is an instantly flammable material, so it can only be heated on an electric stove, the spiral of which has additional protection.

The day before the procedure, we bring the treated root tubers into an apartment or other room where the temperature is 15 degrees or higher. This is necessary for the buds to appear on the bulbs. In the vast majority of varieties, the buds are located in a ring. But there are varieties in which the buds are located at the very base of the root system, and sometimes even a little higher. 24 hours spent in the warmth will be enough for the buds to swell and express themselves. Next we follow this algorithm.

We divide the root tubers so that there is one bud on each division.
Heat the paraffin in a thick-walled saucepan to 80 degrees.
We take the piece by one side and dip it in paraffin.
Let the paraffin layer dry a little, then repeat the procedure on the second side.
After the paraffin on the cuttings has become “woody,” we transfer all the processed bulbs into a cardboard box and put them in a cool place.

The paraffin coating will not allow moisture to evaporate. The delenki will retain the original level of humidity, which means they will overwinter ideally. The main thing is that the temperature contributes to this. Otherwise, the buds will begin to grow, thereby spoiling the planting material.

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Removing dahlias

They begin to prepare for digging in August. From the middle of this month they stop feeding and watering the plant. Dried flowers are cut off with part of the shoot. The lower branches and leaves are torn off, allowing nutrients to penetrate and accumulate in the tubers.

After the upper part of the bush freezes, it is cut off at a height of 15 cm from the ground so as not to affect the root collar. Dahlias should be dug up with a pitchfork, being careful not to damage the roots, stepping back 20-30 cm from the center.

Next, the dahlias are dried at room temperature in a dry room. When the tubers are slightly dry, they decide how they will be stored. There are several storage methods, namely:

placement in boxes with ventilation holes;
burying in sand;
waxing;
storage in vermiculite;
sprinkling with sawdust or peat.

Storage in boxes

Cardboard boxes are used to store dahlias in winter. The bottom is reinforced with a lining and dry soil is poured. Place the prepared tubers. There is soil on top again. This is how several rows are alternated. The final step should be soil.

The boxes are placed in a cool place. This could be a loggia, a corner near the balcony, a cold corridor or vestibule. It is important to review the contents of the box from time to time in order to detect rotten rhizomes in time and remove them.

Storage in sand

To do this, use various containers with dense walls without holes. The optimal container size is 15-20 liters. They are filled with dried sand, pure without impurities, alternating a row of sand and dahlias. The top of the container is covered with burlap or thick fabric that allows air to pass through.

With this storage method, it is important to keep the sand dry, otherwise the dahlias will begin to sprout at a completely inappropriate time.

Storage in paraffin

Paraffinization is the most labor-intensive storage method. Despite this, it is used quite often. Has a number of advantages. Hot paraffin kills microbes, the tubers do not dry out, and the protective layer protects them from harmful influences.

The essence of the method is to melt paraffin in a water bath. Place crushed paraffin in a pan, then place it in another pan with water and put it on fire.

When the paraffin melts, separate roots are lowered into it, first at one end, then vice versa. When removed from the solution, the resulting film immediately hardens in air, forming a protective coating.

Paraffin tubers can be placed in a small box or linen bag. The main thing is to place them in a cool place. Only individual, small roots can be waxed. To store the bush you need to choose a different method.

There is a simple and interesting way to process the material before storage - this is to cover it with two layers of egg white. The white is separated from the yolk, beaten and brushed twice over the tubers. This coating prevents moisture from evaporating and the roots do not dry out.

If there is little planting material, then waxed dahlias can be stored in the refrigerator on the door, placing them in a paper bag.

Storage in vermiculite

Vermiculite is a material that retains moisture, so roots placed in it will not dry out. For this storage method you need to use large vermiculite pebbles. The material is poured onto the bottom of a box or box, then dahlias are laid, then vermiculite again. This is how several rows are alternated.

The top should be vermiculite. The amount of vermiculite required by volume is equal to the number of dahlia tubers. The container is covered with film and placed in a cool place. It is necessary to ensure that the plant does not germinate at the wrong time; with this storage method, this can happen with a slight increase in temperature.

Storage in sawdust

Digging up dahlias and storing them in sawdust is quite simple. The best would be large sawdust or shavings from coniferous trees. The fine structure will compact and cake, which will lead to insufficient hygroscopicity of the material and drying of the roots.

This method also involves alternating the plant with a layer of protective material. The sawdust may seem too dry and you will be tempted to moisten it. This should not be done; it can cause rotting of the roots or their premature growth.

Storage in peat

Storage in this material is similar to storage in sand or soil. It is important that it is not wet and free from impurities and vegetation residues.

Peat, 5 cm thick, is poured into the bottom of the box, flower rhizomes are placed on top, then sprinkled with dry peat. It is acceptable to make 2-3 layers, depending on the size of the stored material and the height of the box.

Below you can see how to dig up and store plant tubers in winter:

The best varieties of dahlias

Cafe au lait. Few plants can match the flawless beauty of this gorgeous plate-sized flower, in which shades of cream, beige and pink delicately flow into each other. This variety is especially popular for summer wedding decorations, so it is a must grow.

Crichton Honey. The large spherical flowers of this unusually productive variety, shining with apricot and peach shades, are one of the most beloved on my plantation.

Punkin Spice. With lush flowers with petals in warm orange, gold and crimson hues, this award-winning variety will make any bouquet unforgettable. Many of the flowers look as if they were painted by hand: not two of them are alike. The stems are quite thin, so take care of additional support for them, otherwise heavy rains will destroy them.

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Snoho Doris. A stunning variety with bright spherical flowers in warm peachy pink and soft orange hues with strong stems, great for cutting and stands well in bouquets.

Amber Queen. This charming novelty with warm orange pompom flowers will be a wonderful addition to any bouquet. This compact plant with miniature heads also looks great in flower beds, so the love for it will last for a long time.

Appleblossom. Anyone involved in flower arrangements cannot do without this beauty with its delicate and large, tea-saucer-sized flowers in creamy and pink shades. In addition to the fact that it holds up well in a vase, it is incomparable in flower beds.

"Punky Spice", "Amber Queen", "Crichton Honey"

How not to store dahlias

Unprepared, unpeeled and undried dahlia rhizomes should not be sent for storage. This is a sure way to lose planting material.

A bad place for overwintering dug up bushes would be a damp, cold cellar where vegetable root crops - potatoes, beets, radishes - are stored. Dahlias should be in a separate compartment of the cellar, away from vegetables.

Storage in a residential area with dry air and high temperatures is also not a suitable place.

Attention! Dahlias should not be stored in an airtight container without access to air. The moisture they release will cause the formation of putrefactive fungus.

It is a bad choice to place the rhizomes in plastic bags.

When wintering, it is better to slightly dry out the tuber than to increase the humidity. Moisture will lead to mold and rot. Dampness and warm air provoke the appearance of sprout buds. If it is not possible to plant the plant before spring, this phenomenon will be undesirable. It is enough to place a dried tuber in a root solution before planting so that it can germinate.

It is mandatory to dig up dahlias for the winter in Russian regions. No shelter will allow the plant to survive in the ground in winter. If you dig up a flower, it becomes possible to examine its condition and detect damage or disease.

This process is also important for the rejuvenation of bushes. Old powerful rhizomes cannot produce beautiful flowering and stifle the development of young seedlings. They are divided into smaller parts, dried and coarsened elements are removed. This way you can get several young seedlings and create new flower beds.

Technology for digging up dahlias for the winter

The optimal time to implement your plan is morning. Choose a sunny and fine day and wait until the dew or frost has completely evaporated from the surface of the soil and plant shoots. And then follow strictly the steps of the algorithm described below. There are only two main steps, so remembering their sequence and features will not be difficult.

We cut off the stems. This is especially true for large bushes that rise above the ground with their huge, by the standards of other flowers, shoots. In order to trim the stems, you need to arm yourself with pruning shears. Experts recommend leaving no more than 15 cm of shoots above the soil level. If you leave “stumps” of a more significant length, then perhaps at the moment of pulling the plant out of the ground, the branches will tear off the roots - and the tubers will no longer be found. Or this process will damage the bulbs and make their further storage impossible.
We take the tubers out of the ground. When starting this process, you need to arm yourself with a shovel or pitchfork. Remember that the dahlia root system is quite spreading. Therefore, when intending to remove root tubers from the ground, retreat a noticeable distance from the shoots. Then dig up the soil and, having removed the root tubers from the soil, carefully shake them off any soil adhering to the surface of the bulbs.

Remember: never try to pull tubers out of the ground by pulling shoots. This is a rather risky process that can end disastrously for planting material. You can only hold the shoots, helping and insuring the bush. The main work of removing dahlia bulbs from the ground is done with a pitchfork or shovel.

Preparing tubers for storage

Once you obtain the dahlia tubers, they will need to undergo special preparation. You can’t just send them for storage, otherwise they will spoil.

“Bath procedures.” The bulbs removed from the ground should be carefully but thoroughly washed under cold running water, removing any remaining soil from the surface.
Bactericidal treatment. To protect planting material from microbes and bacteria, which tend to multiply, leading to diseases and damage to root tubers, prepare a solution of potassium permanganate. After the product is ready for use, bathe the planting material in it and leave the bulbs in the liquid for ⅓ hour. Such treatment will reliably protect dahlia bulbs from fungal diseases and pests, which can also have a destructive effect on the tubers during storage.
Treatment of “wounds”. If it so happens that when you remove the bulbs from the ground, you accidentally damage the surface of one or more bulbs with a garden tool, do not throw away the planting material and do not write it off. These bulbs can also be stored. But before sending them for storage, the “wound” should be treated with brilliant green.

As an alternative means for treating “wounds,” you can use powdered charcoal - it will have exactly the same effect as brilliant green. But instead of a solution of potassium permanganate, with which bactericidal treatment of root tubers is carried out, experts recommend using any fungicide.

Deadlines

It is impossible to say unequivocally when to dig up dahlias in the fall in 2022. The date of the procedure depends on climatic conditions and weather. Even experienced flower growers who live in the same place for a long time cannot accurately predict the timing. In one year the plants may be dug up in the last week of September, and in another at the end of October. Usually in August, with the onset of cool weather, the bushes are hilled to a height of up to 20 cm. This helps protect the growth buds from unexpected frosts. The plant blooms wildly throughout the first month of autumn.

Digging begins when frost kills the plant. After this, it is important to complete the work within the next three days, no later. If this is delayed, the green mass will rot and the infection will spread to the underground part. Typically, the digging times by region are as follows:

The middle zone and Moscow region - the first week of October. In September it is still warm here and if the temperature drops, it is only slightly.
South – late October and early November. These areas have a mild climate and warm winters. Sometimes the above-ground part of the plant remains intact. However, this does not mean that the tubers are not ripe. They are still taken out of the ground.
Ural and Siberia. Here the cold comes 20-30 days earlier than in the Moscow region. To admire the flowers in summer, residents of the northern regions plant dahlias in open ground in June, already grown. Tender plants are protected from frost and, if necessary, covered with lutrasil. As a rule, early ripening species are purchased. They begin harvesting in early or mid-September.

Sometimes it happens that a summer resident needs to leave for permanent residence, but the frost has not yet hit. If weather forecasters promise a drop in temperature to sub-zero values in the coming days, you can dig up dahlias for storage. In any case, it is important to focus on the lunar calendar. Tubers that were dug up on favorable days are better stored. The plants that eventually grew from them bloom profusely and do not get sick.

Month	Suitable numbers
September	2-3, 6-7, 16-17, 18- 23
October	3-6, 25, 31
November	1-2, 17, 23, 25, 30

Attention!

They try to dig up tubers in dry weather. Then the risk of rotting during storage is reduced. However, if the stems are already frozen and the rains still do not stop, then you can also begin the procedure.

Dahlias are dug up with a pitchfork from all sides, retreating about 30 cm. Then they rake out the top layer of soil with their hands and carefully, prying up the root system with a garden tool, pull it out. Before digging up plants damaged by frost, the stems are shortened, leaving stumps 15 cm high. Tags with the name of the variety are immediately tied to them. If the green mass is intact and not damaged by frost, the dahlias are dug up in the morning. The tubers removed from the ground are laid out on the grass and left until the evening. Then a certain percentage of the nutritional components passes from the above-ground part to the underground.

Why you need to dig up dahlia bulbs in the fall

Plants from the large Asteraceae family do not require constant care after planting and are resistant to diseases and pests. But they have a drawback due to which many gardeners refuse to grow them. Even taking into account global warming, digging up dahlias for the winter is a mandatory agrotechnical measure.

What to do if dahlia tubers

Sprouted earlier?

Early dahlias germinate fastest. Thick shoots appear from the buds on the root collar.

If there is little time left before planting, the sprouted tubers should be placed in light in a cool place to slow down the rate of shoot growth.

But if the tubers are stored for a long time, then you can save them from depletion by cuttings . When the sprouts reach 5–7 cm, they are broken out or cut off with a piece of tuber, dipped in a solution of a growth stimulator and planted in pots with a diameter of 10 cm.

The cuttings are buried in the soil, leaving 3–4 cm above the surface, and covered with a transparent bag or cup on top. The cuttings are monitored and watered or sprayed if necessary. After 11-12 days, at a temperature within 18-22°C, roots and leaves appear. Rooted dahlias are placed in a bright place and cared for before planting in the ground like indoor flowers, excluding fertilizing.

Are they rotten and moldy?

Periodically - once every 10-14 days, the tubers are checked, rotten parts are cut off and disinfected. The cut areas are powdered with ash or crushed charcoal and dried. Severely damaged specimens are removed from storage.

Tubers can rot due to the presence of liquid near the root collar at the bottom of the stump. Therefore, the cut stem must be pierced with an awl and, if water appears, drain it.

If mold appears on the tubers, but the roots themselves are not damaged, then it is washed off with warm water using a sponge, and then the tubers are treated with fungicides.

Are you wrinkled?

With a large loss of moisture, dahlia tubers can shrink and the roots dry out. If not only the tuber itself, but also the root collar has dried out, then it will not be possible to revive such a dahlia.

When the tuber is partially dry, the roots are lightly sprinkled with water or the fabric is moistened with a solution of stimulants and the tuber is covered with it until the tissue is completely dry.

There are many ways to preserve dahlia tubers. Each gardener will choose his own, based on personal experience, varietal characteristics of dahlias and storage conditions. The main thing is that the tubers are well ripened, cleaned and dry.

You will learn more about how to dig and store dahlias from the video.

Is it possible to store tubers of annual dahlias?

Annual dahlias should be dug up and stored in the fall in the same way as perennials. However, for greater preservation of the corms, it is important to especially carefully control the humidity in the place where they lie. It is advisable to divide the material into several parts and try to store each using a different method. This will greatly increase the plant's chances of survival. It is worth noting that even if you store dahlia roots in the basement, it may work one year, but the material will die the next.

Advice! When choosing a place for wintering a crop, you should experiment with different methods and variations.

How to store tubers at home - why and how to label the roots

If there are at least several varieties of dahlias in the flower industry, then you will need to resort to labeling. This procedure is done to avoid re-sorting. In addition, the strongest tubers are marked with special signs, for example, asterisks. With the beginning of the new season, they can be used to obtain cuttings. Self-made tags are used for labeling. A piece of paper or a piece of plastic with the appropriate inscription is attached to the rope.

Labeling tubers will help avoid unwanted misgrading

You can also use the digital method for marking - apply it to the tubers or attach numbers in a certain order. In this case, you will also need an additional notebook for notes, where you will keep notes about which variety is indicated by which number. This procedure helps not to confuse the varieties of flowers and plant them in the garden bed in the required sequence.

How it is recommended to store: in sand, sawdust, paraffin, clay

Storing dahlias in sawdust

To additionally protect the tubers from drying out and get rid of excess moisture, use sand, sawdust, paraffin or clay mash . It is not recommended to use plastic bags as condensation will form in them.

Dry river sand is poured into boxes or boxes , tubers are placed on it in one layer, and they are covered with burlap on top. This method is convenient because planting material is easy to inspect and monitor its condition in winter.

For storage in sawdust , choose large shavings that do not absorb moisture and are well ventilated.

Paraffinization ensures high preservation of tubers, but requires time and effort. Paraffin is heated in a saucepan in a water bath. The tubers are quickly dipped into the molten mass, allowed to drain, cool and harden, and then the procedure is repeated at the other end of the tuber. It is important not to overexpose it in paraffin so that the tuber does not cook. In the spring, when planting in the ground, paraffin is not removed; it will not interfere with germination.

To prepare mash, fill a bucket halfway with clay and add a little water. Stir everything to obtain the consistency of thick sour cream. You can add 2-3 tbsp to the mixture. l. copper sulfate. The tubers are dipped into a mash until they are completely covered with clay, and then dried for 2-3 days.

When to dig up dahlias in 2022 for storage according to the lunar calendar, favorable days

Most gardeners, when planning work in the garden, take the advice of the lunar calendar as a basis. It contains information on when it is best to plant, transplant, dig and other agricultural activities.

There are good and bad days for digging up dahlias after flowering. Favorable:

10, 11, 14 after lunch, 15, 16, 22, 23 before lunch, 26, 27, 28 September;
October 8, 9, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25;
November 4, 8, 9, 15, 16, 20, 21.

On other days of these months, it is not recommended to dig up dahlias for subsequent storage. This may have an adverse effect on their growth and development in the future.

How to treat dahlias after digging?

Dried dahlias must be treated to remove viruses and bacteria from the surface. Processing takes place in several stages:

Removal of shoots.
Rinse under running water.
Soaking in a light pink manganese solution.
Drying. At this stage, the rhizomes are placed in a dry place for 1.5 weeks. It is recommended to maintain the temperature within +15…+16оС.

ATTENTION! If the temperature is higher than recommended levels, the roots may begin to dry out and die.

Common mistakes

Beginning flower growers sometimes make mistakes when storing rhizomes, placing them in a plastic bag, which is placed in sawdust. In this case, the accumulation of condensate is not taken into account. Due to excess moisture, rotting begins.

Another common mistake is wetting the sand. If dahlias are stored in sand, some gardeners begin to moisten it. This absolutely cannot be done, otherwise the roots will rot.

Storage without pre-treatment is also a common cause of tuber death. The surviving viruses and bacteria begin to actively multiply. This entails disease and death of the roots.

How to properly remove dahlias for winter storage

We have decided on the timing of harvesting perennial dahlias, now let's look at how to do it correctly.

Step 1. Before digging the bush out of the ground, cut off the above-ground part of the plant with pruning shears or sharp scissors. The stems are cut to a height of 5-6 cm from the root collar. This is done primarily so that later it will be convenient to dig up the bush - the tops will not get in the way. Indeed, sometimes the stems reach up to 1 meter in height.

Step 2. Using a shovel, or better yet, a pitchfork with wide blades, dig up a bush. In this case, the blade is stuck into the ground vertically and at a certain distance so as not to cut the roots in the ground. The older the plant, the more developed its root system will be and the wider it will grow in the soil. So step back from the stems at least 15-20 cm. Dig up the plant from all sides.

Step 3. Having dug, you can immediately pull the plant out of the ground by the remaining stems. But if the bush is large enough, then it is better to first rake the earth away from the roots while it is still in the soil, this will make it easier and easier to pull the bush out.

Where can you store dahlias after digging them up until spring?

It is impossible to create optimal conditions at home. If the mark on the thermometer is above +7...+8°C, and the humidity is above 60-75%, the planting material begins to germinate or rot. An insulated loggia is not the best option either, since changes in temperature have a negative impact on the condition of the tubers.

Attention!
To increase stability, you can coat the bulbs with melted paraffin or dip them in a clay mash.

In a city apartment

To avoid putting dahlias at risk, you should put them in the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator for the winter. If they are on the balcony, then if it warms up or gets cold, you will still have to move them. Therefore, you should immediately send the root tubers to the refrigerator.

In the cellar at the dacha

Flower growers specializing in aster breeding cannot do without such utility rooms. To properly preserve dahlias, after preparation, the roots can be laid out in boxes in 2 layers or on shelves in 1, sprinkled with sawdust from coniferous trees or other insulating materials.