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Best place to plant dahlias


8 Tips for Growing Better Dahlias

There is nothing difficult about growing dahlias. They require very little and deliver months of big, brightly-colored blossoms. From planting tubers to pinching, staking and harvesting, here's what you need to know to enjoy the very best results.

1. Know Your Tubers

Dahlias sprout from buds that are formed in the fall. These buds are located at the base of the stem, just above the tubers. The tubers themselves do not produce sprouts -- they are food storage vessels that help fuel the plant's early growth.

Dahlias may be purchased two ways: as single tubers with a bud attached or as a clump of tubers around a stem.

 

2. Timing is Key

If tubers are being planted directly into the garden, wait until the soil has warmed to 60°F. Dahlias will not grow in cold soil and their foliage is sensitive to frost.

In cool climates, dahlias can be planted indoors, 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date. Fill 1 or 2 gallon pots with moist growing mix. Plant the tuber(s) with the stem or sprouts facing up and cover with 2” of soil. Put the pots in a warm place with good light and water sparingly. Start watering regularly once the plants are several inches tall. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost has passed.

 

3. Know Where and How to Plant

Dahlias bloom best when they are planted in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Border dahlias can be planted 15” apart from center to center; standard types are usually spaced about 18” from center to center.

Loosen the soil to a depth of 12”. Add compost and all-purpose granular fertilizer to the planting area and mix well. Dig a hole and plant the tubers, keeping the stem(s) or sprouts upright. The top of the tubers, where the sprout emerge, should be positioned no more than 1-2” below the soil surface. Backfill the hole with soil.

 

4. The Value of Pinching and Staking

When the plants are 12” tall, pinch off the top of the main stem. This will stimulate lateral branching and result in more stems and more flowers. For instructions, see HERE.

Border dahlias are self-supporting, but full size dahlias can grow 3 to 4 feet tall and benefit from being staked or caged. Read about staking options HERE.

5. Watering and Fertilizing

Dahlias grow best when they receive a consistent supply of water. Drip irrigation is ideal, as it directs moisture to the root zone while keeping the foliage dry. If you are hand-watering, it's best to water deeply once or twice per week. Mulching around the base of the plants will help reduce moisture loss and keep the roots cooler.

There are many schools of thought about fertilizing dahlias. Some say they are heavy feeders. Other say there's no reason to fertilize. Everyone does seem to agree that dahlias grow best in fertile soil that contains lots of organic matter. Before planting each spring, cover the area with 3-4" of rotted manure or compost and dig it into the top 12".

As a general rule, we recommend treating dahlias as you would a tomato plant. Apply an all-purpose 5-5-5 fertilzer at planting time and when they start blooming, feed them once or twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid fertilizer. If you plan to save the tubers, they will store better if you stop fertilizing by early September.

 

 

6. Controlling Insects and Disease

Protect bees, butterflies and other pollinators by avoiding the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides.

To discourage disease, keep dahlia foliage as dry as possible. Water deeply once or twice a week, allowing the top inch of soil dry out in between. Clip off the bottom 12” of foliage to encourage good air circulation.

Slugs and snails love eating young dahlia foliage. Sluggo Plus is an effective organic control when it is applied early and refreshed often. It is sprinkled on the soil surface, so is not a danger to pollinators. Earwigs are another troublesome dahlia pest. Like slugs and snails, they prefer cool, moist conditions and can damage buds, flowers and foliage. Minimize their damage by keeping the area around your dahlias clear of spent flowers and foliage. Also, if you avoid using leaves or straw as mulch, you will give earwigs fewer places to hide and breed.

 

7. Be Generous

Dahlias are among the world’s best cut flowers and it takes just a few stems to make an impressive bouquet. Harvesting flowers is good for the plants and encourages them to continue flowering month after month. So cut often and share generously! Delight family and friends, neighbors and coworkers with the beauty of homegrown dahlias.

 

8. Deadhead Regularly

Removing flowers that have passed their prime keeps plants looking neat, encourages them to produce new buds and helps control pests and disease. If you're in a hurry, simply nip off the flower heads. Otherwise, use scissors or pruning shears to cut the spent flowers back to a main stem. This will help to stimulate new growth and encourage longer stems that are better for cutting.

Learn More:

Dahlias: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Dahlia Flowers

Dahlias are gorgeous flowers that bloom from midsummer through autumn. In colder regions, be sure to dig and store them after frost hits in the fall! Available in a rainbow of colors and a number of sizes, dahlias are a lovely flower to grow in any garden. Here’s how to care for them in yours! 

About Dahlias

Dahlia is a member of the Asteraceae family, which also includes the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, zinnia, and, of course, aster.

Dahlias inspire awe and a good cheer. Growing vegetables? Put a row of dahlias on the border, where they will not shade your edibles. They make for lovely cut flowers.

Dahlias love moist, moderate climates. Though not well suited to extremely hot climates (such as southern Florida or Texas), dahlias brighten up any sunny garden with a growing season that’s at least 120 days long.  

The tubers are planted in the ground in late spring. They are considered a tender perennial in colder regions of North America. They are reliably winter hardy in hardiness zones 8 to 11, although gardeners in zones 6 and 7 may have luck keeping them in the ground as well. In colder zones, dahlias can either be treated as annuals or dug up after the first frost and stored indoors for winter. (See what hardiness zone you’re in!)

Picking a favorite dahlia is like going through a button box. In addition to coming in a rainbow of colors, dahlia flowers can range in size from petite 2-inch lollipop-style pompoms to giant 15-inch “dinner plate” blooms. Most varieties grow 4 to 5 feet tall.

Harvesting

Dahlias as Cut Flowers

The more you cut dahlias, the more they’ll bloom—and dahlias are beautiful in a vase. For a bouquet, cut stems in the morning before the heat of the day and put them into a bucket of cool water. Remove stems’ bottom leaves and place the flowers into a vase of water. Place the vase in a cool spot and out of direct sun. Check the water daily. The bouquet should last about a week.

Digging and Storing Dahlias for Winter

Unless you live in a warmer region (USDA Hardiness Zone 8 or warmer), you’ll have to dig up dahlias in late fall. Native to Mexico, Dahlias won’t survive freezing temperatures. Digging and storing dahlias is extremely easy and simple, and will save you the money that would otherwise go into buying new ones each year.

→ Find your USDA Hardiness Zone here.

How to Store Dahlias in Winter

Tuber clumps can either be left intact for the winter and divided in the spring, or they can be divided in the fall. Some gardeners find that it is easier to divide in the fall, and divisions are more convenient to store. 

Check on the dahlia tubers occasionally over the winter. Remove any tubers that have started to rot before the decay spreads to healthy tubers.

Readying for Summer

In spring, separate healthy tubers from the parent clump and discard wrinkled or rotten ones. Plan to plant the survivors.

Each tuber must have at least one “eye” or piece of the crown attached or it will not develop into a blooming plant. The eyes are little pink bumps at the base of the stem.

→ See our gardener’s article on how to unpack and divide your stored dahlia tubers!

If this all seems like too much bother or you do not have the right storage place, skip digging and storing, and just start over by buying new tubers in the spring.

When and how to plant dahlia tubers outdoors

If the rose is considered the "Queen" of flowers in many countries, then the dahlia is without a doubt their "King". Very few ornamental plants can boast such a wealth of shapes, sizes and colors!

In addition, the dahlia is very unpretentious. Content with the most minimal care, he pleases the gardener with his bright, lush flowering from early July until late autumn.

About the history of the appearance of the dahlia, how to care for it, how to dig it up and store it in the winter, we have already told in our article: "How to grow dahlias".

In this article we will tell you when and how to plant dahlias in spring. In addition, we will tell you the best varieties of the numerous species of this regal flower.

COMMON TYPES OF DAHALHINS FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL REGIONS

The timing of planting and preparation of dahlia tubers depend on their type. Most often, Russian gardeners choose the following:

Large-flowered. In height they grow up to 80 cm, and the diameter of the flowers of the newest varieties can reach 30 cm!

Decorative . These are large bushes up to 1 m high with numerous flowers up to 25 cm in diameter. This species is distinguished by the richest palette of colors and variety of forms.

Cactus . The tallest bushes - can grow up to 1.5 m. Flowers with a diameter of up to 20 cm are distinguished by the most bizarre shapes and unusual colors.

Pompoms . Plant height - 80 - 90 cm, diameter of flowers - up to 15 cm. Flowers of bright, saturated colors look like mesh balls. They look very beautiful and last a long time in a vase after cutting.

Semi-cactus . Tall, sprawling bushes (up to 1.2 m) are covered with holly, bright flowers, up to 18 cm in diameter and a variety of one-, two- and three-color colors.

Miniature . The most elegant dahlias, up to 40 cm high, are literally strewn with large flowers, up to 15 cm in diameter. They bloom earlier than others and do not crumble during the first winter frosts.

WHEN TO PLANT DAHALAHS

Planting time for dahlias depends on the region where you live. The main condition is that the earth should warm up well, because the plant is a tuberous plant.

In the Middle lane, North-West region, dahlias are planted in the third decade of May. If the spring turned out to be early and warm, then it can be a week earlier. However, when return frosts appear, a flower bed with dahlias should be covered with a non-woven covering material.

If you come to the dacha only on weekends, then it is better to move the planting date to June 25-27. After May 25, spring frosts usually stop.

In the Urals and Siberia, the spring is later and more humid. Therefore, dahlias are planted there in late June - early July. And it’s better to first germinate them in a pot, and plant the seedlings in a permanent place after July 10.

In the southern regions of the country, dahlias are usually planted in April, as the land there quickly dries up and loses moisture. Therefore, it is impossible to be late with the deadlines.

All varieties of dahlias that tolerate cold climates will grow well in the south. This is a versatile and very unpretentious flower.

HOW TO PLANT DAHALHINS FOR EARLY FLOWERING

If you bought tubers in March-April, you can germinate them in advance and get early lush blooms. To do this, fill some container (box or basin) with a moist substrate, consisting of purchased soil for flower seedlings, sand and sawdust in equal amounts.

Make drainage holes in the container to drain excess water and build some kind of drip tray.

Wet the substrate well and place the dahlia tubers in it, sprinkling them with a 10 cm layer of soil. Place the container in a warm place and cover with a transparent film on top.

Very soon the plants will grow. After the first shoots appear, move the box to the window. Water your plants regularly. At the end of May, transplant them into a flower bed.

This planting of germinated dahlias will ensure that they bloom 2 to 3 weeks earlier.

PREPARATION OF DAHALH TUBES FOR SPRING PLANTING

All gardeners know how to plant dahlias, but not everyone correctly understands how to prepare them for this operation.

Before planting, we recommend treating even healthy tubers in three different solutions, dropping them there sequentially and holding for 30 minutes.

First, treat the dahlias with a pink solution of potassium permanganate, then with Fitosporin M, and finally, dip them into the Zircon solution.

The first two preparations will disinfect the tubers from any bacteria and pathogens of fungal diseases. The third - will accelerate the process of germination of sprouts on the tuber.

Then place the tubers on a dry, clean cloth or paper and let dry. After that, you can start landing.

HOW TO PLANT DAHALAHS

Dahlias like quiet, sunny places with light shade during the midday hours, well protected from wind and drafts. But if the plants are exposed to the sun less than 6 hours a day, then they may not form buds.

Dahlias prefer loose, fertile soils with a neutral reaction. It is better to choose “native” soil from the planting pits and fill them with a soil mixture composed of a fertile layer, compost, sand and leafy soil.

Add phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, wood ash (1 bucket for 4 plants) and a glass of dolomite flour (in acidic soils) to each hole.

Dig planting holes with a depth equal to the diameter of the bulb plus 10 cm. Of these, 5 cm is a drainage layer of coarse sand or perlite, which is laid on the bottom of the hole.

Distances between plants depend on the species and variety. Low-growing dahlias are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, tall ones - 70 cm.

Mulch the flower bed well with sawdust or freshly cut grass. The mulch will retain moisture in the soil and discourage weed growth.

For more information on how to care for dahlias, when and how to dig them up and store them, see our aforementioned article "How to Grow Dahlias".

THE BEST DAHELHIN VARIETIES FROM OUR COLLECTION

Now that we have told you in detail when and how to plant dahlias, it remains to choose the most beautiful types and varieties. We can help you with this.

We offer you the best and most popular varieties of dahlias from our collection.

LARGEFLOWERS:

Latest innovations: Avignon, Sir Alf Ramsey, Arthur Humbley, Almond Joy, Big Brother.

Our collection: Vancouver, Flood Light, Sensation by Otto, Fleur, Spartacus.

DECORATIVE: Passionate, Mero Constellation, Gypsy Girl, Tartan, Cream Peach.

POMPON: Sunny boy, Lipoma.

CACTUS: Freequolet, Aloha, Silent Folly.

SEMI-CACTUS: Firebird, Favorite, Kennemer.

MINIATURE: Salvador, Pablo, Riviera.

You can buy all these dahlias from us right now. We have no doubt that they will bring you many pleasant moments and decorate your garden in an unusual way!

Growing dahlias from tubers is a fairly simple and affordable process for every grower, so even beginners do not have to worry, as can be seen in the video below. It provides simple and understandable information for everyone, so that anyone can please themselves and loved ones with beautiful lush flowers in the middle and end of summer, when other plants can no longer boast of such violent and abundant flowering.

planting and care in the open field, varieties of dahlias with photos and names

Dahlias (Dahlia) are directly related to the Asteraceae family. Such a plant is one of the most spectacular and long-flowering flowers that are grown in the garden. Dahlias have a fairly wide range of colors, and flowers can also have a wide variety of shapes. Their flowering is quite long, which lasts from mid-summer until the first autumn frosts, and this is the most important advantage of dahlias. They came to European countries only at the end of the 18th century from Mexico. The dahlia was named that way only in 1803 by the botanist K. Wildenau. He named this flower in honor of the St. Petersburg academician I. Georgi, who was a famous ethnographer, botanist and geographer. There are approximately 13 species of dahlias, but there are about 15 thousand varieties.

Dahlia planting, cultivation, care, plant species


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Main varieties with photo

The classification of these plants is related to the structure, as well as the shape of the flower itself. At the moment, there are 12 classes of dahlias. However, gradually new classes appear and this is due to the formation of new varieties. Below are the varieties that are most popular:

Simple

They have one row of petals, the diameter of the flowers is 10 centimeters. The height of the bush, as a rule, does not exceed 45-60 centimeters. The main varieties are Princess Marie Jose in pink, Yellow Hammer in yellow, and Orangeade in orange-red.

Anemone

Has 1 or more rows of marginal petals. In the middle they are tubular, elongated. The diameter of the inflorescences does not exceed 10 centimeters, and the height of the bush can be equal to 60–90 centimeters. The main varieties are purplish yellow Lucy, bronze Vera Higgins and red Comet.

Collared

The flowers are about 10 cm in diameter and the bush can reach a height of 75–120 cm. There is 1 marginal outer row of petals, directly on its top there is another 1 row of twisted and short petals of a different color, which looks like a collar. The main varieties are golden with scarlet La Gioconda, Chimborazo cream with reddish, Claire de Luna cream with yellowish.

Peony

Flowers 12–15 cm in diameter. Edge flat petals are arranged in 2 or more rows, and tubular petals are located in the central part. The height of the bush is 75-120 centimeters. The main varieties are crimson red Symphonia and lilac Fascination.

Ornamental

The diameter of double flowers varies from 8 to 25 centimeters, and the height of the bush can reach 60 centimeters. The main varieties are small orange colored David Howard, large yellow Thames Valley, and very large purple Jocondo.

Globular

Round, rarely slightly flattened double flowers in diameter can reach 8–15 centimeters. The height of the bush is 90-120 centimeters. The main varieties are peach red Crichton Honey, reddish Doreen Hayes and yellow Esmonde.

Pompoms

The globular flowers are 5 cm or more in diameter. Rolled marginal petals have a rounded or blunt end. The height of the bush is 90-120 centimeters. The main varieties are lavender Hallmark, light purple Willo's Violet and pinkish Noreen.

Cactus

The diameter of double flowers can be 8–25 centimeters or even more, and the height of the bush is from 90 to 150 centimeters. The marginal petals are narrow, pointed and folded. Main cultivars: fairly large reddish Visit, very large pink Danny, miniature yellow Pirouette, small red Doris Day.

Semi-cactus

The diameter of double flowers varies from 8 to 25 centimeters, and the bush can reach a height of 90 to 150 centimeters. The marginal petals are folded in the direction from the middle to the tips. The main varieties are very small Yellow Mood yellow, small White Swallow white, fairly large yellow Nantenan and medium orange Autumn Fire.

Nymphaeous

Outwardly double flowers are similar to water lilies, they have a regular shape and are distinguished by their grace. Their diameter can vary from 7 to 20 centimeters, and the height of the bush reaches 70-130 centimeters. Main cultivars: light pink Gerry Hock, pure white Genette and lilac Brushstrokes.

Mixed

This includes those varieties that are not similar to those described above.

However, such flowers not only have a variety of flower shapes, they also have a very wide palette of colors. So, you can even meet a black dahlia, or rather a black and red color. In such a plant, many special pigments have accumulated - anthocyanins. However, all breeders in the world strive to create a blue dahlia. However, unfortunately, they have not succeeded yet, but the hope of seeing this miracle someday remains.

Garden and garden. Dahlias


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How to grow dahlias

Growing dahlias is quite easy, but they require special care, which is quite labor intensive. So, in the autumn, it will be necessary to dig up the tubers, as well as provide them with the most comfortable storage. However, in case you do not want to make a lot of effort to grow such flowers, then seeds can be used for planting. Annuals also have a very spectacular appearance, and there is a fairly large selection of different varieties: abundantly blooming non-double flowers of Coltness Hybrids of various colors, the height of the bush is not more than 50 centimeters; Redskin has bronze foliage; Rigoletto has small double flowers; early flowering Figaro and others. Acquired seeds are recommended to be sown in open soil only in the second half of May, but in this case they can be seen blooming only at the end of summer. In order to bring closer the moment of flowering of annual dahlias, it is recommended to grow them through seedlings.

To begin with, the seeds must be germinated. To do this, you will need a plastic container or a greenhouse, which should be filled with calcined sand. So, dahlia seeds are distributed over the surface, and a thin layer of sand is poured over them, everything is thoroughly moistened from a spray bottle and covered with a film on top. Germination will take about 10 days, while the temperature should be at least 25–27 degrees. After that, the appeared sprouts dive into individual containers. The earth mixture must necessarily absorb water well and be loose. Such soil can be purchased at the store or prepared independently by combining leafy soil, sand and peat, taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Before picking for three days, the soil mixture must be processed, for this it is shed with a solution of potassium permanganate, which must be hot (about 70 degrees) and have a dark pink color. Dive seedlings need to be watered as the soil dries out. Seedlings can be transplanted into open soil in mid-May.

Planting dahlias

Choosing a site

Before planting dahlias directly, you need to choose the most suitable place for them. Such a plant reacts extremely negatively to a draft. However, it can grow and develop normally only in a sunny and ventilated area, which, moreover, will be protected from gusts of wind. Suitable soil should be well-drained, well-drained and high in nutrients. The acidity of the soil for such a plant is not too important, but it is best if it is neutral or slightly acidic. In too acidic soil, the pH of which is 5-4, it is recommended to add slaked lime. And in the case when the pH exceeds 8.5, peat is introduced into the ground.

When digging in the autumn, compost can be added to the ground, as well as humus at the rate of 3–5 kilograms per 1 square meter. In the spring, before planting dahlias, a small amount of wood ash should be evenly distributed over the surface of the soil area, as well as mature compost (only not deciduous), then everything should be harrowed with a rake. In order for the plants to get sick less and not degenerate, experienced flower growers advise planting them on a new site every year. At the same time, the place where dahlias grew should take a break from these flowers for at least 3 years. Also, for planting these plants, it is not recommended to use the soil on which asters or flowers susceptible to fungal diseases were previously grown.

How to prepare tubers for planting

Tubers should be prepared in April. So, they need to remove dried roots, as well as damaged areas. Then it is necessary to carry out the processing of the places of cuts with brilliant green. After that, the prepared tubers should be planted in a pot filled with fertile soil or peat. They need to be planted so that the upper part rises above the surface of the substrate by 2-3 centimeters. For a couple of weeks, the container should be placed in a well-lit and warm (at least 18 degrees) place. After the buds appear, it is necessary to divide the tubers into parts. At the same time, it is worth remembering that on each delenka there should be a kidney with a root collar. It happens that 5 divisions come out of 1 tuber. Delenki need to be planted again and raised for some more time. After that, their side shoots are cut off, which have a height of at least 10 centimeters, and planted in open ground. Those shoots that have been cut should be planted in the substrate as cuttings and removed in a dark place. Give them good watering. Rooted cuttings can be transplanted into open ground. These procedures will help to quickly propagate dahlias, as well as prevent their degeneration. If there is no need, the division of tubers can be omitted.

Planting dahlias outdoors

Planting dahlias outdoors is possible only after the weather has warmed up and the soil has warmed up sufficiently. Most often this time falls on the last days of May and the first of June. The size of the hole should exceed the size of the tuber itself, together with the root system, exactly 3 times (40X40X40). So, after the tuber is in the hole, about 5–7 centimeters should remain. At the bottom of the prepared hole, make a layer of rotted manure or compost, pour a layer of soil on top so as not to burn the root system. Then place the sprouted tuber in the hole and sprinkle it with the necessary amount of earth, but so that a few centimeters of the plant stem are above the soil surface. In the case when tall dahlias are planted, a reliable support is immediately established near them. When the plant is planted, it must be well watered with cold water, and the soil surface should be sprinkled with mulch, consisting of sawdust or small tree bark, which must be mixed with compost or peat. The layer of mulch should be about 5 centimeters.

Caring for dahlias

How to water properly

A layer of mulch on the surface of the soil will protect against slugs and excessive rapid drying of the soil, and will also help eliminate the need for weeding and loosening the soil. Watering should be plentiful 1 or 2 times in 7 days (not on rainy days), however, make sure that the soil is not waterlogged, because in this case, rot can appear on the root system quite quickly. To reduce the amount of watering on hot days, you need to spud dahlias. Before watering the plant, it is necessary to rake off the earth with which it is covered. Then water and spud the dahlia again.

Top dressing

During the growing season, these flowers need top dressing 2 times a month, while it is necessary to use both mineral and organic fertilizers, and they need to be applied to the soil alternately. So, as organic fertilizers, you can use an infusion of mullein (1:10) or bird droppings (1:20), as well as ammonium nitrate, while 15 grams is taken per 1 square meter. When the first buds appear, they are fed with superphosphate and potash fertilizers, while 30 g of the substance is taken per 10 liters of water (the amount is calculated for feeding 8 plants).

Support

Since the stem of such a flower is hollow, it is quite fragile and can be damaged during bad weather. In this regard, it must be tied to a reliable support. In the event that the stem is still broken, it is recommended to try to put a splint. To do this, you need to take a strong twig and attach it to the damaged area, fix it. Support the stem so that it does not lean. If this is done in a timely manner and the dahlia is properly cared for, then beautiful flowers can bloom even on a damaged stem.

Pruning

If you want bigger and more showy flowers, pruning is recommended. So, you need to leave only 3 stems. Otherwise, the flowers will be small and not very showy. On each of the peduncles, you need to remove the extra buds, leaving 1 or 2. Flowers that have begun to fade must be cut off, because they take a lot of strength from the plant. Throughout the season, in tall varieties, it is recommended to cut off the growing side shoots, which can be used as cuttings. In low-growing varieties (for example: cactus, pompon), as well as in those bushes that grow singly, side shoots can be left if desired.

Pests

Dahlia stems can harbor slugs and buds can harbor earwigs. If pests have been noticed, then it is necessary to treat with a decoction of celandine or wormwood once every 7 days, and it is better to do this in the evening. On hot days, it is necessary to treat with insecticidal preparations from aphids, caterpillars, thrips, and ticks. Aphids settle on this flower most often. In order to get rid of it, you can treat the bushes with soapy water.

Harvesting dahlia tubers

Tubers should be dug up after the first frost. All leaves and shoulder straps are cut off from them, and the shoots are shortened to 5-10 centimeters. There are gardeners who cut the stems a few days before harvesting the tubers. But if liquid gets on the cuts, then the base of the stem may begin to rot. In this regard, after cutting, the plants must be covered with aluminum foil. It should be remembered that tubers have very fragile necks, and therefore their experts advise starting digging in the morning in dry sunny weather. By evening, the neck will have time to dry and become stronger. And it is much easier to remove the remaining soil from dried tubers.

Tubers must be properly dug up. Dig the dahlia from 4 sides, while you need to retreat 30 centimeters from the stem. This will allow you to cut long roots. Then the pitchfork must be carefully brought under the earthen clod and pushed to the surface. Remove the soil and lay out the tubers to dry. The dug out tubers should be washed with running water (from a hose) from the remnants of the soil, which may contain pathogens. They need to be removed on time, because if warming comes in the fall, the dormant buds can wake up, and this can kill them.

How to store dahlias in winter

Store well-dried tubers to prevent rot. But they should not be overdried, because in the spring they will give weak sprouts. All mechanical damage must be cut off, and these places should be treated with charcoal. To preserve the integrity of the root collars, they are sprinkled with chalk or ash.

Tubers should be stored in a ventilated area, with humidity between 60 and 70 percent and temperature between 3 and 5 degrees. You can use a dry basement, but if vegetables are stored there, this will cause higher air humidity, which will increase the risk of rot and fungal diseases. It is recommended to put the tubers in a box, on the bottom of which a layer of peat is poured, and on top they need to be covered with it. Sand or sawdust of coniferous species is also suitable for these purposes. When the tubers dry out and wither, it is recommended to moisten the substrate quite a bit. In the absence of ventilation, it will be necessary to turn on the fan 3 times in 7 days for 30 minutes.

Planting material should be stored in the apartment in the coldest place. As a rule, they are placed in a box and placed next to the balcony. Tubers can be placed in polyethylene bags and filled with sand, sawdust or dried peat, and then tied well. You can wrap each tuber with a newspaper sheet and put them in a plastic bag.

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