Oct 16
Dahlias are tender perennials, hardy only to Zones 9 to 11, and must be dug out of the ground and stored over the winter. Here’s how to overwinter dahlias:
- Allow a week for the tubers to adjust to dormancy after the first frost has blackened their foliage. Cut them back to within 6 inches of the ground.
- Gently lift tubers from the ground using a spade.
- Clean the soil off the tubers, and allow them to dry for a day. They can be left in the sun but must not be allowed to freeze.
- After drying, shorten old stems to about an inch.
- Place the roots in crates or boxes, and cover with slightly moistened sand, peat moss, or sawdust to keep them from drying out. Store in a cool but frost-free place, such as a garage or unheated basement (40° F to 50° F is ideal).
November 5th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
This will not necessarily work! I did this last summer and lost every single tuber to either rot or bugs. I’m looking for something that addresses these problems without using chemicals like Sevin, which is what people typically use to store dahlias
November 14th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Hello Beth, Yes, dahlia tubers can rot and attract bugs if the area where storing is damp. It is important to store in a loose, sandy soil medium if conditions cause dampness. Also, an effective bug control is The Happy Gardener’s organic Foliar Feed that can be applied monthly during storing time to eliminate pests. Just spray on tubers and soil- simple!