Dahlias are among my favorite summer efflorescence — the arresting diversity of efflorescence build and color never give way to dumbfound me . Every yr , I grow more than a XII different dahlia varieties , and each fall , I dig up the works and overwinter them in the garage .
formally talk , the fleshy cloak-and-dagger tooth root of the Dahlia pinnata are not genuine electric light , but rather tuberous antecedent . Regardless of their proper botanical family , dahlia are n’t winter - hardy here in westerly Pennsylvania , and because of that , the roots must be pulled out of the garden each gloaming and put in storage until they ’re quick to be replant the following bounce .
Like many projects in the garden , there are a XII different direction to complete this task . Some gardeners allow the root to sit in the ground for a few weeks after the cover have been subjected to a few hard frosts . This further the tubers to sprout eyes , making it easier to separate them before tamp down the tubers up for the winter . However , I find that splitting the Tuber before packing them up make believe them more prone to developing decomposition in storage . rather , I use a unlike proficiency to comprehend and store my dahlia for the wintertime .
I choose a solar day when the grime is decent dry and the weather is sunny , and I lift the tuber by using a pitchfork to lightly lever them out of the dirt . I wait until after the summit have been frosted to dispatch this task . Once the tubers are out of the reason , I shorten off the radical and apply my hands to lightly brush off the spare soil . The tubers are then spread out on a part of flattened composition board or old window screens in the service department . I pronounce them well by write the variety name right on the genus Tuber with a permanent marker .
The tubers are will to sit down for two daytime or three day before I apply a soft blusher thicket to remove any continue soil . Then , I take the root in layers of very slightly damp peat moss or vermiculite in an unwaxed composition board box . It ’s important to check that the tubers do not touch each other while in depot to prevent any rot from spreading .
I shut the box , but do n’t tape it shut out , and put in it in a cool place like the cellar or the garage . If you want , you’re able to check the Tuber for sign of rot every month or two during the winter and remove any that are piano or smelly . This is a step I often forget , but I ’ve never had a problem with the roots rotting in store .
My dahlia will be ready to be planted back alfresco next spring after the danger of frost has perish . At that prison term , dividing them will be easy , as each viable tuber division will have sprouted or vain eyes that search much like the eye of a murphy . I use a clean , sharp-worded knife to disregard the tubers aside , being certain each surgical incision has at least two viable center . The genus Tuber are found with the eyes an column inch or two beneath the grunge surface .
