Dig up dahlia tubers for planting next year

Dahlias are beautiful, circular flowers that rebloom in prolific color from first bloom until frost. These vigorous growers come back year after year in warmer regions, perennially. In zone 5b, however, dahlias aren’t hardy to the cold winter. This means that you have to re-buy tubers every year, unless you dig up and reuse the roots of the flower.

Wait for a day after a rain when the ground is more workable, and try to dig up the roots of the flowers by pulling on the base of the flower stalks. The tubers should still be intact if you are gentle, and by storing them in a cool and relatively dry environment, they’ll overwinter for next year’s planting.

According to Dahlia.org, “One should store the tubers at a nearly constant, cool temperature. Most growers seem to recommend a range of 40 to 45 degrees. Freezing temperatures ruin tubers, and higher temperatures encourage microorganisms and fungus to destroy them. Also, warm temperatures prompt tubers to develop sprouts and feeder roots too soon. One prominent grower uses a discarded refrigerator, not plugged in, with a plastic gallon container of ice changed every few weeks to provide cooling and humidity.

One should inspect tubers monthly during the winter. Throw away any tubers that show signs of rotting. By checking frequently, one can throw away rotting tubers before the rot spreads to otherwise healthy tubers. Some growers say that if one stores tubers so that they do not touch (as one could in a wood container but not in plastic bags), then rot will not spread. A rotting tuber releases a gas that hastens the developing of eyes and sprouts. A rotted tuber can therefore be useful for tubers that are very late to develop. Anyone who uses a rotted tuber for this purpose should check the bag frequently to ensure that the rot does not spread to the healthy, late tubers.”