How to properly store dahlias in winter. How to properly store dahlia tubers in winter. How to store dahlia tubers at home - why and how to label the roots

The dahlia is a favorite of many gardeners; its luxurious flowers of different shapes and shades can decorate any area. Despite the fact that the plant comes from South America, preserving dahlias for the winter is not difficult if you create the right conditions.

In order for dahlias to bloom in the new season, it is important to give the tubers a warm winter. They cannot be left in the soil, because... after the first severe cold, the plants will turn black and die.

In August, when dahlias bloom wildly, you need to stop fertilizing, ensuring the plants have peace. Just at this time, the formation of tubers and their storage of nutrients begins.

Caring for dahlias in the fall - preparing for winter

Now let's figure out how to prepare dahlias for winter. In early September, the bushes need to be quite high spud(approximately to a height of 8-12 cm). This will make them more resistant to wind and cover the base of the trunk, which means the tubers will grow strong. In general, the procedure can be carried out at the end of summer.

Watering dahlias should be done in moderation so that excess moisture does not lead to infection. Weak stems without buds, lower leaves, and drying flowers should be cut off to speed up the formation of new buds.

When to dig up dahlias?

In the middle zone and Moscow region, dahlias are dug up in mid-late October, depending on the weather. It’s good if, by the time of digging, the hilled tubers have already withstood several mild frosts - this will harden them and help them survive wintering at home without any problems.

So, how to preserve dahlias in winter? First of all, cut off all the stems with pruning shears, leaving stumps 10-15 cm high. If you cut the stems lower, there is a danger of infection entering the tubers. Also, if the height of the “hemp” is insufficient, water may flow into the tubers, and they will simply begin to rot.

Then carefully unmould the bush and dig it with a pitchfork so that the soil around it becomes loose. It is also better to lift dahlias with a pitchfork, trying not to pull the stems. If the weather permits, the dug up tubers can be left to dry in the garden bed for several hours, after which the soil must be shaken off and the tubers themselves carefully inspected.

Discard weak and diseased tubers, and rinse strong ones thoroughly with water. Trim long roots with scissors

It is better to divide the tubers strictly before planting, otherwise they will lose a lot of moisture over the winter.

Processing dahlia tubers before storing them in winter

To prevent diseases, treat washed dahlia tubers with a fungicide, for example Fitosporin. Prepare the solution according to the instructions and soak the tubers in it for about an hour. Instead of fungicides, you can also use a pink solution of potassium permanganate. Soak the tubers in it for about 30 minutes.

Then label the tubers with variety name tags. If the variety is unknown, you can focus on the size of the bush, the shape or color of the flowers.

The next step in preparing dahlias for winter is drying the tubers. To do this, you need to choose a dark, cool place and place the bushes upside down so that the moisture accumulated in the stems flows out and the tubers do not subsequently rot.

How to store dahlias in winter at home

Dried dahlia tubers are placed tightly in plastic buckets or boxes and covered with dry sand or sawdust, leaving the tops of the stems with tags uncovered. To prevent sand from spilling out of the box, you can lay a sugar bag on the bottom, and then lay out a layer of newspapers.

Gardeners have slightly different opinions on how to preserve dahlia tubers: some use wet sand instead of dry sand. Everything here is individual, and if the tubers were dug up in dry weather and then not soaked in a fungicide solution, then it is really better to moisten the sand or sawdust.

There are several more ways to store dahlia tubers in winter:

• dip the tubers in paraffin melted in a water bath, place in boxes and store at a temperature of 12-14°C;
• place the tubers in a box on a layer of peat, sprinkle it on top and store at a temperature of 3-5°C;
• Place the tubers in a cardboard box, placing them in paper or wrapping them in plastic bags.

How to save dahlias until spring? Choosing a storage location

The optimal temperature for storing dahlias in winter is 3-6°C, humidity - 60-70%. At lower temperatures, the tubers will freeze; at higher temperatures, they will begin to germinate. There are several places where plants will feel comfortable until spring.

Cellars and basements. They are characterized by high humidity and low temperature. The tubers will not suffer from drying out and will not germinate prematurely. This is the best place to store dahlias!

Underground. Here the humidity is lower than in the basement, and the temperature may be slightly higher; air stagnation often occurs. Therefore, it is recommended to turn on the fan in the room several times a week.

Fridge. A suitable place for a small number of dahlias. Place the tubers in a perforated bag and cover with sawdust. Check regularly to ensure there is no rotting. The bottom or middle shelf, as well as a compartment for vegetables, are suitable for storage.

Glazed balcony. Choose the darkest place and place a box of tubers in it. If the temperature starts to drop, cover the box with old blankets or clothing. In cold weather, it is better to temporarily move the tubers indoors.

Dahlias are one of those flowers that can be found in almost any flower bed. But, if in warm climates dahlia tubers can be left in the soil for the winter, then residents of temperate and northern climates are recommended to dig them up annually and store them in a basement, cellar or other room with a suitable microclimate.

Many gardeners are interested in exactly how to store dahlias in winter, as well as the best time to dig up and prepare tubers for wintering. We will try to answer these questions in today’s article.

How to store dahlias in winter

The principles for storing dahlia tubers are in many ways similar to the rules for storing fresh vegetables in a basement or cellar. There are quite a lot of danger factors: planting material must be protected from rot, rodents and freezing. Also, overdrying and premature germination of tubers should not be allowed. To avoid all these difficulties, you need not only to choose a suitable room for planting planting material, but also to correctly collect the flower rhizomes and prepare them for winter.

Note: Experienced gardeners recommend not putting the tubers into the cellar immediately after removing them from the soil. First you need to clean them of any remaining soil, and then soak them for 30 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate. This will help disinfect planting material and protect it from pathogenic microorganisms. Naturally, after soaking, the rhizomes must be dried and only then lowered into the cellar.

The room in which the flower will be located should be moderately humid and with a stable temperature. This way you will be sure that the rhizomes will not be damaged by rot or fungi, which develop precisely at high air humidity.

The remaining rules for storing dahlias depend on the capabilities of the owner and the area of ​​the room. For example, if there is enough space in the cellar, the tubers can be placed in it undivided, arranged in dry boxes or racks. You can also lay them on a wooden floor in one layer. If indoor space is limited, you will have to place planting material in containers in several layers. In this case, each layer is sprinkled with dry sawdust or sand for additional protection from moisture. When storing in boxes, it makes sense to wrap each copy in soft paper. However, it is not recommended to use ordinary newspapers for this purpose, since printing ink can cause irreparable damage to the planting material (Figure 1).

Among other rules for storing dahlias, it is worth highlighting:

1. Every month, planting material is carefully inspected. If signs of rot were noticed on any tuber, such a specimen must be removed so that it does not affect the rest. In some cases, if the area of ​​rot is small, you can simply cut it out and treat the cut area with potassium permanganate or any other disinfectant.
2. Tubers that have been pruned must be stored separately from the rest, and the sand or sawdust with which the planting material was sprinkled must be replaced with fresh ones.
3. The quality of storage largely depends on ventilation, since musty air leads to rapid deterioration of rhizomes. In addition, in such conditions, diseases spread much faster, so it is better to take care of good basement ventilation in advance.
4. During the inspection process, be sure to pay attention to the density of the tubers. If they begin to wilt or become lethargic, lightly moisten them with room temperature water using a spray bottle. However, it is also impossible to moisten the planting material too much, as this can lead to the formation of rot.

It often happens that in a too warm cellar, dahlias begin to germinate prematurely. If you notice this, you will have to remove the tubers from storage and move them to a bright place, or immediately plant them in containers with a nutrient substrate. This will help avoid the formation of too weak and elongated sprouts, which invariably appear with a lack of sunlight.

How to dig up and store dahlias for the winter

A key role in the successful storage of dahlias is played by their correct and timely removal from the soil. This procedure is carried out with the arrival of the first autumn frosts, when the leaves of the flowers begin to die (Figure 2).

Note: It is strongly not recommended to delay the moment of digging. The fact is that severe frosts can cause rotting of the stems and leaves, and the rot will spread to the roots, and the planting material will be spoiled.

The technique for digging up dahlia tubers is simple, but still has certain features:

1. It is better to use tubers from the healthiest and most beautiful bushes as planting material for the next season. Rhizomes obtained from weakened plants may simply not take root in the spring.
2. Before digging, the stems are cut or broken off. Without this procedure, there is a high risk of damage to the rhizome.
3. When trimming the stems, it is recommended to leave a small stump, no more than 20 cm in length. This will make it much more convenient for you to transfer the tubers, and the risk of accidental damage to the root collar will be minimized.
4. Under no circumstances should the bush be pulled out. It needs to be carefully dug up with a shovel. If in the process you accidentally damaged part of the rhizome, do not be upset: during storage you will partially trim the tubers, so minor mechanical damage will not harm them.

After the planting material is removed from the ground, you can begin preparing it for storage. First of all, you need to clean the rhizomes from soil residues and rinse thoroughly with water. To better store the material, all excess shoots can be trimmed with sharp scissors. In addition, it is advisable to shorten the rhizomes by about 15 cm. Next, it is recommended to treat them with a solution of any fungicide or a strong solution of potassium permanganate to protect the tubers from fungi, rot and pathogenic microorganisms. After this procedure, the rhizomes must be dried and divided into parts so that each of them contains buds. They are the ones who will produce young shoots with the arrival of spring.

How to store dahlia tubers in winter at home

At home, in the absence of a cool, ventilated cellar or basement, storing dahlias is difficult, but it is quite possible if certain rules are followed. Most often, prepared and dried planting material is placed in buckets or boxes and covered with dry sawdust or sand. In this case, part of the stem should be on the surface (Figure 3).

Note: Gardeners do not have a consensus on the sand that should be used to fill the rhizomes. Some believe that it must be dry to prevent rot, while others are of the opinion that planting material remains viable much better in moistened sand. In fact, a lot depends on the conditions of digging and preparation of planting material. For example, if you removed dahlias from the ground in dry weather, it is really better to moisten the sand.

There are many ways to store dahlia tubers at home:

1. Each rhizome should be dipped in paraffin melted in a water bath, wait until the protective layer hardens and put the tubers in boxes. When using this method, the optimal storage temperature should be +12+14 degrees.
2. In a cool room with a temperature of +3+5 degrees, tubers can be stored in wooden boxes. A layer of dry peat is poured onto the bottom of the container, then the tubers are laid and sprinkled with peat again.
3. You can also wrap each rhizome in soft paper or plastic film, place it in a cardboard box and transfer it to a cool room.

If there are only a few rhizomes, they can be lightly sprinkled with ash, wrapped in film and placed in the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator. In a similar way, you can put flower rhizomes in boxes on the balcony, but in this case it should be taken into account that they will have to be moved to a warmer room with the arrival of severe cold weather.

At what temperature should dahlias be stored in winter?

A cellar or basement is considered an ideal place to store dahlia tubers. It is important that the room maintains optimal humidity and temperature conditions.

The best option would be an underground storage facility that maintains a constant temperature of about +1+7 degrees with a humidity of at least 80%. In such a microclimate, the planting material will not dry out, but it will not sprout premature shoots.

A dry cellar can also be considered a completely acceptable option. If the temperature does not go beyond +1+10 degrees, and the humidity is about 50-80%, the planting material will also be well preserved. But in this case, you should be prepared for the fact that the tubers will have to be periodically sprayed with water to increase humidity.

The only room that is absolutely not suitable for storing dahlias is a warm and humid cellar. In such conditions, the tubers will either begin to germinate prematurely or rot before the new season begins.

Conditions for storing dahlias in a basement or cellar in winter

Despite the fact that dahlias are considered very tenacious plants, certain conditions must still be observed when storing them in winter. Only in this case will the planting material remain of high quality and viable (Figure 4).

The main conditions for successful storage are:

1. Optimal temperature and humidity: the temperature in the storage should be within +7+10 degrees. If the temperature drops, the tubers may freeze, but if the temperature rises, they will begin to germinate. It is advisable to maintain humidity at 70-80%. This way the rhizomes will not begin to rot or dry out.
2. Location: boxes or other containers containing rhizomes should not be placed next to heating devices or in a draft.
3. Harvest check: Every month, planting material is inspected and all specimens with signs of rot or mechanical damage are removed. If this is not done, the affected roots can cause damage to the rest.

Separately, we should dwell on the methods of storing rhizomes in the cellar. The simplest, most accessible and effective method is to dip the planting material in liquid clay. A layer of hardened clay protects the tubers from drying out, rotting or damage by rodents. To further protect the rhizomes from diseases, a fungicide can be added to the clay solution. After the protective layer has dried, the tubers treated in this way are simply placed in a container and lowered into the cellar. With the arrival of spring, the clay layer can simply be broken or soaked in water.

If your cellar maintains stable temperature and humidity, you can wrap the rhizomes in plastic wrap. Dahlias prepared in this way do not dry out and practically do not rot, since they are isolated from the environment and from each other by a thin layer of film. However, it should be borne in mind that this method is only suitable for basements with a stable temperature. If it fluctuates, condensation will form under the film and the planting material will rot very quickly.

Note: Experienced gardeners recommend wrapping only tubers of a certain variety in one piece of film. This will make it easier for you to sort planting material in the spring.

Storing rhizomes in paraffin is considered no less effective. It is melted in a water bath and, while the paraffin is liquid, the tubers are immersed in it one by one, wait until the protective layer dries and put the planting material in boxes. In a cool and moderately humid cellar, you can simply store dahlias in wooden boxes or on racks, laying them out in one layer. However, in this case, the crop will have to be regularly inspected in order to remove damaged specimens in a timely manner.

The storage of dahlia tubers in winter is shown in more detail in the video.

Most gardeners who grow these beautiful perennial flowers in their gardens have to store dahlias at home in winter. However, this doesn't always end well. Home conditions are far from ideal, so gardeners have to resort to various tricks to ensure that the tubers do not die and remain viable.

Rules for digging up tubers for storage

Dahlias cannot be dug up just like that, they must ripen. The longer they stay in the ground, the better. And the signal to start harvesting is the first serious frost.

After this you can no longer put it off. Leaves and stems affected by frost will begin to rot intensively, and there is a high probability that the rot will spread to the tubers. If, after freezing, fairly long warm weather sets in, the growth buds at the root collar may wake up and begin to grow again, which is completely unnecessary.

Important! In order not to awaken dormant growth buds, dahlias are not cut before the first frost.

Before harvesting, all dahlias are cut off, leaving only a stem 0.3–0.4 m long. Despite the fact that the dahlia tubers are shallow, they cannot be pulled out by the stem. You need to carefully pry the bush with a shovel or pitchfork from below and turn it out onto the surface of the ground. After this, the tubers need to be shaken off the ground, trying not to touch the root collar.

Using a knife or pruning shears, the root tubers are cleared of roots, small nodules, and rotten shoots. It is necessary to leave only fully formed tubers attached to the root collar. After cleaning, you should completely cut off all remnants of the trunk and divide the rhizomes, making sure that each tuber has formed buds. Hard tubers do not need to be separated if the buds on them are underdeveloped.

In wet weather, a lot of sticky dirt remains on the tubers. It can be washed off with water, and then the rhizomes can be dried by placing them tubers up under a canopy, on the veranda or in the attic of the house.

Important! Before storing the tubers, it is advisable to spray them with a solution of potassium permanganate, or better yet, dilute it in a bucket until it turns red and keep the tubers there for half an hour. This will disinfect them.

You can also use a fungicide solution for this.

How to preserve dahlias in an apartment until spring

Freezing temperatures are guaranteed to destroy dahlia tubers. If your dacha does not have a good basement that maintains a constant above-zero temperature, you will have to store dahlias at home.

In boxes

The most common way to store dahlias in winter is to keep them in old parcel or plastic grocery boxes, lined with old newspapers. It is best to keep dahlia root tubers at a low temperature, so choose the coolest place for storage: a glazed balcony, a stairwell, a storage room under a window, etc.

When stored on the balcony, there is a high chance of the roots freezing, so they need to be stored in special heated boxes.

With sawdust

Using sawdust, you can stabilize the temperature in the box, and at the same time protect the tubers from light. Large softwood sawdust and shavings are well suited for storage.

It is undesirable to use small sawdust, since they are more hygroscopic and will draw moisture from the roots.

With sand

Dahlia tubers are also stored well in containers with sand. To do this, the rhizomes are placed in a box and covered with coarse-grained, well-dried river sand. The top of the container is covered with burlap.

The good thing about this method is that it makes it easy to monitor the condition of the roots visually, but it is problematic to use in a city apartment.

In a refrigerator

To store dahlia tubers in your apartment in winter, you can use a regular refrigerator. If the number of root tubers is small, they can be placed in a plastic bag with holes filled with sawdust, wrapped in newspaper and stored in the vegetable compartment. You can simply wrap each tuber in newspaper and put it in the bottom of the refrigerator.

Waxing of tubers

To store dahlias in an apartment in winter, a method such as waxing can be used. To do this, use regular candle paraffin, melting it in a steam bath. Dry disinfected tubers are carefully dipped in liquid paraffin and immediately removed. When paraffin hardens in air, it forms a dense crust. After waxing, the tubers are placed in boxes and stored in a cool place.

Before planting, the paraffin must be carefully removed by wiping the roots with a rag. The disadvantage of this method is that after planting, the root tuber of paraffin storage wakes up much later, so this method is recommended to be used only for early varieties.

Vermiculite

This substance retains moisture well, so the roots do not dry out during storage. Dahlia tubers are placed in a box in layers, sprinkled with vermiculite. Then the container is covered with a piece of film on top and put away in a cool place. It is preferable to use coarse vermiculite.

Important! When the storage temperature increases, vermiculite can provoke germination of tubers.

Moss

Storing dahlia tubers in moss has both positive and negative reviews. Some believe that this is the best storage method, others say that dry moss dries out the root tubers, and wet moss leads to rotting. In any case, storing in this way is possible, and it has its fans.

Polyethylene

A relatively new method that became available after the advent of cling film. Its essence is that each tuber is wrapped in a layer of thin plastic film, thus preserving its natural state at the time of digging.

This method has a number of advantages:

• Easy visual monitoring of the condition of tubers.
• Take up little space when stored.
• Bacteria do not develop under the film.
• The tubers do not touch each other.
• Individual packaging is easy to label.

After treatment with fungicides or a disinfectant composition, each tuber is wrapped in a layer of cling film. After this, they are stored at a temperature of +3...+6°C. For storing dahlias in winter at home, this method can be called ideal if you have space in the refrigerator.

Clay shell

A fairly reliable way to store dahlia root tubers in winter is to dip them in clay mash and then dry them. In such a clay shell, the roots are well stored, retain their natural moisture and practically do not rot.

To prepare a clay mash you need to take water, clay and any fungicide. The consistency of the composition should resemble thick sour cream. Each root tuber is dipped into it in turn, and then dried in air. Thus, a fairly strong protective shell is formed on top, which not only retains natural moisture, but also has antibacterial properties.

After drying, the roots are put into boxes and placed in storage areas. The clay shell must be removed in the spring, immediately before planting.

Optimal conditions for preserving tubers

The optimal temperature for storage is +3..+5°C and humidity 75–80%. Of course, in the basement of a house or cellar the indicators approximately correspond to the necessary ones, but in a city apartment such conditions do not exist in winter. Therefore, when storing dahlia tubers in an apartment, simply choose a cooler place: near a balcony door, on a window, next to cold water pipes. Many people simply store planting material in the refrigerator.

Shelf life

A well-ripened dahlia tuber can live 3–4 years. However, such a shelf life is very rare. In order for the root to remain viable after several years, its storage conditions must be close to ideal throughout the entire period. Usually, the roots are stored for one winter, dug up around the beginning of October and planted in mid-May.

Conclusion

Storing dahlias at home in winter is quite difficult, but possible. The main thing is to create the necessary conditions for this, perhaps sacrificing some of your amenities or apartment space for this. In this case, the saying is absolutely true: “Beauty requires sacrifice,” this is true.

However, the beauty of blooming dahlias will convince any skeptic that these sacrifices were not in vain.

Many people try to preserve the ripened harvest of tubers until spring. In order not to encounter difficulties and avoid standard mistakes, it is important to know how to properly store dahlias in winter. We offer time-tested methods for storing the root tubers of this flower.

When and how to properly dig up dahlias for storage

On many forums about novice summer residents, various questions are often asked about the rules for storing tubers. Let's give one quote: “I bought dahlias in February, how to store them?” To get flowers blooming as early as possible, they start training early - in February-March. And digging and storing tubers is usually done in regions with rather harsh and unpredictable winters.

It is important not to delay this procedure, otherwise low temperatures may destroy leaves and shoots. As a result, rotten shoots will spread to the system.

Digging too early is also contraindicated: you risk getting less next season, and the tubers will be stored worse. While the leaves are still green, the natural process of feeding the roots is underway, and the buds are preparing for the next flowering.
Before digging up and storing dahlias for the winter, you need to trim the stems. avoids accidental damage to buds or roots.

To avoid damaging the root collar, leave stumps above the ground about 20 cm- this is quite enough. To avoid tearing off the neck of the flower and rendering it unusable, do not place it too close to the stems, and do not try to pull the bush by the stems.

Further high-quality preparation of roots for storage is considered the key to success.
There are many options for storing dahlia tubers at home, but no matter which method you choose, there are a number of mandatory preparatory operations:

1. Flushing. Shake the dug bush off the ground. Then rinse the tubers from any remaining soil with plenty of water.
2. Shortening. Excess shoots from tubers need to be trimmed with sharp scissors. The tubers are shortened by about 15 cm.
3. Division. Let's start dividing the rhizomes. We cut the stems almost to the base of the root tubers. Each cut root should have buds. If the root vegetables are very hard and the buds on them are underdeveloped, you can leave them whole.
4. Disinfection. By immersing the tubers in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, you will prevent their rotting and the possible development of fungal diseases. The roots can also be treated. Check each division for damage and signs. Any dark or rusty stains should be removed. A white coating can often be found on tubers - this is the initial phase of fungal infection. If nothing is done, such a root will cause infection of all planting material, and you will not be able to preserve the harvest until spring.
5. Drying. After washing, be sure to leave the tubers to dry in the fresh air. And before storing dahlias after digging, it is advisable to leave the tubers for 10 days in a cool room. This is done in order to heal shallow wounds on the roots.

Did you know? The ancient Aztecs used dahlia roots for food purposes. The fact is that the rhizomes of wild dahlias are edible and contain inulin.-a substance resembling starch.

How to store dahlias in winter, storage at home

How and where to store dahlias in winter is a particularly pressing issue for urban gardeners. That is why we decided to collect the most current options for storing root tubers, which allow you to do this even in an apartment.

Not everyone has the opportunity to store tubers in the basement or in a special storage facility.
Therefore, for keeping in a city apartment, the roots are usually placed in boxes, which are then transferred to the coldest place (for example, next to the balcony door or in the vestibule).

Important! If you have several varieties of dahlias in your garden, it is recommended to label each variety. This will make planting work much easier next season.

According to numerous reviews, the tubers are perfectly preserved. This method is also convenient because it allows you to check the condition of the roots in winter.
However, this method also has disadvantages - a large amount of sand is required. In addition, the flowers themselves begin to sprout and suction roots much earlier than expected.

The main danger when storing root tubers is excess moisture. Wetting the sand used is a common mistake made when storing dahlia roots in sand.

Paraffinizing or immersing tubers in molten paraffin is quite labor-intensive, but one of the favorite methods of skilled gardeners.
Root tubers treated with paraffin are stored much better. Paraffin does not allow moisture to disappear and the roots do not dry out.

In addition, during the treatment with paraffin, all pathogens that were on the roots die from exposure to high temperatures.

After hardening, the paraffin forms a protective layer, so the delenki are absolutely not afraid of the negative effects of external factors.

1. Paraffin or candles are crushed and placed in a pan of water. Next, this pan is transferred to a larger container and placed in a water bath.
2. Paraffin is melted over low heat. The thickness of the melted material should be 2-3 cm.
3. In order for the root tubers to fit into the pan, they may have to be divided. The washed and dried roots are tied by a thread, dipped in hot paraffin and immediately taken out. Paraffin immediately hardens in air.

Next, we will discuss how to preserve dahlia tubers in vermiculite until spring. Vermiculite retains moisture perfectly, which means you don’t have to worry about drying out the tubers.
On the other hand, it is this factor that can cause early germination of tubers, even with a slight increase in temperature in the place where they are kept. It is recommended to choose not ordinary garden vermiculite, but coarse-grained vermiculite.

The bottom of the container selected for storing root tubers is filled with vermiculite, then a layer of roots is laid.

Storage in sawdust

Storing dahlias after digging in sawdust is a fairly simple, affordable and reliable option. The only condition for successful storage of tubers is large sawdust, or shavings are even better. When choosing small sawdust, there is a risk that they will draw out all the moisture.
Sometimes the roots with sawdust are preserved in bags. This is an unacceptable mistake, since due to the condensation formed, the roots of the flower in the polyethylene rot. Root tubers die from high humidity.

Dahlias look surprisingly luxurious and elegant in the autumn garden. And if you value your magnificent flowers, then you probably know that in order to recreate all this beauty next year, you need to take care of storing dahlia tubers for storage now, in the second half of autumn. In this article we will talk about when and how best to dig up dahlias, how to properly prepare them for storage, as well as various storage methods.

The optimal time to dig up dahlias is after several light frosts (frosty nights) have passed and their tops have turned black. This will be a kind of hardening for the tubers, which will subsequently have a positive effect on their wintering at home.

Important! You should not rush to dig up dahlia bushes, especially when they are still green, which means they can transfer nutrients to their rhizomes so that they ripen well and are better prepared for winter.

Thus, as for the approximate timing of digging up dahlia tubers, for example, in the middle zone (Moscow region) - this is the second half of October. Naturally, the weather conditions themselves will tell you more accurate and correct dates.

By the way! Many gardeners recommend lightly hilling dahlias before the first frost.

How to dig up dahlias correctly

A few tips and rules for digging up dahlias in the form of step-by-step instructions:

Note! The stems should not be cut too low, otherwise infection may enter the tubers or water may leak into them, which may cause them to rot.

Important! If you place a shovel or fork too close to the bush, you can damage the tubers because they move apart.

Attention! Even if you trim the stems (especially if you decide not to trim them), then in no case should you pull the stem too hard to pull dahlias out of the ground after you dig up the bush, because the isthmus, which is located between the root collar and tubers, it may simply break off. The fact is that the buds of most dahlia varieties originate on the root collar, which means you can simply “kill” your plant.

• Next, the already pulled out rhizomes should be as much as possible clear the earth. If necessary, they need to be rinsed additionally in water, especially if you have clay soil that sticks heavily to the rhizomes. But, if your soil is sandy, then the soil itself will quickly fly around with further drying.

Advice! If you have chosen a fine sunny day, then give the tubers dry off in the open air, and then you can easily shake off the remaining soil.

Worth knowing! There is an opinion that there is no need to clean the tubers from the ground so that they do not dry out. But if you don’t do this, then rot or mechanical damage may remain under the dirt, which must be treated before storing, otherwise the rhizomes will simply rot later.

Advice! This must be done just before drying, so that all wounds have time to heal completely and dry out.

• If you find several green sprouts, then they need to be broken out, and precisely break it with your hands at the base, tilting to the side rather than cutting.

Video: when to dig up dahlias and how to store them without a cellar on the balcony in an apartment

What to do if you dug up rhizomes and they are rotten or infected with a virus

Having completely cleared (washed) the rhizomes from the ground, you can find rot on tubers. However, they can still be saved, you just need to completely get rid of all the rot by carefully cutting them down to healthy tissue and cleaning it with a knife. Then it is definitely recommended treat tubers in special preparations. Moreover, it is desirable to additionally cover the cuts with brilliant green so that the infection certainly cannot spread.

It's another matter if it's growth virus, the presence of which can be determined by the huge number of fairly large buds on the root collar (just a whole bunch or bunch) that are in an awakened state. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this viral disease, and You will have to part with the tubers. Moreover, they will need to be removed from the site or burn. It should not be left or buried in the garden as the disease may spread.

How to prepare dahlia tubers for storage: processing and drying

To ensure that there is no risk of death of dahlia tubers during a long cold and possibly rainy period, it is imperative that they be prepared for storage, and specifically processed and dried.

Tuber processing

Before storing, many gardeners recommend treating dahlia tubers with special preparations to prevent diseases. Most commonly used fungicide "Maksim" or . You can also cook it the old fashioned way oz solution of potassium permanganate. The rhizomes are kept in one of these solutions for 15-30 minutes or sprayed from all sides with a spray bottle.

Advice! If the rhizomes are healthy, they haven’t been sick before and you haven’t had any problems with dahlias, then you don’t have to process them.

Drying tubers

As a rule, 2-4 days are enough to dry dahlia rhizomes.

Advice! There is no need to dry for too long (more than a week), otherwise the tubers may become very wrinkled.

As for the place for drying, it is optimal to place the dahlias under a canopy in dry weather (but not in direct sunlight), in the same greenhouse or in any dry room (for example, in the attic). Moreover, it is advisable to place the rhizomes upside down so that all the moisture can drain out better from them (from the stems).

Video: how to prepare dahlias for storage

Is it necessary to divide dahlia rhizomes and is it worth doing this before storing?

It is definitely necessary to divide, because... if you plant overgrown dahlia rhizomes with many tubers on them, a giant bush with many stems will grow. Due to such thickening, the plant will simply not have enough light, that is, it will shade itself, which means that flowering will be very weak and rare.

However, before storage carry out the division procedure Not recommended, because This is too much stress for the plant. This is why most gardeners dividing dahlias exactly before planting in the spring.

How to store dahlias in winter: place, conditions (temperature and humidity) and storage methods

When storing dahlias in winter, an important role is played by the storage location, suitable conditions, as well as the chosen storage method.

Advice! Before mortgaging for storage, do not forget attach tags for your varietal dahlias.

Place and storage conditions for tubers (temperature and humidity)

The best storage space dahlia will be in winter cool cellar or basement. Wherein temperature must be mandatory positive, because rhizomes do not tolerate even minimal subzero temperatures. Optimally - +2...+5 degrees, but “warmer” temperature conditions of up to 10-12 degrees are also suitable. It is also very important that indoors there was no high humidity(no more than 75-80%), due to which the roots may sprout or become moldy.

By the way! In addition to the cellar and basement, suitable vestibule or glazed loggia, balcony, if the temperature there remains low but positive.

It is optimal to use dahlia tubers as containers for storing tubers. carton boxes(if you don’t sprinkle them with anything) or boxes, on the bottom of which you can lay newspaper. Additionally, the tubers can be wrapped in paper or placed in paper bags.

Important! What you definitely can’t store dahlias in is plastic or cellophane bags, in which the rhizomes will simply suffocate and rot.

However! If the bags have special ventilation holes, then it is quite possible to store tubers in them.

If you took it for storage diseased tubers(pre-processed), then theirs is better additionally wrap in paper or not at all put separately from healthy rhizomes.

Methods for storing tubers

There are a lot of methods for storing dahlias, so each gardener chooses the one that suits him (his capabilities and conditions).

The most popular ways to store dahlias in winter are:

• Sprinkle dry sawdust, ash or sand.

Important! If the roots begin to noticeably dry out during storage and the tubers begin to wrinkle (you can check with your hand), then the sawdust/sand can be lightly sprinkled with water.

Note! It is not recommended to store in wet sand or sawdust, because... there is a high probability of rotting, which is much worse than if the tubers dry out slightly (in this case, they can be easily restored in a solution of one of the growth stimulants).

However! Some gardeners recommend first lightly shedding the sawdust with a 1% solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture so that it becomes slightly damp, but not wet. This treatment will protect the tubers from various rots during storage.

By the way! The paraffin shell perfectly protects the tubers from drying out, and hot processing destroys most pathogens.

Video: how to wax dahlia tubers

Advice! During storage, be sure to periodically inspect the tubers for rot or other diseases in order to promptly treat them, for example, by smearing the damaged areas with brilliant green.

Video: how to store dahlia tubers in sawdust

Such a significant and important matter as storing dahlia tubers cannot be done at random. It is always necessary to know exactly the optimal timing and rules for digging, as well as places suitable for storage, appropriate conditions and methods for storing the “king of the autumn garden.”

Video: when and how to dig up dahlias, storage rules

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