Dahlias

~~Diane~~

I'm after a bit of advise please.

Some of my Dahlias have finished flowering and dying back, I've just pulled one up and it's full of tubas. I grew them from seed and never grown them before and wondered if I should leave them in the ground.

Sorry have not got a clue what to do with them

TonyMMM

Dahlias are not hardy so die back into the ground as soon as there is any sign of cold/frost. The tubers "might" survive the winter in the ground if it is not too cold, and you can heap a thick layer of leaf mould or compost on top to protect them. To be certain, you should lift them and store them in some damp sand/compost in a cool but frost free place (shed or garage) . Then they will be ready to plant out again in spring.

[Deleted User]

If you leave them in the ground the frost may get them if that dosn't there is a good chance the slugs will. Store as above and you could split them in the spring and increase the numbers .

splodger_seedswapper

as above - dig them up and store them in the shed - wrap the tubers up in paper though - or even better, cover them with dry sand or compost - as they do have a tendency to dry out

when you first lift dahlia tubers - i always stand them upside down for a few weeks - so that any moisture can run out of the stems

~~Diane~~

Thanks for the advice. :T

I'll try to keep a few as instructed, but I don't have a shed or greenhouse so will have to keep them in the downstairs loo. I did get lots of seeds from them before the weather turned damp, so if the tubers don't survive at least I'll have the seeds.

munro_wilson

i tend to leave them under early december in the soil as they are still add bulk then lift and store for winter.

Farway

Depends on winter conditions where you live, I am in Hampshire and just leave the tubers in the ground

And as you grew from seed it would be no big deal to repeat the process next year should the tubers not survive