When to dig dahlias in autumn and how to store

Dahlias are an adornment of the flowerbed when digging out and how to store them interests many summer residents. The autumn period is difficult, much work needs to be done. Experienced flower growers claim that dahlias are afraid of frost. Therefore, they need to be dug up for the winter.

In the fall, summer residents clear the flowerbed of perennial plants. When digging out and how to store dahlias, many gardeners are interested. The plant is autumn, so you should not rush to harvest flowers from the site. Dahlias can grow before the onset of frost.

When to dig dahlias?

In September, even before the onset of frost, you can dig up plants. Dates vary by region. You can visually determine when to start digging. As soon as the leaves turn black from the cold, you can begin to work. Holding events ahead of schedule is not worth it. This is due to the fact that while the leaves are green, nutrients enter the root part. It is at this time that the buds are preparing for the next flowering.

How to dig dahlias?

Carry out the procedure with extreme caution. The neck of the tuber is very fragile. Before digging, plants need to be cut, at least 10 cm of the stem should remain from the root.

When to dig dahlias is a topical issue. It is necessary to start work in the second half of September - the first decade of October. In this case, the average temperature at night should be in the range from 0 to 3 degrees of heat. It is worth paying attention to the weather. No need to dig flowers in warm weather.

Before digging up a plant, it needs to be dug up from 4 sides. The pitchfork needs to be placed under an earthen lump, and carefully remove it from the ground. Tubers need to be cleaned, flipped, dried.

Preparing tubers for storage

Dahlias are moody plants. Only by familiarizing yourself with the storage conditions of the flowers, you can save the tubers until spring.

When preparing tubers for storage, 3 steps must be performed:

1. Cleaning up. As soon as the tubers are removed from the ground, they must be washed well with water. In addition, seedlings must be treated with a solution of manganese. Please note that the slice must be covered with foil. This will help protect the tubers from infections.
2. Division. On each dividend, you need to leave a part of the neck. If the tubers are large, they should be trimmed and carefully inspected. If there are signs of decay, such specimens are unsuitable for further use.
3. Drying. Peeled tubers should be dried. They need to be turned over periodically. Drying time can be up to 20 days.

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How to save dahlias in winter

You can store dahlias in the winter at home in different ways, as many gardeners are interested in how to do this.

1. Storage in the cellar. The most common option used most often. Dried tubers should be put in boxes and lowered into the cellar. It is absolutely necessary to maintain the temperature within 5 degrees of heat. In this case, the humidity should be no higher than 75%.
2. Clay storage. Another common way that helps keep tubers in place until spring. To make the composition, it is necessary to dilute the clay in water to obtain a thick consistency.Each tuber should be treated with clay solution, and put in a dark place for drying. As soon as the crust appears, the tubers can be put in boxes for further storage. In spring, the shell needs to be removed. It is enough to knock and she will crumble herself.
3. Cold storage. If there are few plants, they can be easily stored in the apartment. Each flower should be put in a bag with sawdust and placed in the refrigerator.
4. Storage in film. The method is simple and affordable. Tubers need to be treated with colloidal sulfur. Pour peat into the bag, lay the plants. After that, the package must be tied well and put in boxes. The container should be placed in a dark place. When using polyethylene, tubers are located separately from each other. Therefore, the risk of infection with various diseases is minimal.
5. Storage of dahlias tubers for the winter in sawdust. It is required to prepare small chips. With this method, dahlias are perfectly preserved until spring.
6. Paraffin storage. The method is one of the most effective, it has proven itself only on the positive side. However, the method is time-consuming, and therefore not widely used.

Paraffin must be heated in a water bath. The tuber should be dipped in the liquid, it is worth waiting until the layer has cooled. Then the tuber must be turned over and lowered on the other side.

Then the seedlings need to be packed in a bag with sawdust, tied, cleaned in a cool place. Before planting, the film must be rubbed so that it is slightly cracked.

How to dig and store dahlias in the Urals?

You can start work in the Urals in October. To do this, choose a dry day. First of all, it is required to cut the stems, then use the pitchfork to extract the earthen lump. The tuber must be cleaned of dirt and washed with water. It is best to treat plants with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Seedlings should stand in the solution for at least 30 minutes. Then they need to be taken out and dried. It will take at least 10 days to dry.

Each region has its own storage features. Ural growers are most often used for storing paraffin. So the tubers are well preserved and ready for planting in spring.

Reviews

Olga, 53 years old: “I recently learned how to store dahlias. The best way I think is using paraffin. Plants lie perfectly, they are not in danger. By spring, the seedlings are ready for planting. ”

Vera, 44 years old: “Put boxes of dahlias in the cellar. I was very glad that all the flowers were safe and sound. This storage method is the most optimal for me. ”

Dahlias are an adornment of any flowerbed. In order for the seedlings to be healthy, it is necessary to store tubers correctly in the winter. There are a lot of ways, you can easily choose the best option.