3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

Storing tubers in a refrigerator is probably not a good idea. I suppose that if it were devoted only to tuber storage and the temperature was adjusted higher, about 42 degrees, it may work. But refrigerators have uneven cooling and some areas can easily freeze. Also, they have dehumidifiers in them to remove moisture. Not a good thing.

I have had very good luck with the fridge, I do agree you take a small risk of freezing the tubers, as nearly happened when My 4 year old found the controls!! Luckally I caught it and no harm no foul!

I store them in a ziplock bag with fine wood shavings. Because they are sealed, they don't loose moisture too badly. The only reason why I could not long term do it this year was that the tubers where struggling in the first place, some where just not very big, others (my Mother in Laws) where rotting the day I got them. but, even still, they managed 3 months in the fridge crisper rather nicely. For those that don't have other options, like a cool room / attic or garage, it may be the only way they can even attempt to overwinter!

I lost some plants in my unheated greenhouse when the temperature went down to about to about 23 degrees one night.
The plants were very close to the green house film and the cold went right through to the plants. All plants a foot or so away were fine.

Thanks for posting about your experiance, I am planning on bringing them in when the weather is bad and at night prior to the temps dropping off too much.

They are all back in the window today (large south facing, just don't have the ability to get more shop lights this year, DH said NO!!)

I did get some good news though; I have about 35 pots that are all Lilac Time and Moms Special, they seem pretty stable. I also have 3 pots that are from my Mother in Law last year, they where very abused going into storage because she dug them up and let them sit for days outside prior to handing them off to me because "they need to be 100% dry before storage you know?? ;-( Anyway, I had about 15 trays from hers I tried to get going, and now I have 3 that took off. Had 5 at one point, but 2 died off, just could not keep going. The good news is, I took sprout cuttings off two of them, and after 3 weeks, one is rooting!! The other looks just like the day I cut it, full, strong, lush and green, but no roots! So, I just added more rooting hormone and replanted it. Hopefully it will have roots soon! Even better news though, is within a week, these tubers are going to give me at last 4 more cuttings, and they still are producing more eyes past that!

It is amazing just how much will to live these remarkable flowers have!

I did not dig up my tubers last year and forgot to pinch back and had tall skinny plants, not attractive! I was told that if I keep doing this, not digging up-eventually they may not come back.
Does anyone know if it is too late for me to dig them up and divide them now?

Dig them up & divide, spray the cut w/ Lysol, let it dry & then replant if it's warm enough to plant. If it's not warm enough then wait until it is to do all of this.

Dear Busy:

I am late in responding and I hate to say this but this year my deer HAVE started eating my dahlias. Perhaps we have a greater deer crowding problem along with less cayote than other regions but that's whats happening here. So I will second Poochellas suggestion to spray!

Lucinda

The deer in CT eat everything except a few bushes and my Dahlias. I did not lose one from deer. I lost two from a mole problem, but the owl fixed that. The deer ate the sunflowers 4 feet away.

I was given really really really shrivelled tubers this fall. I managed to get them to sprout this spring!

These are the things I think made them successful;

1.) I bathed them in a 10% bleach solution to kill of any fungus / mold for around 1/2 an hour. Then switched them over to a water bath for a few more hours to try and help hydrate them. I added a tablespoon of an anti fungal product called "no damp" to the water bath, but I don't think this is critical. Afterwards, you have to let them dry off for an hour or two.

2.) Once they are dry, they are ready to package them up for storage, or start to try and grow them. If you want to store them a bit longer. I recommend putting them in wood shavings (the type you get at a pet store, really inexpensive, pine or cedar, or a mix of both). Another good choice for storing them would be vermiculite. If you only have a few tubers, then try putting them with the shavings in a ziplock and stash it in the fridge. If there are too many for the fridge, then find as cool a place as you can. check on them every few days if you can.

Thank you for the help!!! I plan to try to revive them, and either way, I've learning my lesson. Thanks!

homemommy! You can trade with me! I live in Canada and should have some to spare...I thought I lost them with all the power outages we had over the winter....So I happily ordered more...and now it turns out some of mine survived....so I should have more than enough. Do you have any particular ones that you looking for? I only grow for cutting so I mostly have B's and BB's
Janice

Hey Busy-Girl, I will PM you. I am not sure what B's and BB's are, but if you are not familiar with my tubers back story, I need to fill you in.

The plants I would have to trade are dinner plate dahlias. They are either purple, or purple and white in colour. (Lilac time and I think it was Moms Special). But, I won't know which I am sending due to issues last year and not identifying during storage. Where in Canada are you?

Hello,

I have had experience growing Fuzzy Wuzzy and have given all of these bulbs away. Fuzzy Wuzzy is a medium pink with a smaller flower and not very showey in the garden. In a small garden as you describe, I would want to purchase dahlias that have larger flowers but still grow to only about 36 inches. Hope that this helps!

Paula

Thanks for your responses. I decided against purchasing Fuzzy and will try some pom-poms instead. I am still deciding on a few others as well. I can't wait to see them bloom!

Yea you are holding out on us. You probly have huge plants blooming all over the place. The local flower shop is calling you day and night for your blooms. It is just horiable.

I love your work sturgeonguy...very nicely done fella

Mick

Just a couple of other dark dahlias.

Hello,

I think that you might want to try Kenora Macob! This dahlia has an absolutely lovely dark maroon color! It does well in the garden, grows to 42-48 inches in my garden and the bulbs multiple and keep well in the winter! Good luck!

Paula