That "big root" is what stores the food for next year's plants. You should notice a nice growing tip on the tubers.

I'm glad to see that you have cleaned the tubers. Now you can trim off those small roots, let them dry for a day or so. I always dust mine with some bulb dust ( fungicide), and them wrap them up in old newspapers, and then in a cardboard box.

About April, I start the plants up again in nice new soil. The growing tip should be much more noticeable at this point.

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when I started digging them up I didnt understand eactly what I was digging and the tubers broke off. I have bulb dust I just feel really bad about breaking two of them and wasnt sure what to do wth the pieces. :( I wont make the same mistake on the other three

{{gwi:538988}}

what should i do with the pieces that i broke

Go ahead and store them and see next year if they grow. They did for me.