Inexperienced, looking for help on keeping dahlia over winter

16 years ago

Hi, I apologize for my lack of experience but I bought a dahlia for the first time, for my wife, in the spring.

It's a 'Bahama Red (Shogun)'. I put it in a tall planter, and the thing shot up to 4 feet with beautiful blooms all summer.

Although I do lots of gardening and have lots of potted plants on the deck for the summer, this was my first dahlia and my wife and I have really enjoyed it's beauty.

Can someone direct me to a site that gives clear/easy instructions on how to dig it up, preserve it over winter, and how to re-plant in the spring. (if that's possible!)

It would be great to bring this plant back for another season. I'm in Chicago (zone 5). First frost is in another month or so.

THANKS!

Jeff Sulski

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Comments (2)

misslucinda
16 years ago
Go to the bottom of this page to where it says search (this forum) and post your search terms there.

Jroot and Poochella have both contributed fabulous postings with detailed photos as to how to overwinter and divide.

Dahliaboy also has an excellent posting.

The gist of it is that you will wait for the first frost or two to blacken your folliage then you will remove the folliage, clean the dirt off the bulb and store it (in plastic wrap, bags, etc. in a cool place in your house with temp hovering around 45 degrees. But read their posts. Have fun with your dahlia. You will get hooked.
jsulski
Original Author
16 years ago
Misslucinda, thanks much for the help. Those postings gave me much needed information, so I'll wait for that first frost and follow the directions, and hopefully I will have next-generation success in the Spring! Thanks again,
Jeff
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