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| I remembered how short and stubby the tubers were when I first received them, so when I went to dig the first dahlia up, I only dug out to about 8-9" away from the plant, also because that was how wide the original hole was, and the soil outside of the original hole is all clay.
So when I dug up the first one, which is one of my favorites(Macallister's Pride), I noticed that I had chopped off the ends of about half the tubers. They were chopped from just the end root, and others were chopped 1/3 - 1/2 the length of the tuber. I assume its probably OK to remove the root at the ends of the tubers, but what I'm talking about here is parts of the actual tubers being cut off accidentally. The, I tried to dig further out away from the base of the plant, but still chopped a few that had grown remarkably long tubers. But then I really dug further out and no longer chopped any tubers. But then there was another problem.... I had a hard time pulling them up due to the roots growing out into the surrounding clay, and I noticed that after I finally pulled 2 of them up, the thin areas of the tubers near where they connect to the stem had flexed around and bent a little in the process of digging them up, and although they werent ripped or torn, that area looked slightly damaged and mashed a little on a few of them. So the questions are: 1. Will chopping off 1/3 - 1/2 of them at the root ends kill them or prevent them from coming up next year? 2. Will slight damage at the front end(neck) of the tubers near where they connect to the stem kill them or prevent
Is it Ok to eventually remove the skinny roots off the ends of the tubers? Thanks..... |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by keriann_lakegeneva 5B WI/IL border (My Page) on Fri, Nov 18, 11 at 14:41
| I have chopped off many tubers and they make it about 80% of the time. I would store them for the winter and then check next spring. Some of my necks get all twisted around and frayed but as long as they are still attached to the tuber I keep them, and most are OK in the Spring. In regards to the roots (aka rat tails) I clip them off before I store them, right after I dig them. Hope that helps Keriann~ |
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| I would agree with keriann. I had to laugh as I was picturing myself having the same issue. I try not to get too close; but then start digging so far away that I can't get anything. I'd like to take a trip and observe a big dahlia grower dig them up. There's got to be some tricks that I haven't figured out yet. |
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- Posted by redmond_phyllis Seattle area (My Page) on Sat, Nov 19, 11 at 22:39
| Some varieties they're really long, sone varieties are short, some are slender and petite. I can chart/memorize what a bloom looks like, but never had the desire to keep a database on the visual specifics of the tuber . . . wouldn't be a bad idea .. . . just not something most of us are motivated toward. Were there such a list, would anyone refer to it before putting their shovel into the earth? I probably would not. |
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