I had originally assumed I would lift the tubers and plant something else, then replant the tubers later. But now I'm reading that dahlias can keep going all year in mild climates (we're currently experiencing warm days and cold (down to 40'sF nights).

So, do I lift and store the tubers, or do I leave the tubers and plant something else over them, or do I leave the dahlias as a year-round planting?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

jannike

1) Chop down the whole plant, dig (and maybe divide) the clump and replant in a different location. With your weather being as warm as it is a new plant will grow.

2) Chop down the whole plant and let a new plant grow.

The drawback to number two, as I see it, is with the stump of the plant sticking up like that there is the potential for rot setting in.

That is my .02 cents on the subject. Hopefully an experienced warm weather grower will chime in.

I have always assumed that dahlia tubers are like bulbs and NEED the dying foliage in order to store up power for the next year. But I read an earlier post where someone said that is a myth and you can cut them down immediately.

Perhaps Ted (the REAL expert) could weigh in. Tubers may not need that dying out process so much as tulips and daffs need it so it would save me months of looking at dead branches if I felt safe cutting them down earlier.

My flippant 'REAL' expert was not intended to be a slight to any of the experienced growers here - it is just my private moniker for Ted, whose expertise seems inexhaustible and has always has great advice and always answers lots of our Q's. I had never seen Snarq as a contributor so I had no idea who she is/was - but again, I apologize if I slighted anyone. It was not intentional.

I guess my predicament does not fit either scenario. I am not digging up and dividing very often and when I do, it is right about this time of year. I still have some dahlias with dried out stalks as it helps me know where the tubers lie when I weed the garden.

I also have 4 dahlias sprouting for next year already (sigh, the penalty for living in a mild climate) so I am not sure WHAT they are up to. They will not keep growing for 6 more months but it will be interesting to see if they bloom normally next year. Regardless, I now know that cutting them back will not affect their virility for following years and I don't need to see dried out stalks anymore at Christmastime, so thanks to all again.

When I re-read the thread, I could see how horrible my communication seemed. But I honestly was not even thinking of Snarq or ANYONE who offers advice when I quickly tried to give a shout out to Ted. Afterward I could easily see how it seemed like I was dismissing Snarq and again, I apologize to her directly, as that was never my intention. I truly value everybody who offers advice here or has questions or just posts pics.

As to my soil -Both. I live in the Avenues and it is basically sand all the way to the ocean. But you add a drought like we have had for 3-4 years and the soil rarely gets very overly wet, as storms always seem to last only 1 or 2 days and then sun again.

I strongly doubt the tubers are continuing to store energy or keep growing as the foliage fades, as that is a sign of impending dormancy. And as you have multiple years of tubers in each clump, the maturity of the tubers doesn't matter as much, either. I have been taught that cuttings started in spring need three months to develop well-matured tubers that will store out of the soil... They actually can start developing tubers within a month, and be stored as a dormant pot root in their soil for the best shot at overwintering a valuable variety.

I've heard of several old timers (all long-passed now, grandparents to my contemporaries) who successfully layered tubers in sand within lined apple crates and coal buckets here in the East. I bet vermiculite wasn't as readily available then. ;-) Nowadays, folks I have talked to report a lower success rate when testing sand against others as a storage medium, but that is after severing the feeder roots when dividing. Sounds like your undisturbed clumps do just fine.