Dahlia Tubers Storage Guide: Tips for Overwintering Your Dahlias

Understanding the proper method to store dahlia tubers over winter is crucial for ensuring their health and vibrant blooms in the following growing season. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to keep your dahlia blooms thriving.

Tips for Effective Dahlia Tubers Storage

The key to successful winter storage of dahlia tubers is to ensure they remain dry, well-ventilated, and in a cool dark location. Various containers like milk crates, paper bags, or cardboard boxes can be used. However, the most important aspect is to space out each tuber adequately to allow for air circulation. Place the tubers in a cold, dry, dark, and frost-free area such as an unheated basement, attic, closet, or utility room. Avoid storing the tubers in spaces that are prone to moisture or mold.

Ground Storage Options

English may describe tubers as 'bulbs' humorously, but it is important to differentiate. If the ground in your area does not freeze solid or become water-logged, you can leave the tubers in the ground. Dahlias, however, may take longer to start growing the following spring. If you have a frost-free shed with some light, you can store the tubers on dry used compost. As spring approaches and the air warms up, water them to encourage growth. These shoots grow faster than those in the ground and, if cut with a good root ball, can produce a bigger plant.

Underground Root Cellar Storage

For those who have a root cellar, this is an excellent storage option. My house has a root cellar that is cold but never freezes, making it ideal for storing dahlia tubers. I place them in wooden wine shipping boxes with lids, ensuring the boxes are sealed to prevent mice from consuming the bulbs. The tubers are surrounded by peat moss, which absorbs excess moisture. When the time comes to dig up the tubers and reuse them, they can become quite large, producing a greater number of flowers.

Alternative Storage Options

If you do not have a root cellar, consider using wood boxes that are about 7 to 12 inches deep, 18 inches long, and 12 inches wide. Fill these boxes with clean sawdust. After digging up the dahlia tubers, allow them to dry for a day. Then, clean the dirt off the tubers without wetting them, as moisture can lead to rot. Place the cleaned tubers in the sawdust and cover them with more sawdust. Store the boxes in a below-ground pantry in the dark or use an attached garage that is unheated.

Conclusion

Proper winter storage of dahlia tubers is essential to their survival through the cold months and a successful bloom in the coming season. Whether you choose to store them in an attic, basement, or even in an outdoor location like a root cellar, ensuring dryness, ventilation, and a cool dark environment will help your dahlia plants thrive.