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Dahlia tubers (again !)

sunnylousunnylou Posts: 47
in Talkback

Having dug up my tubers they are now very clumped. I am letting them dry out a bit on a tray in the greenhouse, will store them in net bags at home.  However, they will need splitting before next year so - when dried, split before storage, or after ? The original type is 'Roxy' but some have already started to revert, I don't mind this, as one threw up an absolute showstopper in lilac - unfortunately I was unable to enlighten anyone as to the variety !

Any advice much appreciated - Louise 

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  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I am a lift and store person. I split in the spring. If they just fall apart in a natural way now fine but I wouldn't cut them at this time of year as in my opinion it could cause rot. I'm a wrapper in Newspaper then store in plastic carrier bag. Over the years this approach has been debated in the forum but all I can say it works for me. When I've just left them unwrapped and boxed for storage they dried up too much.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 4,663
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Lyn Sycamore CottageLyn Sycamore Cottage Posts: 21

    Hi all, I have very heavy clay that's chalky so lifted my dahlias cos thought the winter wet would kill them, kept them in unheated polytunnel over last winter but the replanted tubers made a very dismal show or not at all, some were from seeds I'd grown others came from In-xcess. Didn't bother with new ones this year but would like to try again....any suggestions on what I did wrong or could do to give them better chance of going across a year? The first year they had been wonderful. I didn't wrap them in paper just put a bit of dry old compost across to keep frost off once they had dried though. 

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,494

    Will the bits that drop off make new plants or do you need a bit with an old stem?

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    No, they won't all grow - you need a bud that comes from the base of a stem. I've not been brave enough to split any of mine yet (though some divide naturally when you lift them) but they grow easily from cuttings taken in the spring when the new shoots emerge.

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601

    Hi Lyn SC. I have the same soil and also dig up tubers. I keep them upside down for a week or two, then store them in dry compost in a frost free shed. In February I divide some of them and plant them up in pots and get them growing in the greenhouse. They are protected from cold, wet  and my many many slugs this way and they do really well, flowering early. Some go into the ground and some into containers when the weather warms up.

  • Lyn Sycamore CottageLyn Sycamore Cottage Posts: 21

    thanks guys, that's great I can enjoy picking some new ones to try image

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