Very informative thread this one. I am going to attempt to overwinter my dahlia this year. I have watched numerous instruction videos on it so hope I will be successful! The only thing I am not sure about is actually separating the tubers. Even after watching the videos I struggled to identify the 'eyes'. Would it be better for me to do this next spring when (and more importantly if) I can get new shoots to appear? ( assuming I don't do something drastically wrong and kill them that is).
Ah really yviestevie? I am in the midlands too. I did think about just leaving it be for this year and see how it goes. Worst case scenario would be to just buy more next year but have a go at digging them up! But then again. I wanted to move them anyway as I don't like where they are!
I've been thinking, this topic of lifting the tubers before the first frosts. That decision will depend on what part the country you live in. Further South you may live lifting them before the frosts may be ok. But up North w8hen it comes to gardening. Further south you go. You are 4 to 6 weeks in front of us. So that means up north that means lifting them around the first frosts. In short Geograhically it depends if you can lift them before those frosts.
Very informative thread this one. I am going to attempt to overwinter my dahlia this year. I have watched numerous instruction videos on it so hope I will be successful! The only thing I am not sure about is actually separating the tubers. Even after watching the videos I struggled to identify the 'eyes'. Would it be better for me to do this next spring when (and more importantly if) I can get new shoots to appear? ( assuming I don't do something drastically wrong and kill them that is).
The "eyes" are where the stalks come out of the tuber. Easy to see at this time of year and when i cut mine back and lift to store over winter, I leave about 5 or 10cm of stalk so I can see more clearly where they will sprout from in springtime or late winter. I only ever divided my tuber once, years ago and at that time, after bringing it out of storage in feb, the eyes had sprouted again and it was easy enough to see where to divide them. I think it was successful but unless the tuber is really really big, then I would'nt do it. Hope this helps.
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Very informative thread this one. I am going to attempt to overwinter my dahlia this year. I have watched numerous instruction videos on it so hope I will be successful! The only thing I am not sure about is actually separating the tubers. Even after watching the videos I struggled to identify the 'eyes'. Would it be better for me to do this next spring when (and more importantly if) I can get new shoots to appear? ( assuming I don't do something drastically wrong and kill them that is).
Any idiot proof advice for me would be fab!
Mine stay in the ground and I give them a good mulch. I live in the midlands and so far so good.
Ah really yviestevie? I am in the midlands too. I did think about just leaving it be for this year and see how it goes. Worst case scenario would be to just buy more next year but have a go at digging them up! But then again. I wanted to move them anyway as I don't like where they are!
I've been thinking, this topic of lifting the tubers before the first frosts. That decision will depend on what part the country you live in. Further South you may live lifting them before the frosts may be ok. But up North w8hen it comes to gardening. Further south you go. You are 4 to 6 weeks in front of us. So that means up north that means lifting them around the first frosts. In short Geograhically it depends if you can lift them before those frosts.
Dug one up tonight out of curosity. Good stroung healthy 5ft plant. Tubers the size of a small mange tout.
Trying to organise the garden and when to plant things. When us the best time to plant out the tubers?