FALL AND WINTER DAHLIA CARE
DAHLIAS
STORING TUBERS ‘TIL SPRING
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE
Here you will find many storage options, and we encourage you to mix and match. Use what you have on hand. Each technique could work magnificently for some, and for others could lead to a sloppy rotten mess or wrinkly, withered, desiccated tubers. It all depends on YOUR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. Do a few each year until you have one that’s tried and true for you.
No matter the method you choose, there are two things that are IMPERATIVE:
Storage temperatures should be cold but not freezing - ideally between 38-42F. At around 50F and higher, they’ll sprout prematurely.
Check on your tubers regularly throughout the winter and adjust based on what you find. Soggy and growing mold? Get some air flow in there. Dry and wrinkly? Give a little extra humidity.
Container Options
Cardboard boxes
Plastic storage bins
Shoe boxes
Old potting soil or feed bags
Paper bags
Just for the heck of it, I did a test of storing these washed tubers in an open produce bag in the back of my fridge all winter and was surprised at the results when I took them out in spring. Just about as plump and firm as the day I put them in. Not too shabby!
Packing Materials
The key here is to surround your tubers with a material that will help regulate humidity. They do not want to be stored wet, but at the same time you need to make sure the material you use is not so dry that it is sucking moisture right out of the tubers.
If your tubers start to shrivel and look wrinkly, you can very lightly spritz the material with water. If you are seeing mold develop, air everything out for a few days and make sure it’s dried down a bit before putting back into storage. If your packing material is downright soggy, you’ll need to replace it. The container you use affects moisture too- the contents inside a cardboard box act much differently than those in a sealed plastic bin.
The moisture needs of your tubers will change during the storage season, and depend on your conditions. So, the best thing to enusre good storage is regular monitoring. Keep them in an accessible place and check on them every week or two.
Here’s a list of several common storage material options:
Wood shavings
Sawdust
Peat moss
Newspaper
Shredded paper
Sand
Vermiculite
None. If your storage spot has well regulated temperature and humidity, you may be able to get away with packing them in nothing! Ensure some airflow by not sealing the container completely.
Another test: These small clumps had most of the growing soil removed, but were not washed before storage. They sat in an open feed bag in my cold, dry basement all winter. A hint of shriveling, but far from doing any damage. They were happy campers, sprouting away as the basement warmed in spring.
Storage Location Options
Basement
Garage or shed that is protected from freezing
In the back of the fridge
We hope you’ve found some helpful information here. Best of luck with all your dahlia endeavors! Need a refresher? Find links to our other guides below.
Digging ~ Dividing ~ Growing
Questions? Send us a note at forthillfarm@gmail.com