Dahlia Storage

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arekaybee Villa Park, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 13, 2015

I would like to buy dahlia bulbs from a big box store when they go on sale. Should I store these over winter or put them in the ground now? If I should store them, what is the best way to keep them from withering. I saved bulbs from some dahlias I had in my garden, but they dried up to nothing. Any help would be appreciated as I really love the flowers, but can't afford them until they go on sale.

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Audrey Hadley, PA(Zone 5a) Jul 13, 2015

You will need to grow the tubers for at least a little while this year if you wish to store them over the winter for next year, since they derive their energy from the foliage dying back in the autumn. Most of the dahlias offered in stores have already begun to grow inside their bag or other container at this point anyway.

I've found that large clumps of tubers usually don't dry out as quickly as small individual ones, which is why I don't divide mine in the autumn. They should be stored in a dark, chilly place--about 40 to 50 degrees F.-- in a lightly damp medium such as sawdust.

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Sequoiadendron4 Lititz, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 14, 2015

OP: if you buy your tubers now, you should definitely plant them in the ground so they can regain their strength from being stored. They might not have enough time to flower but should be able to store energy from the leaves. Once you get a killing frost or freeze, wait a week or so and dig them up. I was always told (right or wrong) that the tubers should be left in the soil for a week or so to 'harden off' before storage. Dahlia storage methods can vary among dahlia fanatics. My method is this: I dig them, dunk them in water to wash off the soil, dunk them into a bleach/water solution, put them immediately into a ziplock bag with dry peat moss so the tuber is covered, and store them on the floor in our unheated, attached garage. You should monitor them for rot every 2-3 weeks over the winter. Cut out any tubers that are squishy. Also, if they look too dessicated, I add a couple sprays of bleach water to the peat. The bleach kills any mold that might be growing. I should caution you, this method works for me but might not work for you. Dahlia storage is a trial and error art where you need to find what works for you.

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arekaybee Villa Park, IL(Zone 5a) Aug 31, 2015

Thank you for your information. I will store accordingly.

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