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when to dig up my dahlia roots (tubers)?

12 years ago

hi there!

i'm new to dahlias and am so proud of myself for starting all mine from seed this year! every last one i started survived. some are a little spindly, but are big and bushy, but again, i'm new and am learning.

so, with that said, when should i dig up the tubers (roots) to store away for winter, and how do i do it?

i'm in the san fransico bay area, the east bay, which is warmer on average then the city, and i'm on san pablo bay. powdery mildew has been a very small problem, but not really.

so i'd love to hear your recommendations!

thanks,

angela :)

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Comments (4)

mytime
12 years ago
If you're truly zone 9, I don't believe you have to dig them (lucky you!).
ladybugsmom192
Original Author
12 years ago
oh really???! so what, just trim the stems/stalks down? what if i want to move them to another area? which i want to do because they grew much MUCH taller than i thought (they were supposed to be 'boarder' dahlias and actually grew to 2-3 feet tall and towered over my princess lillies, which got very little light this summer.

thanks!
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The myth of dahlias 'needing' a killing frost is rather silly, when you consider the fact that they are descended from a dahlia originating in Mexico, which is much closer to the equator. I know folks that live in non-freezing areas who cut their plants without a freeze, and dig/store their tubers with wonderful results the next season. Some might ask why they bother digging if 'they don't have to.' There are several reasons. 1. Most serious growers plant out only one tuber instead of allowing the whole clump to produce many shoots, as you get the most vigour and better blooms from a single tuber. 2. Digging and dividing allows growers to increase their stock for planting out, sharing or selling. 3. Instead of Northern winters, Southerners go through a rainy season, which can rot out entire clumps left in the garden. (The most successful growers that overwinter clumps in the ground cut flush to the ground and COVER the tops with plastic to keep water from pooling in the soil.) Hope this helps explain things a bit.
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mytime
12 years ago
For that you need more than what I know!!!

On the link, scroll down to "Leaving dahlias in the ground over winter".

Here is a link that might be useful: info for dahlias
dahlianut
12 years ago
Dear ladybugsmon192: I raise dahlias in Marin county, Ca. Dig
them up in early Jan. That way you can see how many more
tubers you have of each variety and the joy of the "free" expansion of your tubers is exhilarating. Be sure to label them as quickly as possible as an unlabeled tuber is a "weed". How to divide tubers is shown in pics on the internet and you have to see how its done once and then you are off.
Join a local dahlia society and you will have all the expertise you need at your fingertips. They probably have a
local "dahlia" dell that they maintain and you can volunteer
as much or as little as you want to gain experience.

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