Storing Dahlia Bulbs
The first is to harvest the dahlia just before or immediately after they have been frosted. If the blackened stems are allowed to rot down to the ground, then the dahlia tuber will be damaged and wont overwinter. If the dahlia tuber is frosted, it will likely turn to mush.
If the bulb does develop some rotting over the winter (you do check on them every few weeks don't you?) then cut the rotting area away from the tuber and dust the open cut with sulphur.
Cool but frost-free area
Storing this tuber is done successfully in a cool but frost- free area. A heated basement is too hot and an unheated garage where it freezes or almost freezes is similarly not a good idea.
Remember that this is a tropical plant and getting it too cold will stop if from storing properly. Too high a heat will simply kick it into growth too early and youll lose it this way (if it doesnt rot first).
Try to keep them fairly dry as moisture will rot them. Ive had good luck with hanging them in an old sack, burying them in dry peat moss (although they sometimes like to grow too early if buried in other growing media) and storing on a screen with air circulating around them.
Click here to ask about storing dahlia bulbs.
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