Storing & Dividing Dahlias – 5 Favorite dahlias and other farm news

Checking on your dahlia tubers in storage:

If you dug and stored your dahlias in the fall, now is the time to check on them to see how the tubers are surviving the winter in storage.

   If you have solid tuber clumps, you can divide them now or wait until planting time gets closer to divide your dahlias.  After dividing your dahlias, you want to the fresh cuts dry for 3-5 days minimum before putting the tubers back into storage.

   If you have clumps that are rotted, there is no saving a rotten tuber.  If you notice a small amount of rot, around the stem for example, you should divide your tubers right away and allow them to dry out for 3-5 days in an area that remains above freezing.  Toss any rotten tubers, especially tubers that are rotten around the eye of the tuber.

   If your tubers are shriveled, there may be 3 problems causing this:

#1 – the humidity could be low in the area they are in.  Keep humidity at around 40%.

#2 – they were sprayed with water after they were dug.  Tubers have a tendency to shrivel in storage if they were hosed off after they were dug.

#3 – shriveling can be caused by digging too early and not letting them freeze in the garden as well.  If you did let them freeze before digging, the humidity could be too low.  If the area has a concrete or dirt floor, spray the floor down with water to raise the humidity.  Leave the dahlia clump intact and don’t divide until it gets closer to planting time.  That will hold all the available moisture in the clump for now.

Dividing Dahlias

Tap and brush all the soil off the dahlia clump. When dividing dahlias, the first thing to do is to remove all broken tubers, remove the original ‘mother’ tuber and remove any tubers that are rotten. You can divide now or keep the cleaned-up clump in tact and divide in the spring. In the spring, the eyes are easier to see. It’s very important to get a piece of the swollen part that is attached to last years’ stem, because that’s where the eyes will emerge from.  If your tuber does not have an eye, it will not sprout.  The eyes look like little, black craters or dots this time of year.
Cut surfaces should be allowed to dry thoroughly before they are planted in the garden or stored for the winter. Lay out to dry for 3-5 days in a place that will not freeze, then store for the winter.  Here’s a short video on dividing:

Winter Dahlia Storage

Keep the temperature at 40-50 degrees at all times during winter storage. Keep the humidity at around 40% to keep tubers from drying and shriveling. Check your tubers monthly during winter storage. See more information on Dahlia Care

5 Favorite Dahlias on the website today

Red Runner – A new addition to our line of dahlias for the 2023 season, Red Runner.  Deep red blooms on super strong, pencil thick stems that the ‘Runner’ series of dahlias is known for.  There’s also the Salmon Runner dahlia in our line up, one of our favorites!

Silver Years – Gorgeous blush pink with a creamy white center.  Silver years has a 4″– 5″ waterlily bloom and strong stems for cutting.  It was one of the best bloomers for us in 2022.  Good cut flower and a good addition to your dahlia garden.

Lilac Time – Beautiful, rich lavender with a large 6″ – 8″ bloom.  Strong grower.

Cornel Bronze – Bronzy orange that is a very useful flower especial in the fall.  Strong stems, and a prolific bloomer and tuber producer.

Puget Sunshine – Butter yellow, soft colored petals and a strong dahlia.

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