How to store dahlias in the winter, storing tubers at home

Bright and memorable dahlias are the favorites of many gardeners. These lush flowers are often used to decorate the infield. Many try to preserve the ripe harvest of tubers until the spring. In order not to face difficulties and avoid standard mistakes, it is important to know how to store dahlias correctly in winter. We offer time-tested ways of storing the roots of this flower.

When and how to properly dig dahlias for storage

In many forums about gardening beginner gardeners often ask various questions about the rules for storing dahlia tubers. We give one quote: "I bought dahlias in February, how to store them?" To get as soon as possible flowering bushes, plants begin to engage in early - in February and March. And it is common practice to dig and store tubers in regions with fairly harsh and unpredictable winters.

Digging of root vegetables is recommended to begin with the arrival of the first autumn frosts, when the leaves turn black from frost.

It is important not to delay with this procedure, otherwise low temperatures can ruin the leaves and shoots. As a result, rotten shoots spread to the root system.

Too early digging is also contraindicated: you risk getting fewer flowers next season, and the stored tubers will be worse. While the leaves are still green, the natural process of nourishing the roots is going on, and the buds are prepared for the next flowering. Before digging and storing dahlias for the winter, it is necessary to cut the stems. Pruning avoids accidental damage to the kidneys or roots.

To prevent damage to the root neck, leave a height of about 2 feet above the ground. 20 cm - this is quite enough. In order not to tear the neck of the flower and not to ruin it, do not put the shovel too close to the stalks, and also do not try to pull the bush by the stalks.

To safely remove the tubers from the ground, dig under a bush with a shovel from all sides at a distance of about 30 cm, scrape the soil and carefully remove the tubers.

Further quality preparation of the roots for storage is considered the key to success. There are many options for storing dahlia tubers at home, but whatever method you choose, There are a number of mandatory preparatory operations.:

1. Flushing Shake the dug bush off the ground. Then, rinse the tubers off the ground with plenty of water.
2. Shortening. Excess shoots from tubers need to be cut with sharp scissors. Tubers are shortened by about 15 cm.
3. Division. We proceed to the division of rhizomes. Stems are cut almost to the base of the root cannons. Each cut root must contain kidneys. If the roots are very hard and the buds are underdeveloped, you can leave them whole.
4. Disinfection. Immersing the tubers for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, you prevent them from rotting and the possible development of fungal diseases. Roots can also be treated with a fungicide. Check for every damage and signs of disease. Any dark or rust stains must be removed. Tubers can often be found white bloom - this is the initial phase of infection with fungi.If nothing is done, then such a spine will cause infection of the entire planting material, you will not be able to save the crop until spring.
5. Drying After washing, be sure to leave the tubers to dry in the fresh air. And before storing dahlias after digging, it is advisable to leave the tubers for 10 days in a cool room. This is done in order to tighten the shallow wounds on the roots.

How to store dahlias in winter, storage at home

How and where to store dahlias in the winter - a question of particular relevance to urban gardeners. That is why we decided to collect the most current storage options for tubs that allow you to do this even in an apartment.

Storage in boxes

Not everyone has the ability to store tubers in the basement or in a special vault. Therefore, for keeping in a city apartment, the roots are usually placed in boxes, which are then transferred to the coldest place (for example, near the balcony door or in the vestibule).

The contents in the boxes - one of the most acceptable ways how to keep dahlias at home. The roots are neatly placed in a box on a layer of peat, and they are covered with peat on top. Peat can be replaced with sand or sawdust (preferably softwood).

Sand storage

Next, consider how to store dahlias in the winter in the sand. A container with a volume of approximately 20 liters is filled with well-dried sand. Dahlia roots in 1-2 layers are immersed in a box, covered with sacking.

According to numerous reviews, the tubers are perfectly preserved. This method is also convenient because it allows to check the condition of the roots in the winter. However, this method has disadvantages - a large amount of sand is required. In addition, the flowers themselves begin to give sprouts and suction roots much earlier than the desired period.

The main danger when storing root crops is excessive moisture. Moistening the sand used is a common mistake when storing dahlia roots in sand.

It may seem that the sand is completely dry, and the roots dry up.However, from moisture roots either rot, or germinate ahead of time. It is better to overdry them, since overdried roots can still be repaired, and rotted roots can no longer be.

Paraffin storage

Waxing or immersing tubers in molten paraffin wax is quite laborious, but one of the favorite methods of skilled gardeners. Paraffin-treated root crops are stored much better. Paraffin does not allow moisture to disappear, the roots do not dry out.

In addition, in the process of paraffin treatment from exposure to high temperatures, all pathogens that were present on the roots die.

After hardening, paraffin forms a protective layer, thanks to which the negative influence of external factors on the delocs is absolutely not scary.

When choosing the method of waxing for storage, it is important to remember that delenki in this case awaken much later. This method is suitable only for early varieties of plants. So let's analyze how to keep dahlia tubers in paraffin. Dahlia tubers are waxed as follows:

1. Paraffin or candles flicker, put in a pot of water. Next, this pot is transferred to a larger container and put in a water bath.
2. Paraffin melt on low fire. The thickness of the melted material should be 2-3 cm.
3. To root the club got into the pan, they may have to be divided. Washed and dried roots tied by string, dipped in hot paraffin and immediately taken out. On air, paraffin hardens immediately.

Vermiculite Storage

Next, we discuss how to keep dahlia tubers until spring in vermiculite. Vermiculite perfectly retains moisture, which means you can not worry about re-drying of tubers. On the other hand, it is this factor that can cause early germination of tubers, even with a slight increase in temperature at the place of detention. It is recommended to choose not ordinary garden vermiculite, but coarse fractional.

The bottom of the container selected for storing root crops is filled with vermiculite, then a layer of roots is laid.

Thus, in turn, the entire capacity is filled. Then the billet must be covered with plastic wrap and transferred to a cool room (3-6 ° С).

Storage in sawdust

Storing dahlias after digging in sawdust is a fairly simple, affordable and reliable option. The only condition for the successful storage of tubers - large sawdust, even better chips. Choosing small sawdust, there is a risk that they will stretch all the moisture. Sometimes the roots with sawdust canned in packages. This is an unacceptable mistake, because due to the condensation formed, the roots of the flower in polyethylene rot. From high humidity rootklubni die.

Necessary conditions for keeping dahlias at home

Dahlias for storage must be taken from beautiful and large bushes, since the forecast for the preservation of tubers of such plants in the winter is most favorable. The roots of weak and thin plants do not survive.

In different years, different varieties of dahlia are stored differently. Much depends on the weather in the vegetation phase and on the landing site (in the sun or in partial shade). Dahlias originated from the crossing of heat-loving plant species, and Guatemala, Peru, Chile and Mexico are considered their homeland. Therefore, these flowers do not have winter hardiness.

In addition, wild dahlias grow in the conditions of a short day and a cool night. This explains the later flowering of these plants in our climatic zones. Nevertheless, Fubuki Kogan and Mingus Toni are very reliable varieties.

Choosing for yourself the most appropriate way to store dahlias at home, it is important to remember the necessary conditions. Based on the foregoing, these include: low temperature (3-5 ° C), sufficient air humidity (approximately 60-70%) and good ventilation (in order to avoid rotting of the roots).

Cornelubni perfectly stored in the cellar, in a cool garage or an extension. In this case, from time to time they still need to be carried out to the street for ventilation.

If you live in an apartment, the principle of storage remains the same, but the method of storage needs to be thought out more carefully, based on the living conditions. The best option is storage in boxes.

Observing all the recommendations and adhering to the generally accepted standards of how to store dahlias in the cellar in winter, you can enjoy and admire the beauty of these flowers for more than one season. Any of the above storage methods guarantees 90-95% successful results.