Many gardeners love to decorate their plots with dahlias. There are a lot of varieties and species of this proud plant; it blooms until frost. Apparently, therefore, one can often hear the question from beginner gardeners: “Is it possible not to dig up dahlias for the winter?”
The tubers of this plant die at sub-zero temperatures, so they must be dug up. Growing this flower is not difficult, the most difficult process is winter storage. If you have never experienced this, the first time you will need to make every effort, then the next time will not seem difficult to you.
So, when are dahlias dug up for the winter?
If you planted different varieties of dahlias in the spring and plan to propagate them or plant them in certain groups, prepare tags with names or identification marks that are convenient for you. It is advisable to tie the tags before frosts, because after them it is not always possible to determine what color your dahlia was. This is for your convenience.
As soon as the first frost passes, greens and flowers will darken, there comes a time whendig up dahlias for the winter.
You will need a pruner, a garden rake or a small shovel. First, break off the leaves and cut the stem 40-50 cm from the ground. Later, you will cut it, leaving 10-15 cm. This must be done so that it is convenient for you to dig out the tuber itself. With a garden rake, carefully dig the tuber in a circle, at a distance of about 30 cm, so as not to damage it. Then lift the tuber from the ground from different sides, try to do it smoothly.
When dahlias are dug up for the winter, in no case do they pull or shake the stem, trying to remove the tuber from the ground! There is another important point: when you cut the stem, there will be an empty cavity in it, into which water and moisture should not enter during further manipulations. It must be removed before the tubers are sent for wintering, otherwise the plant will disappear.
After the tuber is removed, cut off the excess stem leaving 10-15 cm. It is not necessary to cut the stem completely. Remove the remains of the earth, if necessary, rinse with water. Do not touch thin roots at this stage.
Preparing for storage
When dahlias are dug up for the winter, after washing they are treated with any fungicide or potassium permanganate solution. The tubers are dipped into the solution and kept there for 15-20 minutes. After that, they dry well and only then cut off thin roots. This will rid your plants of parasites. If you accidentally damage a tuber, this place can be covered with brilliant green or sprinkled with crushed coal.
Forcibly dividing tubers is notrecommend. If they fall apart on their own, then you will only need to make extra tags.
Storage
The first option is traditional
Place dry, processed tubers in boxes and send to spend the winter in the basement or cellar. This may be another place where the temperature does not rise above 10 degrees and does not fall below 0. Tubers die at sub-zero temperatures. During the winter, periodically inspect your plants, see how they are behaving, perhaps some of them will become softened or moldy. In this case, such tubers should be quarantined (treated) or thrown away.
Second option - waxing
This option is used when you need to keep the tubers indoors. White paraffin candles are melted in a saucepan, this must be done very carefully. In paraffin heated to 70 degrees, delenki of dahlias are lowered. The roots are put in a box or drawer and hidden in a cool place. The method is quite exotic and will require certain costs.
Now you know when to dig up dahlias and how to store them. At first it may seem difficult, but if you master this science, every year you will enjoy beautiful flowers.
