What Do You Do With Dahlia Bulbs

If you ve ever grown dahlias you know they can quickly become a gardener s prize flower.

What do you do with dahlia bulbs.

Once the skin is wrinkled the tubers should be dry enough. Picking a favorite dahlia is like going through a button box. Dahlias are beautiful tender perennials that flower all summer long. To start seeds indoors use a well drained seed raising mix and position in a warm spot away from direct sunlight.

Be careful not to let the tool come in contact with the tuberous roots which are easily damaged. Before you can remove dahlia bulbs from the ground you will need to cut down the stems. As well as coming in a rainbow of colors dahlia flowers can range in size from petite 2 inch lollipop style pompoms. Cut back the stems until they re about 6 inches 15 centimeters from the ground.

Keep the compost warm and moist. Dahlia tubers of a good size can be divided in spring. You ll need to dig the tubers up at the end of the season if you live in all but the warmest regions of the usa. If you garden in zones 3 6 you ll need to dig up your dahlia bulbs and store them indoors for this task you need pruning shears a shovel or.

In hardiness zone 7 dahlias will usually survive the winter outdoors as long if the soil is well drained and the tubers are insulated with a thick layer of mulch to avoid any risk bring the tubers indoors following the instructions for colder zones. Once they are dry they are packed away. Digging and storing dahlias for the winter is extremely easy and simple simply follow our guide. To do this press the tubers down onto a tray of shallow compost and leave them to start growth in a greenhouse or in a sunny room.

They are grown from tubers which look like a cluster of brown carrot like roots joined by the previous year s dried stem. Loosen the soil around the dahlia tubers by thrusting the fork or shovel into the ground about a foot away from the plant. Related species include the sunflower daisy chrysanthemum and zinnia they grow from small tubers planted in the spring. You should do this as soon as the first frost of the season has arrived.

Gardeners differ on the best way to pack overwintering dahlia tubers. You can now leave the roots for two to three more weeks before removing the bulbs. Gingerly pry up the soil as. However they do need to keep slightly moist on the interior to keep the embryo alive.

Dahlia is a genus of tuberous plants that are members of the asteraceae family. You can buy fresh tubers every spring from garden centres or by mail order or use your own tubers that have been overwintered.