| Will my dahlias come up again next year, since they are bulbs, or do I have to dig them up and bring them in for the winter (as my mom believes)? If I do have to bring them in, what exactly does that entail? |
| Your mother is right. Dahlias must be dug each fall in cold weather climates. After frost has nipped the foliage and stems of your Dahlias, cut the foliage down to the ground. Then carefully dig the tubers and lay them in the sun for a few hours to dry. Then shake off excess soil. You can store them in sawdust, dry sand, peat moss or vermiculite in a cool (40F - 45F), dark place. In the spring the tubers can be divided before they are planted. Each swollen tuber that has a bud forming at the stem end can be cut away from the others and planted. Cut with a sharp knife, taking part of the original stem with each division. |
