My only mold problem came when I didn't dry them long enough. One site says two weeks but after about a week I cave in and store them.

Maybe I didn't wait two weeks Some were shriveling, some not. Just can't win. Lots of pips and growth however. Just received two peonies to plant. arghhhhhh

Mary - what are you storing them in? It seems awfully early for you to be dealing with mold.

Just dried them out as I could, left on some dirt and threw in shopping plastic bags. Arlene does this rather successfully. I guess I didn't dry them out enough, but some were shriveling. I guess if I am to save any I will have to divide and put in a semi dry pet mix in zip bags (like all the bags I just threw away -

The folks that I know who store whole clumps immerse them in peat or vermiculite, and don't put them in anything completely air tight.

What would keep the from molding in the peat. Vermiculite I could see

Mary, they say peat has antifungal properties.

yep - thats what I read too, but also materials that are slightly absorbent will draw surface moisture away. If they are in plastic bags, condensation forms on the tubers, and that encourages the mold.

Okay. I have a big bag of peat i the shed - shudder - where it is about 12F I will haul it into the garage and begin redoing the bags and hope for the best. Will clip off the 'stringies' at the same time. Got some but not all.

I spent all day digging mine up. I tossed a few that were virused or underwhelming in general, but I still have about 150 to deal with. Right now they are just in trays on the floor of my work room. I guess I know where all my free time for the next week or two will be spent.

Luckily we had a beautiful fall day - 60's and mostly sunny. It was the best fall digging weather I have had in years. I usually have on a coat and gloves.

Tossing the underwhelming is an excercise in joy. I have a few that will go to the neighbor so she can give them to friends who don't care about color, height, etc.

I hope the rest of us, who still have to wait to dig, will be as fortunate as you were with the weather.

I have been digging up 2-3 dahlias a day. At this rate, it keeps it simple for me to keep track of their id's and not get too overwhelmed. Last year, I got ambitious trying to do all in a day. By the end of the day, I had no idea what was what and got so tired that I swore off dahlias for eternity. Off course, you guys know that eternity is less than 2 months. LOL Anyway, I stick the whole clumps into plastic containers in the garage and forgot about them. Some got frozen and others barely made it last winter. This year I am trying a different method. I am going to break up the tubers and store them in ziplock bags. Do you see anything wrong with this method?

Depends on what you put into the bags with the tubers. You need to keep them open and as has been suggested peat moss is a great medium to absorb excess moisture and at the same time give off a little moisture when needed.

It also depends on what you mean by "break them up", and they do need to be cut pretty carefully so that you have the potential for eyes on each tuber you save.

Mine have a label tied around the stalk of each plant and buried with them when I plant them out, so there isn't any mix up when I dig them in the fall (theoretically) Generally they are wet enough when I dig them that sitting on the concrete floor of my (barely heated) work room for a couple of weeks as I get around to dividing them isn't a problem.

As I divide each clump I write the name with a sharpie on each tuber then put the groups in little lunch sized paper bags also labeled. Then when I get them all done, I dust each group with cinnamon for help with fungus/,mold prevention, and then wrap the individual tubers in saran wrap, pop them back in the paper bags, and store the bags in boxes on the floor of my cold work room for the winter.

It takes way to long, but some how its worth it.

Well crap! You guys let your dahlia dry for 1 - 2 weeks before you wrap them? I followed the tutorial from frankrichards that said to dry them overnight...Oh well! Let me know where you all post what you have for sale next year! Probably going to be throwing my moldy ones out!

Wow, you do that for all 150+ dahlias! That is alot of work! I admire you and Mary for such dedication. I hope to be able to accomplish 1/4 as much. I have about 30 dahlias and I think it is already a bit burdensome. I had just given away 7 clumps for postage. Would have included more but it was already a big box and that I was afraid shipping would be too high if I was to use a bigger box. Anyway, I am relieved to be rid of them and my recipient is happy. So it is a win-win!

Rose1656 said:Well crap! You guys let your dahlia dry for 1 - 2 weeks before you wrap them? I followed the tutorial from frankrichards that said to dry them overnight...Oh well! Let me know where you all post what you have for sale next year! Probably going to be throwing my moldy ones out!

No, I do not let them dry for 1 to 2 weeks. I do it just like Frank's instructions.

But it is recommended to leave them IN THE GROUND for 1-2 weeks after a killing frost.

I do try to wait one to two weeks after a killing frost (with the stem protected so water won't get inside, freeze, and kill the entire plant).

Then I wash them (or not if it's too cold outside) but I do knock off the soil and leave them upside down on the outdoor table for about two weeks - same excuse (cold) for delaying (or advancing) bringing them indoors.

I did leave them in the ground for 2 weeks after the frost. Then let them dry overnight before wrapping them. Now I have to wait until next April or May to see if they survived? Another reason to be anxious for a new growing season!

Open each bag and check them for mold or rot. If they appear too damp, air them out for a week.