What a beautiful view from your home!

Storage is always tricky for everyone. The same method doesn't work everywhere, as it depends some on how humid it is and how cool. It has got to be trial and error figuring out what works for you.

It is pretty dry here in the winter, so for me wrapping the tubers in saran wrap works well. After dividing them I dust them with cinnamon for its anti-fungal properties, then wrap up each tuber in saran, pile them in boxes, and store them on the floor of my studio/grow room. My studio is a converted attached garage, so while it is heated, it is a separate heating system from my living space, and in the winter I keep it at 50 degrees, unless I am out there working. The floor is just concrete slab, so that is more like 40 degrees - which is perfect for the tuber storage.

Mary and Arlene have been storing theirs in undivided, unwashed clumps I have heard very good things about that method (the dirt keeps them from drying out) but it takes a lot more space, and I have to many dahlias to try it.

I know quite a few people that store them in vermiculite after dividing.

Ultimately - there are some types of dahlias that store really easily, and others that rot easily, so I think everyone looses some. You mentioned that many of yours come from S.I. and I know they tend to specialize in tubers that are easy to store. - lets face it when you are dealing with the numbers they are, you don't have the time to molly-coddle them.

Thanks Geof. I am sure I will be asking for and looking this fall for ways to store the dahlia's. I started seeds 2 days ago the Deno method and this evening when I checked most of them are sprouting. Tomorrow I get to put them in their own cell packs. I am excited to get outside. I walked around today and, oh my, I have a lot of work to do. It was fun seeing the tips of the daffodils and tulips breaking through the ground.
Daffodils from last year.

Hi everyone, I am Etelka, from Augusta Ga. I am growing dahlias for the second year, first year was challenging due to a lack of knowledge of staking, so some of my dahlias ended up laying on the ground. This year I bought some metal pipes,, will paint them green and be ready to prop the plants up. I am adding some more plants this year, I will order some Pom Pons, I like how they look. I think I will end up about 25 plants . I am one of the lucky ones that I don't have to dig them up, it never gets to cold here, use lots of pine needles for mulch. I got some new tubers in Walmart could not resist the name, Mr. Perfect . It is a nice two tone pink and yellow, not to tall. These dahlias bloomed last year.

I'm Judy, fourth year with dahlias but this is the first year that I dug and stored roots. They overwinter just fine here but I found they needed to be divided because multiplying too thick. Also I rarely buy tubers, just grow from seeds that I get from swap and eBay. Some of the seed grown have been extremely tall! Had so many tubers that I gave plenty for Christmas gifts and a friend who just bought a new house. Looking forward to planting the stored seed grown tubers.

Welcome Etelka and Judy (though I know Judy you have been around a bit.)

Etelka - I have a Sister and an Aunt living in Agusta GA, you get some long hot summers! It doesn't seem to be slowing down your dahlias though. 25 is nice sized group - but beware they are addictive. You will probably want to dig yours every 2-3 of years and divide them. It will keep them healthier and increase your numbers.

Judy - while dahlia aficionados look down on open centered flowers - that salmon pink one is really nice. Growing them all from seed is so hit and miss - you must really like surprises in your garden.

Geof, you can tell your sister that I live in the Harrisburg area, old mix neighborhood full of young families on the move all the time. I think I am one of the few owners that live here , lots of section 8 . I been here for 14 years and trying to show the neighbors how it can be a nice neighborhood, most of them are not interested. Some time I want to give up and move, but most of the time I feel like it is a purpose I am still here, lot's of the kids come to smell my flowers and there is hope somewhere. Also, I have done my garden the way I like it, so in my age, it would be hard to start all over. Here are some of my pictures. #4 I call "golf anyone"

They are such great photos, Etelka! I can see why #4 is "golf anyone". You're so nice and neat!

Welcome to Etelka and Judy. I love the pictures. I also grow a lot from seed. I put them in trays today. Etelka, that last picture is very similar to mine when looking out the front door of the little house. I love the lawn with flowers and trees all around.
This in in early spring before the dahlias and hibiscus are blooming.

Look at all the hibiscus blooming! Your gardens must be the envy of the neighborhood!

Beautiful, MyRee!

Thank you Rose, At last count I had 110 hibiscus in the 2 yards. When the Dahlia's bloom, it is a beautiful sight to see. I have people stopping all the time to come and look or take pictures. But, I would bet that everyone here has that experience. All the flowers and yards are so beautiful.
I flood irrigate all my yards except the very front of my house which is in front of a circular driveway. I love to irrigate. I grew up on a flood irrigation farm, my parents taught me well. It does present some problems at times though, I have to plan carefully where I plant. I have to have my ditches free for the water. The grass in the front of the yard is full of water and the grand-kids love to play in it. The Dahlia's and Hibiscus seem to love it also. I irrigate twice a week.
This is about 5 years ago and my grandson Tayson. I brought in 17 very large trucks of topsoil and amended it with leaf mulch from our local recycle place and went to work. I loved doing it.

Welcome, Etelka and Judy! I'm sure you'll love ATP and this dahlia forum.

Beautiful gardens, MyRee!

MyRee,

It sounds like a lot of work but it has certainly paid off! How many different varieties of hibiscus do you have? 110 plants? My back hurts just thinking about all that fall pruning!

Rose, I have 6-7 named varieties, but most are from seed that I collected from my flowers and grew out.
I am the only one that does the yard so I am out there when I am not at work. I love being outside. I am so excited about my Dahlia's coming this year. I have an order picked out from Honken Dahlia's, but don't know if I can spend the $$.
Canby Centennial


Edna C
This makes it all worth it.

Two beauties for sure! Do you have names for those? I really like the yellow one.

Hi Rose, The top one is Canby Centennial, the yellow is Edna C. Both beauties.

Etelka! Hi there. I remember you so it must be from DG maybe, or some other forum here. anyway, good to hear from you again.

Hi, Mary, I have been a member at DG, but it got all messed up so I just stopped visiting them. I always admired your story about life in Alaska, I guess I just stay in Georgia, it is kind of backwards, but got used to it and got to old to move. My garden is looking good, clematis is budding and I will have more dahlias then last year. Stay well.

Etelka, I envy your wonderful gardening weather but don't think I could handle the humidity and heat. My blood is too thick I guess from living in Alaska. I am seriously trying to grow Clematis here. Have lost so many except for one rather unimpressive one that hardly ever blooms but the plant is a nice kind of gold color. I have one that survived last summer and thrived (even bought a trellis in hopes of winter survival). Then I ordered another to replace the one I lost in the front yard. I am thinking I might put it in a pot and try to get it more robust before putting it into the ground. I know others have been successful here and I really love them.

HI, I'm Frank from Clinton, Michigan & I am a dahliaholic.

I have been clean going on 5 months, but come May I think I'm a goner...

This seems to happen to me every year, I am in a rut:)