Content
In autumn, all dahlia lovers are actively preparing the rhizomes of these flowers for wintering. Digging of roots should be done immediately after the first frost. The weather should be dry and preferably sunny. This article will discuss how preparation should be carried out dahlias for winter.
Not only the quality of the planting material, but also its safety until spring depends on how correctly all the preparatory processes are carried out. This means that preparing dahlias in the fall should occupy an important place in the life of a gardener.
Preparing dahlias for digging
Before digging up the rhizomes, you should carefully cull the plants, since the quality of the planting material and the safety of the flower will depend on this. After this, the soil around the dahlias is removed.
In this case, infections will be destroyed from the site and healthy planting material will not be harmed.
In addition, it is important to take into account that the root part of dahlias accumulates moisture in order to protect itself from drought. Therefore, in order to prevent rotting of the root collar, watering should be stopped a week before digging up the tubers.
If frosts began earlier than expected, then the root system has not yet had time to prepare for winter. What should I do? Leave the tubers in the ground as long as possible. Cut only cold-damaged stems, no lower than 15 cm from the ground. So, the plant can remain in the ground for about 20 more days, and the root system will have time to mature for wintering.
How to dig up tubers
Caring for dahlias in the autumn period includes the mandatory digging of tubers. As mentioned above, the roots need to be dug up and the soil removed. Afterwards, the tuber must be carefully removed from the soil. All actions must be performed carefully so as not to damage the root system. After this, the tubers are cleared of soil and laid out for drying.
Clearing the soil
The dug up tubers must be carefully inspected. Old roots are removed, as they will not produce new buds in the next season. In addition, old roots are poorly stored and may not survive the winter, which means there is no point in storing them.
Thin roots are completely cut off, and long ones are simply shortened. In the process of such cleaning, you will form compact tubers, which will be easier not only to move from place to place, but also to store.
Some gardeners believe that it is necessary to wash the roots before storing, while others are convinced that this should not be done. It is believed that when washing it is easier to detect damage.Other gardeners claim that the washing process damages the cambium, as a result of which the shelf life of dahlia roots is reduced. Which of these options to choose is up to you.
Dividing dahlia tubers
The division of tubers into sections is carried out in the fall, before the onset of winter. In the spring, these manipulations can lead to damage to the roots, as they become coarser over the winter. Although the autumn division also has its disadvantages. For example, it is difficult to see the buds from which new stems will grow in the next season.
To ensure that the buds germinate in the spring, leave a fragment of the neck on each cutting. After this, they need to be placed in boxes for storage, divided into small groups.
Large tubers are trimmed and carefully inspected. If you notice brown, rusty and dark soft spots, then this is a clear sign of decay. Cut away the lesions to healthy, light-colored tissue. The cuts must be treated with crushed charcoal or lime.
How to label tubers
Labeling of tubers is needed if you grow several varieties of dahlias in a flowerbed. If you mark the planting material, you will not re-sort the flowers. Mark strong tubers in a special way, for example, with an asterisk or a tick. So, you can use them for cuttings in the spring.
If you simply numbered the tubers, then the markings need to be written down in a notebook. In this case, in the spring you will be able to understand which type of flower is which and correctly plant them in the beds.
Drying tubers
If you still decide to wash the tubers, then it would be appropriate to disinfect them.For example, in a solution of potassium permanganate. Well, after these procedures, the rhizomes should be thoroughly dried. To do this, they need to be transferred to a well-ventilated, cool room. You can also dry the tubers outside, but only in dry and sunny weather.
It is impossible to dry planting material in a warm place, as too much moisture will evaporate from it. As a result, the tubers will dry out and will not be able to germinate in the spring. During the drying process, the tubers need to be laid with the stems down. So, excess water will evaporate from them. After about a week, cut off the small roots and shorten the stems to 3 cm.
Alternative methods for preparing planting material for winter
Some gardeners preserve dahlia tubers with a lump of earth or treat them with paraffin. Under such circumstances, preparatory work must be carried out in a different way. After the first frost, the rhizomes should be removed from the ground along with a lump of soil. They are dried in an unheated room that should be well ventilated.
Such planting material should be dried at a temperature not exceeding +16℃ for 7 days. You can then cut off the stems and transfer the rhizomes to permanent storage, for example, in boxes or crates.
Paraffin treatment
To reliably protect the tubers from spoilage, you can treat them with paraffin. To do this, you need to prepare them. So, the rhizomes are cleared of soil and divided into small parts. Leave the stems large enough and cut off the small roots.
Disinfect the cuttings in a solution of potassium permanganate. The tubers should stand in this solution for about 20 minutes. Dry them for two days. After this, prepare paraffin candles (their number depends on how many tubers you have). Candles need to be melted in a water bath.
The paraffin should melt to a semi-liquid state. Dip the tubers into melted paraffin. Under the influence of oxygen, paraffin will instantly harden on the treated rhizomes. After this, they can be wrapped in film or paper and placed in boxes/cardboard boxes. However, before planting, you will need to remove the protective shell from the tubers.
Conclusion
If you follow all the stages of preparing dahlia rhizomes for wintering, you will be able to preserve the varieties and increase their number next season. We also offer you video material similar to the topic:
