When digging dahlias for the winter and why do you need to do this?

Many gardeners like to decorate plots with dahlias. Varieties and species of this proud plant is very much, it blossoms until the frosts. Apparently, therefore, from beginner gardeners you can often hear the question: "Can not dig dahlias for the winter?"

Tubers of this plant die at minus temperature, so you must dig them out. Grow this flower is not difficult, the most difficult process is winter storage. If you have never encountered this, the first time you will need to make maximum efforts, then the next time you will not seem complicated.

So, when digging dahlias for the winter?

If you planted different varieties of dahlias in the spring and plan to reproduce them or arrange them in certain groups, prepare in advance the bios with names or convenient identification marks. It is desirable to tie tags to frost, because after them it is not always possible to determine what color your dahlia was. This is done for your convenience.

As soon as the first frost passes, the greens and flowers darken, the time comes when digging dahlias for the winter.

You will need a secateur, a garden rake or a small shovel. First, break the leaves and cut the stem 40-50 cm from the ground. Later you will trim it, leaving 10-15 cm. This should be done in order to make it convenient for you to dig the tuber itself. With garden rakes, gently dig a tuber in a circle, about 30 cm apart, so as not to damage it. Then, from different sides, lift the tuber from the ground, try to do it smoothly.

When digging dahlias for the winter, in no case do they pull and stagger behind the stem, trying to take the tuber out of the ground! There is one more important point: when you trim the stem, it will have an empty cavity, in which water and moisture should not enter during further manipulation. It must be removed before sending the tubers to "wintering", otherwise the plant will disappear.

After the tuber is removed, cut off the extra stem leaving 10-15 cm. It is not necessary to completely cut off the stem. Remove any debris, if necessary, rinse with water. Thin roots at this stage do not touch.

Preparing for storage

When digging dahlias for the winter, after washing they are treated with any fungicide or solution of potassium permanganate. The tubers are lowered into the solution and held there for 15-20 minutes. After that, dry well and only then cut the thin roots. This will save your plants from parasites. If you accidentally damage the tuber, this place can be covered with greens or sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

"Force" to divide the tubers do not recommend. If they disintegrate themselves into several, then you will only need to make excess biros.

Storage

Option one - traditional

Dry, processed tubers put in boxes and send to winter in a cellar or cellar. This may be another place where the temperature does not rise above 10 degrees and does not fall below 0. Tubers die at sub-zero temperatures. During the winter, periodically inspect your plants, see how they behave, maybe some of them will soften or mold. In such a case, such tubers must be quarantined (treated) or discarded.

Option two - waxing

This option is resorted to when it is necessary to keep the tubers in the apartment conditions. White paraffin candles are melted in a saucepan, it needs to be done very carefully. In paraffin, heated to 70 degrees, the dahlias of dahlias are dropped. Roots are put in a box or a box and are hidden in a cool place. The method is rather exotic and will require certain costs.

Now you know when to dig out dahlias and how to store them. The first time it may seem complicated, but if you master this science, every year you will rejoice in beautiful flowers.