Dahlia Tuber Winter Storage Using the Plastic Wrap Method in a Refrigerator

[@angelarouillard4359]

If I could ask a follow-up question, when do you take your tubers out of the cold fridges to wake up? Do you unwrap them when you do this? I think I am in a similar zone to you, so I'm eager for your tips and tricks! :D

[@TayloredAcres]

Absolutely! I take tubers out on April 1st that I want to wake up early. I unwrap the ones I want and put them in a tray with damp soil and put them in a warm sunny spot. Once they put on green growth, they get their own pot under the grow lights. This has worked great the last few years! Then I'll wake up the rest of the tubers, probably May 15th ish. I wait until we are very clear of any chance of frost to plant out and cover at night if it gets cool. I'll be going a video of this when the time comes! I'm zone 4b and last frost date of May 15th. Hope this helps!

[@maryruud9566]

I've been using the plastic wrap and mini fridge method for many years with great success. My unheated garage is too cold and my basement is too warm, so this is the only way I can save my dahlia tubers year to year.

[@TayloredAcres]

Thanks for sharing! I have the same issues with temperatures and was so glad to find this method!

[@angelarouillard4359]

I have done this for 2023 (controlled wine fridge) and so far my tubers feel firm and nice, but I have some condensation in the wrap and I've noticed some white mold on a few of them. Any recommendations on saving those? Or do you think they'll be fine unless they start getting soft? I have heard you can just brush the mold off...

[@TayloredAcres]

From my experience so far, condensation is normal as long as the tubers stay firm. In my first year, I rewrapped them after a month or so because of the condensation, but it came right back. For the mold, those I lost in the past were to a black mold. White seems to be more harmless. Did you put cinnamon or Sulfur on the tubers before wrapping? I do think that is a necessary step. If there is a good deal of mold, you can always take them out, reapply the Sulfur and rewrap. Or even rewrap some and leave others to see what is necessary! Good luck!

[@angelarouillard4359]

@TayloredAcres Thank you so much! I did not cinnamon or sulfur them, and I am regretting that. I have taken some out and rewrapped. But I agree, the condensation came back. They are a tad wet in spots, which I think the sulfur would have helped prevent. I'm going to get some and redo a few!