Digging and storing DAHLIAS: A quick & easy guide

[@suziqbrown7073]

I don't grow Dahlias but I love listening to your honest calming REAL videos on anything in the garden

[@gardengatesopen]

Ha! Me too!! ❤

[@jaysgardenjournal]

I agree!

[@deananderson2143]

Beautiful picture

[@KerryRussellRN]

I know! There are so many talented gardeners on you tube but she is by far my favorite…she needs her own series!

[@samoatodd8730]

I loved this video….just finishing my third year with Dahlias . I Believe I’m…..hooked!

[@ignaciaforteza7731]

Enjoyed. Terrific advice. When my dahlias were in flower last summer I thought of you and your love for these beautiful flowers. They gave me great joy to see in my small garden this glorious show… not for long, however, sadly a heat wave was too much for them and in spite of all the care I gave them, painfully I had to see them wither. So sad!!! I saved them, hope they will put a show for me next summer. Thank you for sharing so much knowledge and love for dahlias.

[@bethweidner4252]

"Choose your own adventure"...excellent take on how to do dahlias! Good stuff. Thanks for the info!

[@leahkrotz935]

This is my first year growing dahlias. I found this video to be super helpful! I don't need hours and hours of information, just the basics and this was perfect. And my favorite thing is that you aren't worked up about there being one right way to do everything. Thanks for your no-nonsense, realistic approach to gardening!

[@delacotta360]

Even though I've been growing and storing dahlias for at least 10 years: THANK YOU for taking away my stress!! I thought it was just me losing some every year. I'm encouraged doing this as I started digging the 103 of them today!

[@greenthumbelina7331]

I've raised dahlias in the past, but I haven't for quite a number of years, so this was a very helpful reminder. Maybe, I'll have to grow them again next season. Thanks, Erin.

[@ElderandOakFarm]

This year was my first year growing Dahlias on my little cutflower farm. I just started to dig them & if I wasn't hooked because of the gorgeous blooms- I am HOOKED NOW! 😆 It's crazy how they form so many tubers in just one season!

[@laurieclarkson9180]

You're getting me excited to dig mine up!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

@@laurieclarkson9180 it's so fun!

[@kmarch6630]

Oh I'm so jealous of your fluffy black soil! I have Georgia red clay. I guess it kind of evens out though since I can leave my dahlias in the ground all winter.

[@norinenagle6730]

Thanks for making the point that there is a range of ways to store dahlias. It was the first time that I saw the reason to cut them down - so helpful this year when there is no chill in the evening (zone 7) on the Atlantic coast.

[@Dahliaismypassion]

Agree with Erin, do your own thing and storing dahlias is easy. They are very resilient if you don’t let them rot. There were years when I just threw clumps in cardboard boxes with soil on them and left them uncovered in my basement. They shrivelled a little but still grew just fine the next spring. Dahlias are the easiest plants to grow.

[@stephaniewarren9285]

I think I like your idea of separating in the spring and storing larger clumps. Seems like it would be easier for labeling.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

It definitely is!

[@Ada_Duran]

Thank you for the video! It had everything I was looking for, this was my first year growing dahlias with the intention of trying to store them over winter and had no clue how, so thanks for the info❤️

[@MariaSanchez-zf9cs]

Here in Texas, it's ok to leave them in ground. BUT... it gets so hot in the summer that they don't grow very well. This year I noticed that if I cut back the dried shriveled leaves and stems in August/September they end up putting on new growth at the bottom and flowers by end of October. I have two in containers that I will store in the garage. I may even try to put a heat pad under them in Jan/February to get them going early enough so they can produce something in the Spring. We'll see.

[@denisefaust1290]

This reminds me of me! Lol! Had 3 in pots this summer. Bloomed until August. Died during the hurricane because we were gone for 3 weeks. Live in New Orleans suburb. They were gorgeous for months. I was so excited to think of saving and sharing tubers. Watched lots of videos and gardeners trying to decide if I should just leave them in the pots in the garage or take them out to store. Decided to take them out because I was just excited to see them! Guess what! No tubers! ☹️😥WHAT! So sad!

[@upnorth21]

Thanks for an abbreviated review. Every fall I review how to overwinter my plants. Thanks for the assurance not to overstress and that there are many methods of storing! Lily's

[@ginafriend1690]

Hi Er 😊 I've still not grown them, but will finally do next year. They're beautiful! Thank you for this invaluable information. Saving & Appreciated!

[@kellyblair7114]

Thank you for saving my sanity! Great video for this beginner!

[@shanabirely6204]

I needed the info about forcing the dahlias into dormancy. I pulled two too early:( Will do this for the others. Love your channel and all I learn from it. Thank you for all your education, I love watching you and everything you do with your garden.

[@RG-nv8nc]

Thanks to you Erin..I am getting better at dahlia growing. Planted them for the first time last year. We had a great season! Stored them in shredded paper. Lost some but most were ok (needed more humidity). Bought more colors this year and the repeated the whole process again! I am going to try a new medium this year for storage. It is a fun experiment and the joy they provide in summer is priceless!

[@Flanuora]

Thank you, I was just thinking about how I’m going to label them this morning. Very timely video!

[@susiehobbins]

Thank you for great dalhia storage advice!

[@RevAcres01]

Great video! This year I really stepped out with various colors and varieties thanks to your inspiration it was a fun dahlia year. Can't wait to place my 2022 Longfield Garden order.

[@dianekurtz3257]

Great instructional video Erin! I love listening to all your gardening tips!

[@lisaporria7307]

Thank you! I. Having surgery and was afraid I would destroy my tubers by having to dig them up before frost killed the leaves. I can now move forward with the method you outline here with confidence before my surgery.

[@reneegibson8650]

Well it seems like I did everything wrong with pulling out my dahlias here in Connecticut, zone 6. I didn’t know you should cut them and wait a week or wait for a frost. Also, I washed them and let them dry so now they’re all shriveled up. I also cut them into individual tubers. Can you tell I’m a NEWBIE with all of this? I have one huge dinnerplate dahlia plant left in the ground so I’ll use all of your great instructions on that one. Thank you for your concise and simplified instructions. It really is overwhelming hearing so many different ways to store your dahlias. This was by far the BEST video out there. Thank you Erin for all of your time and effort in educating all of us.

[@michellekrantz888]

Great info! Very timely! I like that you cover various methods! Thanks!

[@emptynestgardens9057]

My first year growing dahlias was an experience. 😁😳 The 2 online sellers I used sent mushy tubers and later found out was gall (?) Penhill Watermelon ended up being a Cafe Au lait pink variety near as I can figure, so not a total loss. The actual cafe au lait had a tonne of buds and only 1 sort of opened before this first frost hit the other day. All 13 of my other dahlias completely bloomed so don't know what happened there. Im fully prepared for all that could go wrong during the storing process. Good thing I'm up for the challenge 😁🤣 It's been an adventure.

[@patriciagraham4593]

You are awesome! Thanks for by-passing your life story or the dream your great Gramma had:) The info was very clear!

[@pattystrecker1867]

Thanks for the video. I appreciate the basic overview because I can sometimes get lost in the details. Since this is my first time growing them, I only bought one so if it doesn't make it, I'm not out much money. 😁

[@SeaAggieAlli07]

This is perfect! Almost to November in Chicago and I'm glad to see I can force to dormancy faster. Thank you for your storage options 💚

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

I am able to leave mine in the ground 🤗 but this was so fascinating Erin 💕

[@lincasteel-butler531]

Great video. Great way to approach a "frightening" task. I am fortuate not to have to do this. Thanks Erin.

[@heatherw.2751]

Well said! I was thinking the same thing as I’m in zone 8 but I watched and enjoyed this video anyway!

[@lincasteel-butler531]

@@heatherw.2751 zone 8b here .

[@nanaof07]

Thanks! First time Dahlia grower so I'm still not sure which method I'll use Zone 6B buts we have had a mild fall. Just in case I fail, I'll be ordering more tubers, plus I'm kind of addicted now. It will be fun regardless of the outcome!

[@heatherw.2751]

Good luck!!

[@nanaof07]

@@heatherw.2751 thank you!

[@schlund366]

I live in Z6b also, and I wondered how yours turned out!

[@maryjoszymanski8409]

Thanks Erin! I stored some for the first time last year. Most shriveled up on me but I confess, I didn’t check as often as I should have. I also used the pet bedding in bulb crates but I didn’t use any plastic covering. Maybe that’s the missing key for me to save more than a few tubers for next year! My basement tends to be pretty dry over the winter.

[@kimbar11]

This year was my first year growing dahlias and I’m in love with them!

[@juliafiore120]

Good morning, Erin ☕️ Thanks for this video. Up here in Boston, we have to dig them up so I’m just going to leave them in their pots for the winter ❄️ and fingers crossed 🤞🏻 they survive! No stress 😎. Have a Blessed Day 😊

[@carolmoore1797]

Thanks for the information... I appreciate the “don’t stress” advice!

[@kathypope3010]

Thank you Erin. Great video - took some of the worry and stress out of it.

[@c.m.4686]

Thank you for posting this. Lovely, easy and clear instructions. I am about to dig out my dahlias and attempt to store them for the winter!

[@GrowingHomeAndGarden]

This is really helpful - I’m half way through the process and it is comforting to know that there are lots of ways to have success!

[@sandyg8794]

Hi Erin! I haven't grown dahlias because I really don't have a place for them, and I don't have a proper place to store them, but this was very interesting. I always enjoy just listening to you. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@robertparker8669]

Loving those work shoes!

[@didisinclair3605]

Hey Erin! I was off on Dahlias for a while, but gave them a try last year... I used your wood shaving suggestion last year and it worked very well. It can be overwhelming for newbies with all the myriad ways to store the tubers. Great info, great video!!! (I fell into the lure of the Cafe au lait dahlia, and can see the obsession.. it is glorious!)

[@lizetterivera166]

You (and all the amazing information you provide) are the sole reason I finally grew dahlias this year & I was certainly not disappointed! The only issue is that we’ve had such a mild fall we’re already a month past our average first frost date and zero cold in the forecast - figured it’d be Xmas by the time I was digging tubers with completely frozen hands. I didn’t realize I could force their dormancy by cutting down their stems - always learning more and more from you Erin. Thank you so much for sharing your invaluable experience & expertise!!

[@sandistolle4874]

You made it so much easier, thanks!

[@lisac8082]

Such a clear and concise video. Great job!🌺🌸

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Thanks, Lisa! I really wanted to keep it to a "just the facts" kind of approach, so I appreciate that comment!

[@lisac8082]

@@TheImpatientGardener you are so welcome. Thank you!

[@beckyscheller9358]

Great tips, and options. Thanks for sharing

[@stacylesniewski107]

Thanks for the quick and easy although I have your longer videos saved and have watched multiple times. With no basement, my only option is our attached, semi-heated garage for storage as I head unto my first season of storing. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@jamieflint2550]

Great video! A little late for me this year (it's fine though since I've watched your earlier videos, and Laura's etc), but i shared it with my local gardening fb group for others to enjoy! 😊 I'm storing dahlias for the first time so I hope they make it!

[@amydeeds6248]

Great simplified directions! ☺️

[@eviekleinwhittingham9237]

Wow! You can still wear sandals this time of year?!! LOVE the suggestion to cut the dahlias, cover with tinfoil, and leave them in the ground a week. Our usual frost is overdue so if I wait for a hard frost to turn the leaves black before I dig them up we'll also have awful weather to garden in like snow and heavy rain. Although this is my first year growing dahlias I totally believed you about the importance of labeling. Very similar to bringing in canna lilies. Thanks for the concise encouragement.

[@pamelacallaway3922]

I’m going to try storing them this year, first time. I had such a gorgeous specimen - red and white.

[@anipierson3398]

Terrific video. Perfectly timed! We’ve had a very wet warmish fall with no freeze in the forecast. I’m so ready to dig out my dahlias. Good to know I can do it b4 a freeze. Thank you!

[@nanapoppi3]

Great video Erin, and very much appreciated at this time of the year.. I find that even if one has stored away tubers for years you can always learn something new. And I think I might try your choice of animal bed shavings this year or Claus Dalby's suggested newspapers for covering my tubers.. Gardening can sometimes feel like a lab experiment!

[@wagnerab1958]

Great video appreciate your tips and knowledge. I'll be trying to grow dahlias next year so this video is very helpful. Thank you, love your channel.

[@amywiseman3246]

Darn, I’m zone 5…I was hoping to mulch em up🤞🏼& hope for the best. I guess I’ll dig🙄too much money invested to risk it. Thanks Erin🌸Ü da bestest🙂

[@MK-wm6gu]

Thank you for this video, Erin. I watched the video from spring when you took your dahlias out of storage and divided and planted them. However, I hadn’t grown them in years at that point because never had any success with them. I decided to try again, and the few dahlias I bought -as plants, grew beautifully. It will soon be time to dig them up. I am going to let the frost kill off the foliage and then dig up the tubers. I assume there will be tubers even if the plants were grown from seed. Is that correct? This video is informative, and I feel confident moving forward. Thanks again.

[@martinlugus7242]

I am neither a gardener nor a hiker. But you and a hiker in Finland, whatever the subject, always put a smile on my face. Another great video. Can you grow mini-dahlias in a pot?

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Yes you absolutely can. You can grow medium sized ones in pots too. And I'd love if you'd share that hiker's channel so I can check it out. :)

[@martinlugus7242]

@@TheImpatientGardener Erin, my Finnish hiker's KZbin channel is under his name: Ali Leinio. Although you have very different personalities, for me, you share some common traits. You are both authentic, unassuming, interesting, and, most importantly, somehow calming. You may be a little bit more fun. The Finns are a serious people.

[@elmaelmar2761]

This was very interesting!! I am going to try to store mine again. Hope better luck this year!! Thanks for this great video!!

[@christinahaftmann4065]

Great presentation! I learned a lot and appreciate your enthusiasm for dahlias! 💐

[@meagantrout2127]

My aunt has a dahlia in the same place for years. We are a zone 6 but she has a brick house and has the original tuber planted on the south side of the house, on the opposite side of where the oven is in the kitchen. It has continued to thrive

[@TheImpatientGardener]

You have to love a good microclimate!

[@monal620]

This is a great video! Nicely done!

[@jilladcock5648]

I did this once before without good results but I am trying again just to expand my selection. I know I’ll buy more. Fingers crossed and thanks for the reassurance that there is a way. I just need to find mine.

[@amyhoff1501]

Very comprehensive video , mine are in the drying stage now , tomorrow I will pack them away in peat moss in plastic tub

[@dantang65]

thankyou very much

[@shawnisenor906]

Good Evening Erin, last year my dahlias were shrivelled worse than raisins and ever single one of them grew and performed great, some actually better than the new tubers I bought. I’m gonna try newspaper this year and a plastic storage tub like you mentioned. I had never heard of sealing them up like that before and I’m intrigued. Think I’ll do half that way and half like last years wood shaving method and see what happens. Thanks for all the great information and a fantastic channel.

[@letsgotravel7724]

Thanking you for making this easier!

[@kathyszeremet7138]

Thank you so much. I will follow your advice and give it a shot.

[@heatherd212]

🇨🇦Very informative! To the point 👍 thank you

[@laurelsayer7557]

Great video!! I found a couple rotted last year wrapped in newspaper in my garage in damp old England, so am going to try pet bedding shavings in one box, and vermiculite in the other this Winter.

[@amberlockhart1386]

I’m literally doing this right now. Taking a break. My least favorite thing to do!

[@kellyy4525]

I LOVE this and thanks so much for a recap! Only my second year to store and I think I will have a good number to separate!

[@karanbanando6863]

Thank you so much for this info, especially referring to us in zone 10. One question, can I transplant them at this time? I want to move it to another area in my garden.

[@JwlsMambo]

Very well made content!!! Thank you!!

[@Anghooeyrhymeswithjulie]

Thank you for this!

[@myrnaedmisten599]

Verrrry helpful! Thanks.

[@anitahadley2871]

I left mine in the ground here in GA 7b and they all came back. It was my first year leaving them so I was unsure. However, I think I need to prune them all back a bit harder next year. They started early, got super tall and weren’t very attractive at the end of summer. They still produced blooms and still are but they don’t look great. Some need to be relocated and I’m wondering if I can just move them now, move in the spring or if I should dig up and store.

[@jcking6785]

Great info!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Wood shavings have worked the best for me too. I would add to protect them from rodents, only because I lost a lot last year from mice and rats getting into them and eating them. The first time that happened and we are trying to mitigate any rodents getting into the basement but I will also make sure to make it tough for any to get at my tubers.

[@rscalise2011]

Omg Erin… thank you! First year growing in zone 7. I did everything I was suppose to do…hey my dahlias tuber got moldy!! 😢. This winter had been erratic in his area, wonder if humidity was the issue..

[@reneeadolph1309]

Trying it again this year. Last year I let them get to dry.

[@christinaannabel]

One more suggestion. If you run out of time and/or energy to label each tuber group, divide them into TALL, MEDIUM and SHORT groups/boxes so that at the least, when planted next spring, they will all be visible in the garden. Perhaps it will be a pleasant surprise to find out which color and style ends up where. (Thanks for the dormancy tip. I exhumed my tubers right after cutting down the plants, so we'll see how things grow next year.)

[@karenschwartz5209]

Excellent, thank you 😊

[@jeanniecollier6763]

Thank you this was a GREAT video!!

[@colsen4616]

There’s a gardener here in the Seattle area who covers in-ground tubers with sword fern fronds (we’ve got plenty!) over winter to act as an umbrella to divert water. We’re zone 8, but winters are very wet so rotting is an issue. I’ll try that once I have more than one plant!

[@aprilbuckland7955]

Thank you very much for sharing this information with us. This was my second year growing dahlias and I wish that I had paid more attention when my grandmother was gardening. Last year I had 4 plants and only 2 made it through the winter in the cold room. This year I have 14 dahlias to care for and do not want to loose any. My question for you is: I had 2 dahlias that grew stems and leaves, but no flowers, are they worth storing and trying again next season, or should I just toss them in the compost? I would really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!

[@peggydegroot7163]

Wow!! Great video!

[@nmiller6784]

Great info! Thanks!

[@wendyvanderkooi7890]

Thanks Erin…. I successfully wintered some over last year, thanks to your tips, and bought more this spring. Where do you get the tags you use?

[@JJ-fm3hr]

excellent information!

[@breakingburque2200]

I’ve always just left them in the ground and cover with mulch. Last year I gave up on them and didn’t do anything. We needed a break from each other.

[@fraukeg.facchini2691]

Thank you, Erin! Very concise and practical advice. Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that we do not have a suitable storage place with the required temperature zone. Guess I will have to buy new tubers every spring. 😥

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Look for a friend who wouldn't mind giving away a corner of a cool space. :)

[@fraukeg.facchini2691]

@@TheImpatientGardener Thanks, Erin, great idea! Now why didn't I think of that? You're always practical, which I really appreciate. 😊

[@annmadden1030]

Can you use the bud of the dahlia buds to propagate great video

[@TheImpatientGardener]

No. Dahlias can be propagated by tuber division, seeds, or cuttings.

[@kbechtel33]

Great information 👍

[@kortneyerin1982]

Zone 7 here. Been growing dahlias for 6 yrs and I’ve never dug them up. However our winters haven’t been too bad here in the Baltimore area these past few yrs. I wanna try this method just out of curiosity, but when it comes to storing them idk where to do so. My basement gets extremely hot bc of the heat and furnace during winter. Any other suggestions?

[@marybosworth1231]

Great video!

[@patsyden6276]

Thank you.

[@scallywags12]

Here on Vancouver island, (BC Canada) east side zone 8. I leave my dahlias in the ground.

[@miraj906]

Is it possible to dig them out the ground & store them in pots? I'm wondering if that would help with storage & save time on potting up in the spring.

[@alanmak8622]

I have been growing dahlia in Toronto Canada (zone 5A) for few years, close to 20 varieties… I usually keep some soil on the tubers, air dry in shade for couple days, wrap them loosely in newspapers after labeling them, then they go into large cardboard boxes in the cold room until late April. May need to just spray onto the newspaper a bit every month to keep some humidity in the boxes. This is the quickest and cheapest way to deal with so many tubers that I have. I only lost 1 clump last year (green rot). I divide in spring as you can see clearly the eyes on the necks and plant them shallow in large plastic cups until they root. Then transfer in ground in late May.