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in Fall· Garden· Tips and Tutorials

How to Store Dahlia Tubers During the Winter Months

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Are you looking for ideas to store dahlia tubers during the winter months? I’ll share some simple tips about overwintering your dahlias.

dahlias in front of greenhouse

Should you leave your dahlia tubers in the ground or dig them up and store them?

When it comes to dahlias, this is one of the most asked questions I get. And the answer really depends on where your garden is located.

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white dahlia with open center

Mild Climates

Because I live in a more mild climate, (zone 8B) I’ve been a very lucky girl, and have only had to dig up and store my dahlia tubers ONCE in the 7 years I have had my garden.

By adding a 3-inch layer of organic leave mulch to protect the dahlia tubers, I’ve been able to leave them in the ground to overwinter.

So far, so good. We had an incredibly wet winter one year, where I lost about 15% of my tubers to rot, but that’s the extent of the damage I’ve seen.

I will dig up my dahlia tubers in April to split them and remove the mother tuber.

red dahlia

Colder Climates

In most areas, winters are too cold to leave the tubers in the ground. For those zones that have colder winters, dahlia plants should be cut back after the plant’s top growth dies back, or is blackened by the first hard frost. With sharp pruners or loppers, cut all but 4 inches of top growth.

The longer the tubers are kept in the ground, the more mature they will be. This will give them a better chance of surviving in storage.

Note: Remember to label your dahlias before their blooms die, so you will be able to keep track of each tuber once they are removed from the ground.

garden bed of dahlias and a greenhouse

I’ve read several articles that suggest not cutting the dahlia stems until right before digging because the stems are hollow and can collect water. This can cause crown rot and tuber decay. But for me, I don’t have much of a choice.

I leave my tubers in the ground, and it rains constantly. I do try to add layers of mulch to cover the remaining stems for added protection.


storing dahlia tubers

Options for Storing Dahlia Tubers

No matter what option you choose, you will need to go through these steps to start the process…

  1. Use either a shovel or pitchfork, digging AROUND the dahlia clumps. Be careful not to accidentally sever the roots. I tend to use a pitchfork because the tubers are so sensitive.
  2. Gently shake excess dirt off the tubers, and set aside.
  3. Repeat until you’ve dug up all of your tubers.
storing dahlia tubers
storing dahlia tubers
storing dahlia tubers

dahlia

OPTION 1:

This is the option I have used to store dahlias.

Rinse the tuber clumps to remove all the excess soil, and then wash them by dipping them in a 5% bleach-95% water solution. After you’ve rinsed the tubers off, examine each clump to make sure that there is no damage or rot.

Home Depot buckets with water in them

If the tubers have several eyes, you can divide them at this step in the process as well. Use a sharp knife or pruners to divide tubers, making sure each piece has at least one eye.

The eyes of dahlias are the set of cells that produce the next season’s plants and blooms. I have much better luck finding the eyes in the spring. So if you can’t find them in the fall, wait to divide your tubers when they may become more visible in the springtime.

storing dahlia tubers

To prevent the tubers from rotting, make sure they are completely dry before you store them for winter. Some gardeners suggest setting them out to dry for several weeks before putting them away for the winter. Others recommend only a couple of days.

I’ve been lucky because we have a wood-burning stove in our outbuilding, so our tubers dry pretty quickly.

Choose a location for storage where it’s cool and dark, and temperatures won’t go below freezing, preferably between 40-50º F. This could be an unheated basement, closet, utility room, or attic.

dahlias and greenhouse

Pack the tubers in slightly dampened peat moss or sawdust, and then in a cardboard box or paper bag lined with newspaper. Tubers must have good air circulation, so make sure that the tubers are not touching, and have enough room for proper airflow.

I check my tubers for rot once a month throughout the winter.


dahlias

OPTION 2:

Now, this is my favorite blog post process.

It’s not a secret. Erin at Floret Flowers really impresses me. She’s my gardening hero, and her flower farm is located in the same state, Washington.

After Erin digs her dahlia clumps up, she shakes off the excess dirt, puts the clumps into deep bulb crates, and stacks them in a 40-50º room in her basement. THAT’S IT! She warns that most pros may question her tactics, but I have to tell you, it sounds like a dreamy way of doing things.

Erin says that the soil seems to keep the dahlias tubers hydrated enough to avoid shriveling. Then in mid-late March, she pulls out all the crates, rinses off the clumps, and starts dividing the clumps. EASY PEASY!!!


dahlias on a split rail fence

OPTION 3:

This is the Saran Wrap method.

Rinse the tuber clumps to remove all the excess soil, and then wash them by dipping them in a 5% bleach-95% water solution. After you’ve rinsed the tubers off, examine each clump to make sure that there is no damage or rot.

Lay them out to dry in a cool garage or basement for a day or two. Once the clumps are dry, carefully divide them and then separately wrap each tuber in a piece of Saran Wrap. Read more about dividing in my blog post about all things dahlias.

Place the wrapped tubers into plastic bulb crates, stored in a 40-50º room throughout the winter. What is great about this method, is that if a tuber were to rot, it would be completely separate from the other tubers because of the plastic.


dahlias

I hope this has given you something to think about when planning to store dahlia tubers. For more on dividing dahlia tubers or other information about growing dahlias, you can read my blog post on All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Dahlias.

I’d love to hear from you, leave me a comment. Thank you for being here.

Until next time.

Happy gardening!

If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, please pin and share this on Pinterest.

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How to store dahlia tubers in the winter

For some great tips to save plants over the winter, visit my friend Rachel of The Ponds Farmhouse. She’s using her gorgeous new greenhouse to overwinter her plants.

Other Posts You May Enjoy...

How to Attract Pollinators to the Garden

9 Common Cut Flower Garden Challenges and Solutions

Cut Flower Garden Dos and Don'ts

Pacific Northwest Fall Garden Tour

All You've Ever Wanted to Know About Dahlias

How To Divide Perennial Plants


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Filed Under: Fall, Garden, Tips and Tutorials Tagged With: dig up and store dahlia tubers, how to overwinter dahlias

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Comments

  1. Ingrid Sisson says

    01/09/2022 at 11:26 am

    Can I grow dahlia in the pot? I never grow dahlia, I would love to try this flower this year. What is the best month to start plant it? I got black dahlia bulbs online. Thank you.
    Your garden looks magnificent 😍

    Reply
  2. Jennifer Howard says

    10/17/2021 at 6:22 am

    Thanks for this! I need all the tips! I didn’t realize you were in zone 8…that sounds dreamy!!

    Reply
  3. Rachel Harper says

    11/10/2020 at 7:19 am

    Kim, I loved this information! Hope to plant some next spring. Pinned so I’ll have the information

    Reply
    • Kim says

      11/10/2020 at 2:26 pm

      I will be so excited to see you grow dahlias Rachel. It is so wirth it!

      Reply
  4. stacy says

    11/10/2020 at 7:09 am

    Great info Kim!!! I’m hoping mine make it this winter. I’ve overwintered other tender bulbs but never dahlias. Your flowers always look spectacular.

    Reply
    • Kim says

      11/10/2020 at 2:25 pm

      I am so excited that you are growing dahlias now Stacy. Now we can compare notes.

      Reply

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Meet Kim

Hi! I'm Kim. My blog, Shiplap and Shells is about my home, garden, and our Pacific Northwest lifestyle.
I live in a small beach cottage on the Puget Sound with my husband and sweet pups, Lucy, Jax, and Ollie. We have spent the last 9 years, renovating, reinventing, and adding character and charm to our 101-year-old home. Read More…

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