Firmly Rooted

Dahlia Tubers

by Victoria “Tori” Carver – Flower Farmer

We only have a few more weeks until our first frost arrives (praise Jesus) so I thought it would be the perfect time to discuss digging and storing your dahlia tubers.

If you are unfamiliar with dahlias you are probably asking yourself, “what in the world is a tuber?!?” Do not be embarrassed, we have all been there.

Dahlias grow differently than most other flowers you may have in your garden. They are not grown from bulbs nor do they behave like annuals. However, in most regions, dahlias are not hardy enough to be considered perennials, either. Luckily, in our climate (and south of our area) it is possible to treat them as a perennial. It is risky, but with proper protection from extreme cold weather and excessive rain, it is possible to leave them in the ground and over-winter them.

If you want to be successful growing dahlias, it is helpful to understand how they grow and that begins with the tubers. While the dahlias are growing and flowering all season above ground, each plant is producing a clump of tubers below the soil’s surface. These tubers are a way for the plant to store energy to help fuel its growth for the following spring.

To access the tubers, each dahlia plant is dug up (by hand, I might add). The rule of thumb is to wait until two killing frosts have occurred before digging up your tubers. Honestly though, they are safe to harvest after they have been in the ground and growing for 120 days. After harvesting, the clumps are washed and stored for the winter. Tubers are susceptible to rot, so the storage temperature should be between 30℉ to 50℉ with the ideal temp hovering around 45℉. The humidity levels should be around 75% to 85%. I store tubers in my basement which is similar to a root cellar. It is affectionately referred to as the “dungeon” and I have a handy dandy thermometer that I monitor throughout the winter.

Victoria (Tori) Carver is a flower farmer. From the thousand bulbs and plants that she puts in the ground each year she creates lovely bouquets. Many enjoy her flowers in their home each week. She has established a subscription program for her customers or a honor-system bouquet sales for random purchases. Tori and her husband and children make their home in Clayton, where they are a treasured part of the community. If you are interested in Firmly Rooted Flower Farm please reach out by email to firmlyrootedflowerfarm@gmail.com or phone 706-490-0041. You will also enjoy their website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com

During the slow season, I divide my tuber clumps (with flower snips) into individual tubers or smaller, more manageable clumps. When dividing, there are three important parts of a dahlia tuber that must be preserved. The tuber itself, the neck, and the crown. The crown is the top area of the tuber and this is where the eyes form. In order to grow a new plant the following spring, it must have an eye. The size of the tuber does not matter as long as it has an eye. The neck is the narrow part between the body and the crown. Sometimes a clump will only have a couple of viable tubers and sometimes nearly every tuber in a clump has an “eye”. Those tubers are worth their weight in gold.

Once springtime arrives and the weather begins to warm, new sprouts emerge from the eyes. When your soil reaches a consistent 60℉ you are ready to plant and enjoy another glorious dahlia season?

I hope this helped answer any questions you may have about digging and dividing dahlia tubers. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at tori@firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com.