So that dahlias do not dry out

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Interestingly, the ancient Indians grew wild dahlias for eating corms. But when they got to Europe, the Europeans did not like it. And only with time they began to grow like flowers. How well the corms are stored dahlia - it depends on how and when they were dug.

In early September, the lower part of the stem should be spudded with earth, dry humus or sawdust to a height of about 15–20 cm. This simple, but rather effective manipulation will protect the root neck of plants from autumn frosts, tubers from decay during storage. After all, if frost damage the root neck and tubers, which are located very close to the surface of the soil, they will soon rot.

However, you should not hurry with digging up - let the plants still please you with their flowering. In addition, in the autumn period, with a reduction in daylight hours, the dahlia stimulates the laying of buds, from which stems will grow in the spring.

Dahlias are dug up after the onset of frost in warm, dry weather, while the temperature should be positive. A signal for this is the blackening of the leaves and stems of plants. They are cut at a height of 10-20 cm from the soil level, then they are dug up tubers. However, it should be remembered that the dahlia corms are heavy, brittle and loosely attached to the root neck. A fracture of the neck of the tuber at the junction with the stem leads to its death. A tuber without a part of the stem with a growth bud when planting simply will not germinate.

In order not to damage the tubers, the soil is dug up at a distance of about 20 cm from the stem and to the depth of the bayonet bayonet. Keep in mind that different varieties of dahlias have different root lengths. The tuber and the earth around it are forged with a pitchfork and, holding the stem, they are taken out. Shake off the ground, cut off the roots and disinfect in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide (for example, 10 g of 10 g of foundationazole per 10 liters of water) for about 20-30 minutes.

Then they must be dried for 20 days in a cool room, spread out in one layer. If the tubers are dried at room temperature, they will tuck, and in the winter they will completely dry and will not germinate. The rotten places are cut with a sharp knife, and the slices are sprinkled with charcoal or chalk.

Lay dahlia tubers for storage in wooden boxes on a layer of dry sand, earth, or without them in 1-2 rows and keep in a dry room. This will also protect them from mice. In order not to forget the variety, right on the tubers with a ballpoint pen or felt-tip pen, you can write a name or attach a label.

The most optimal temperature for their storage is 3-6 degrees. You can also store tubers in sawdust boxes. Humidity is in the region of 60-75 percent.