Q. How do I store dahlias through the winter?
A. Dahlias grow from swollen rootstocks called tubers and it is these that carry the plants through the winter. Wait until after the frost has blackened the foliage and stems of the leaves. This effectively seals up the tissues and restricts the opportunities for fungal diseases to enter. The first few frosts are unlikely to cause any damage to the tubers.
Lift the tubers carefully and remove the dead foliage. Allow them to dry off and then rub off any clinging soil. Do not wash the tubers or else they will rot. Invert them to allow any surplus moisture to drain out of their hollow stems and then place them in boxes of peat or composted bark and keep in a cool dry place until the spring.
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