To ensure that dahlias bloom next season, it is important to give the dug-out tubers a warm overwinter. Dahlias should not be left in the soil as they will turn black and die after the first hard frost. Dahlias are very heat-tolerant southern plants.

It is advisable to stop fertilising dahlias in August, when they are still flowering profusely, to help the plants go dormant. This is the time when tuber formation and nutrient accumulation begins.

How to prepare yurgins for winter before digging up the tubers

In early September, dahlia bushes should be staked (quite high, about 8-12 cm). This will make them more wind resistant, cover the base of the stems, which means the tubers will grow strong underground.

Yurgins should be watered sparingly in early autumn to prevent excess moisture from causing disease. Weak stems without flower buds, lower leaves and wilted flowers should be cut back to allow new flower buds to form more quickly.

How to dig up dahlia tubers

Digging dahlia tubers takes place in October (sometimes in late October, depending on warm weather conditions). It is a good idea if the dahlias and their tubers have already had a few light frosts before digging, which will harden them and help them to survive the winter at home without problems.

First, use pruning shears and a secateurs to cut off all the stems of the dahlias, leaving stumps 10-15 cm high. Cutting the stems below the recommended height runs the risk of introducing infection into the tubers. In addition, if the height of the stems is not high enough, water may leak into the tubers and they will simply start to rot.

After cutting the stems, carefully remove the piles of surrounding soil and loosen the soil around the dahlia bushes. It is better to lift the stumps of the dahlias with their stumps out of the ground with their branches, taking care not to pull on the stems themselves.

If the weather is dry and sunny, the dug-out tubers can be left to dry in the garden bed for a few hours. After drying, shake off the soil and carefully examine the tubers themselves.

Remove weak and diseased tubers and rinse strong ones thoroughly with water. Cut off long roots with scissors.

It is better to divide the tubers of dahlias before the spring planting, rather than in autumn, otherwise the divided tubers will lose a lot of useful moisture over the winter.

Treating the tubers before winter storage

To prevent diseases in the strawberry plants, it is a good idea to treat washed tubers with a fungicide solution. Prepare the solution of your choice according to the manufacturer's instructions and soak the tubers in it for the specified time.

A pink solution of potassium permanganate can also be used in place of branded fungicides. Soak the tubers in it for about 30 minutes.

After soaking in the solution, label the tubers with the name of the variety. If the variety is unknown, the size of the bush, the shape of the blossom or the colour can be labelled.

The next step in preparing dahlias for winter – drying the tubers. For this, a dark, cool place must be chosen. Place the stems with the stumps of the stems facing upwards to allow the moisture in the stumps to escape and prevent the tubers from rotting.

How to store dahlia tubers at home during winter

The optimum temperature for storing dahlia tubers indoors in winter is +3-6°C, with a humidity of 60-70%.

A lower temperature will cause the tubers to freeze and a higher temperature will cause them to sprout.

There are a few places where the tubers will be comfortable until spring: cellar, underground, fridge, glazed balcony (until severe winter frosts).

Dried dahlia tubers are placed densely in boxes or buckets. There, they are covered with dry sand or sawdust, leaving the tops of the stems with labels intact.

Gardeners differ in their opinions on sand: some use wet sand instead of dry sand. If the tubers have been dug in dry weather and then not soaked in a fungicide solution, then it is definitely better to use wet sand or sawdust.

There are a few ways of storing dahlia tubers in winter:

• the tubers should be soaked in paraffin dissolved in hot water. Then place the tubers in boxes and store at +12-14°C;

• put a layer of peat in the bottom of the box. Place the tubers in the box on top of the peat, sprinkle the peat on top and store at + 3-5°C.

Check the condition of the tubers periodically for signs of decay.

Make sure that rodents do not eat the stored tubers.