I bought these splendid dahlias this summer, and heard that they can be overwintered. Can they be just mulched during the winter? Can I store them as potato tubers, or do they need to receive some moisture? Will the temperature in my insulated basement be cool enough?
2006-09-08 02:08:23 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Zone 6 is borderline as to whether to dig them out or leave them in the ground and take your chances. Since you really liked them I would dig them out and wash them with a hose to get off all the dirt (or most of it). Then you can store them in vermiculite or peat moss (I prefer vermiculite but either will do). Don't let the tubers touch each other. In case one gets diseased you don't want it to spread to all of them. Then you store them in the coolest place you have inside. If the basement is the coolest part of the house in the winter, then yes, you can store them there. They need very little moisture. When the vermiculite or peat moss is almost dry give them a little water. In the coolness of the basement if you put too much water on them it promotes fungal diseases.
Next year plant them as you did this year and you'll be all set for another summer of great flowers.
2006-09-08 03:58:57 · answer #1 · answered by college kid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
am sure you mean over water as opposed to overwinter . anyhow compost well rotted stable manure and if you can find the space to plant lupins or peas in between when your plants are around 40 cm high then run with that . use a light dressing of lime if your soil is acidic . and indeed water them thoroughly as the buds develop , and as an ps they will want more watering once the flowering season nears .
2006-09-08 09:34:36 · answer #2 · answered by bill g 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋