With the onset of the first frost for gardeners who love to grow dahlias , it becomes urgent to keep their tubers until spring.
First dahlias must be dug out in time. This is done immediately after the ground part of the plant dies of frosts. It is very important not to damage the kidneys located at the base of the stem.
The tubers, when digging out, are immediately separated so that on each part there are sleeping buds. In the spring, they will be much more difficult to separate, since after storage the tubers become lignified.
Tuber must be carefully prepared: remove excess roots and remaining stems, cut out stains, which may precede the disease of the plant, rotten parts.
Ranki can be treated with one of these drugs: green, ash, chalk, charcoal powder, clay chatter, lime.
Before you put the tubers of dahlias for storage, they need to be dried. At the same time, incomplete drying can lead to their decay, and drying out to weak seedlings in the spring.
Storing dahlias in the winter in the cellar
When storing dahlias, it is very important to maintain the correct temperature regime (+ 3-6 ° C) and humidity (55-70%). It is these conditions that are met when stored in a cellar.
It is necessary to exclude the presence of some vegetables next to each other, since the humidity of the air rises.
First, the tubers of dahlias are kept in a strong solution of potassium permanganate for 15-30 minutes, then dried. After that they are placed in the basement in boxes, boxes , on shelves or on a wooden floor. In boxes or boxes, paper is spread or tubers can be wrapped in it.
The tubers are laid in 1-2 rows and poured with sand, earth or coniferous sawdust.
Dahlias should be regularly monitored to prevent them:
- drying (when these signs appear, sawdust or sand moisturize);
- rotting (the room is ventilated, the sawdust or sand is changed, the rotting tubers are discarded, and if the damage is small, cut them out and treat the tubers with a solution of potassium permanganate or zelenka);
- premature germination (with this sign the tubers of dahlias are put on light, which helps stop germination).
Storing dahlias in the winter in the apartment
If you do not have the possibility of storing dahlias in the winter in the cellar, you can store them in the apartment.
Processed tubers of dahlias are air dried for about three hours. After that they are kept for 30 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate and again dried.
Tubers can be stored in boxes or tightly knotted plastic bags, pouring them with sand or other dry material (sawdust, peat). In warm weather tubers can be stored on the balcony, and in the case of frosts - in the apartment.
Paraffinization of tubers of dahlias for winter storage
To store tubers of dahlias in winter, paraffin can be used in the apartment. For this, the paraffin is melted in a water bath at a temperature of + 60 ° C. Then the tuber is immersed in it. After the paraffin hardens, the tuber is immersed a second time. Tubers in the hardened paraffin are stored in boxes or plastic bags, pouring
When the tubers are planted in the spring, the paraffin film is not scraped. Before planting the tubers you need to rub a little bit, so that the film is cracked.
How to store dahlias in the refrigerator?
To store tubers of dahlias in the refrigerator they are divided into small parts, washed, processed and wrapped with food film. With this method of storage, tubers occupy very little space and it is convenient to observe their condition.
You can choose the most suitable way for you to store tubers of dahlias.