Digging Dahlias and Winter Storage

Glorious dahlias in pumpkin vase mixed with hydrangea, sedum and pumpkin on a stick.

 Dear Dahlias,

 How do I love thee? I couldn't possibly count the number of ways I adore you. I am intoxicated by your beauty and I mourn your absence even before the first frost comes to take you from me for another long New England winter. I love you so much that I will dig each and every one of you out of the ground so you don't rot in our bitter 7-7a garden zone. I'll put up with a stiff back and sore knees believing that for all of my efforts to tuck you away safely in storage there's a chance I'll see you again next summer. That's how much I love thee. 

Growing dahlias isn't hard. They are happy in a container or in the ground as long as they have rich, well draining soil, plenty of sunshine and lots of love. The challenging ( and most labor intensive ) part comes when it's time to dig them up at the end of the season. 

 If you garden in a cold climate you will have to dig your dahlias. There's just no way around it.

 After the first frost the leaves will wilt and turn almost black. No need to rush with the digging them just yet. Give them a couple of more weeks in the earth. Even though the flowers and foliage appear to be dead, the tuber is still growing and putting on new eyes (growth ) for next years blooms. 

I cut all of my dahlias down leaving the tops showing above ground before digging them so I'm sure to get every one. To dig I use my handy garden spade and gently poke around about a foot or so away from where the stem is to be sure not to damage the roots.

 Once they are dug, rinse them off lightly and let them dry on a surface that allows airflow like a screened table or greenhouse work bench with drainage. I used our patio table.

After they are dry, shake off any excess dirt and  remove any untidy roots ( as seen below ) and divide if necessary. Some you just pull apart gently and others you will need to cut.  If you do divide, just make sure you have a visible eye on the tuber. If you're not sure, pack it away until spring. You just might get lucky and you can divide then.

 

Now is a good time to label your tubers. You can use copper tags with wire, plastic garden markers with twisty ties, or oak leaf tags with permanent marker tied with twine.You can also write directly on the tuber with an indelible pencil or permanent marking pen.

Mine are stored in correlation with the bed they were planted in. I have a master list of the names of each variety that was planted in each bed to refer to come planting time. That's not the most organized fashion to do it, but at least I'll know generally which ones go together next season. 

This year I am storing about 75 tubers so that's not too many to keep track of and store. I'll be expanding to 100 -150 next season. I'm stocking up on Advil now!

 I decided to store them in Rubbermaid bins layered in pine shavings with the lids off and covered with a double layer of landscaping burlap fabric so there's some ventilation. I have them all tucked in for their long winters nap in our unfinished basement. Dahlias prefer to be stored in cooler temps. 35- 50 degrees. Wish us luck! 

Here are two great videos from Swan Island Dahlias on how to Dig Dahlias and Divide them.
I'd love to hear your dahlia storage tips too. Leave me a note if you've had success storing dahlias!

 

  

Farmgirl Friday blog hop #75

 

 Welcome to week #75 of the ORIGINAL Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! I feel like celebrating! For those of you who are new to the hop or to my blog here's a little back story about how the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop began in 2011. I wanted to create a place where we bloggers could gather up once a week to share our daily doin's in the kitchen or craft room, hen-house or greenhouse, city balcony or backyard farmyard! And gather we have! Seventy-five weeks sounds like a long time but it sure doesn't feel like it! That's what happens when you're having fun. You're there when a fellow blog sister's bread doesn't rise and when she harvests her first tomato! You prop each other up during new adventures like learning to keep Bees and Chickens or milking your first goat! You share useful and clever home-keeping tips and  homemaking wisdom straight from your heart! 

Pretend with me for a moment? Imagine what an " in person" celebration would be like. Sort of a farmgirl meet and great if you will. I picture us gathered under the shade of a large tree perhaps on a farm, in a pasture or a beautiful garden. Long tables covered in red and white checked table cloths are covered with YOUR delicious Farmgirl Recipes. Since it's almost fall I've set out blooming pumpkins as our centerpiece's. I see smiles everywhere, friendships being made and our tummy's hurt from so much laughter.

After all, we're in good company! As the day turns to dusk we exchange addresses, and phone numbers and promise to stay in touch via our blogs and Facebook. Who knows? Maybe one day it will happen! In the mean time I promise to continue hosting every week if you promise to keep dropping by! 

 I can't tell you how much you all inspire me with each and every entry. Thank YOU for making the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop what it is today. A warm, inspiring and growing community of  talented, generous and kind bloggers!

I'm blessed to be on the receiving end of all you share here every Friday! 

I must also mention a very special THANK YOU to my bloggin'  farmgirl sis on the West Coast...Heidi ,of My Simple Country Living and White Wolf Farmgirl Blog for co-hosting with me every week! Somehow she manages to post on both of her blogs even when I send her the linky code late at night!

We love meeting new blogging friends so don't hold out on us! Link up and play a little farmgirl show and tell right here every Friday!

Believe it or not, my cut flower beds are still brimming with blooms! 

 

The pumpkin on a stick is ready for cutting for use in flower arrangements and fall decorating.

Ornamental Eggplant ( pumpkin on a stick )

If ever you doubted growing dahlias fugetaboutit... These flowers just keep on blooming day after day from about early July to the first frost ( which we haven't had yet )!

I cut this bucket of blooms yesterday! See the cute little orange pumpkin in the top left corner!

See? Still blooming!

 Check out this weeks late-bloomers up close and personal...

  

 

 

 

This farmgirl is still in flower land and that's a good thing. I've started  the first chapter of my book "  Yard Flowers" It's going to be a lot of work but in the end I hope it will be an inspiration to budding flower lovers everywhere.

 

 Now it's your turn! What's happening in your farmgirl world?

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Farmgirl Friday post.


3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

 DON'T BE SHY~  
Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop!
 We want to get to know you better! Have a great week and I'll see you on the hop! 

PS. Let's gather more farmgirls for our hop! Scroll down and copy the code ( where it says get the code here ) for this hop and place it in your blog post.