Hardy to Zones 8-10,
the Dahlia is an annual for us here in Zone 4. It is also one of my
favorite annuals. Did you know that the American Dahlia Association
divides Dahlias into 19 different flower types? Holy buckets.
I’m all about turning my annuals into what I call faux-perennials here in Minnesota. Meaning when it’s time to dig up the garden in the fall, I’ll take special care with my Dahlias. A week or so after the first frost has leveled and killed everything in the garden, I’ll dig out the Dahlias and their tubers. The first frost typically occurs in the beginning of October in the Twin Cities.
After I’ve taken my Dahlias out of the ground, I cut the stems back to about 5-7 inches and remove the soil. Let the tubers dry overnight after you wash off the soil. After the tubers have had sufficient time to dry out, I separate small tubers from the large clumps. I then place them in a cardboard box and cover them with peat moss, and then it’s off to the basement they go! My basement is dark, cool, and dry, the perfect conditions for over wintering plants. Don’t forget to label your varieties so you can purchase new additional Dahlias in the spring! (all photos courtesy of Corbis)
