Frost and Dahlias

[Nyboy]

I know your suppose to wait till after a frost to dig up roots. Does it matter if it is a early frost? What if get light frost, them warms up again ? Do you wait for plant to die back or just dig up day after frost? I have 1 plant that did great, this summer and would like to winter it over.

 

[catjac1975]

I know your suppose to wait till after a frost to dig up roots. Does it matter if it is a early frost? What if get light frost, them warms up again ? Do you wait for plant to die back or just dig up day after frost? I have 1 plant that did great, this summer and would like to winter it over.

Either way will work. Don't let it get a freeze. Dry it and leave it to dry with a bit of peat around it. Sometimes they dry up too much but a good sized plant will do fine. I had a great collection and one spring forgot to plant them. GGGGRRRRR

 

[Nyboy]

Thanks Cat

 

[Smart Red]

From my experience, even a light frost will kill the dahlia tops. They are pretty sensitive. If you have a hit and miss frost that misses most of the dahlias, parts of the plant will remain green. As long as there is green on the tops, you can leave the dahlia tuber in the ground.

Even after a frost, there is no hurry to lift the roots unless there is danger of frost going into the ground.

 

[digitS']

I cut the tops after a frost and use them for insulation. The roots are left in the ground until there is a convenient time to dig. You can be sure that I am paying especially close attention to what the Weather Service is saying over those days.

A very light frost may only have blackened a few blooms. I may go through and just snip off those and the plants may have another week or 10 days of show.

I'd like to see about the top one-third killed. They will look like the devil after that! The plants can then be cut within about a foot above the ground.

The tops are laid directly above the roots. They can insulate the roots through several more frosty mornings until I can get out there on rescue duty.

Steve