Tips for Storing Dahlias for Winter
Dahlias tubers can be enjoyed for years with proper handling in the fall. Follow these easy tips from National Garden Bureau member American Meadowson how to dig and store your dahlias tubers.
Native to Mexico, dahlias won’t survive the freezing temperatures that many North American gardens experience. Digging and storing dahlias for the winter is extremely easy and simple if you follow these tips.
When to Dig Up Your Dahlias…
These enormous, woody stems are left behind from first-year tubers!
If you live in an area where the ground freezes, you’ll want to dig your dahlia tubers up before there’s a hard frost.
A good indication of when to dig your tubers up is when the plant starts to turn brown and die back.
What’s the Difference between a frost and a freeze?
- A frost (ice crystals forming on surfaces) generally happens when the air temperature is between 32-36 degrees F.
- A freeze happens when the air temperature dips below 32 degrees F. A hard freeze is usually between 25-28 degrees F, and a killing freeze is 24 degrees F and below.
Areas where it doesn’t freeze…
If you live in an area where your ground doesn’t freeze – such as parts of California and Florida – lucky you, your dahlias can be grown as perennials and you don’t need to worry about digging and storing them for the winter!
5 Tips for Digging and Storing Dahlias for the Winter
1. How To Dig Tubers Up
Cut foliage back to a couple of inches from the ground, before digging your tubers up.
Digging the Dahlia tubers up is extremely easy:
- Cut foliage back, so that only a couple of inches remain above ground.
- Take your preferred digging shovel and dig around the tubers, being careful not to accidentally sever the roots. Many gardeners use a pitchfork to prevent this from happening.
- Once you’ve dug the tuber up, shake the dirt off and set it aside.
- Repeat until you’ve dug all of your tubers up.
Gently shake excess dirt off of your tubers after digging them up
2. Rinsing Dahlia Tubers Off
- After you’ve dug all of the tubers up, gently wash the dirt off in a tub of water or with a garden hose.
- Make sure not to puncture the skin of your tubers, as this could cause them to rot over the winter months in storage.
3. Examining And Trimming Dahlia Tubers
- After you’ve rinsed the tubers off, it’s time to examine each clump to make sure that there are no rotten parts. If there are, cut these bits off.
- If the tubers have several eyes, you can divide them at this step in the process as well. Use a sharp knife to divide tubers, making sure each piece has at least one eye.
The eyes of dahlias are the set of cells that produce the next season’s plants and blooms. They almost look like pimples!
If you can’t identify them in the fall, wait until the spring to divide your tubers as they may be more visible by then.
4. Drying Dahlia Tubers Before Storing For Winter
- If possible, dry your dahlia tubers for several days to a week, depending on humidity, temperature, and tuber size, before putting them away in storage for the winter. This helps to cure them and to prevent rot during storage.
- Choose a location – either indoors or out – that won’t dip below freezing, has good air circulation, and has indirect sunlight. After your tubers have dried, cut back the rest of the dahlia stem with pruners or a sharp knife.
5. Storing Dahlia Tubers for the Winter
- The key to successfully storing dahlia tubers for the winter is making sure they stay dry, have good air circulation, and are in a cool, dark spot.
- You can store the tubers in a variety of containers – milk crates, plastic bins, paper bags, and cardboard boxes all do the trick. Just make sure there is space left between each tuber, and there is some air circulation.
- Place the tubers in a cool, dark space that won’t freeze. For many, this could be an unheated basement, attic, closet, or utility room.
- Check your dahlia tubers periodically throughout the winter months. If the storage is too humid and moist, you may find mushy tubers. Remove those tubers and decrease moisture. If your tubers are becoming shriveled, mist them or add some damp vermiculite, helping them to rehydrate.
Re-Planting Dahlias In Spring
Once spring arrives, ground temperatures have warmed and there is no more chance of frost in your area, you can bring your beloved tubers out of storage and re-plant them in your garden to enjoy again. Learn more about Dahlias at Year of the Dahlia page.
“This post is provided as an educational/inspirational service of the National Garden Bureau and our members. Please credit and link to National Garden Bureau and author member when using all or parts of this article.”
32 Comments. Leave new
Thanks for all the help. I live in zone 8-9 and have had Dahlias in pots for 4 years, all growing nicely until this year. This year I had lots of leaves few Dahlias.
I have dug them up and oh my so many tubers…. Dahlias are my favorite flower….. I am choosing Peat Moss and grocery bags for winterizing….. Thank you for all your help.
One of the ways to store dahlia tubers over the winter is wrapped in plastic wrap. But I keep reading that they need air circulation, so should I NOT wrap them in plastic?
Yes, we would not recommend storing your dahlia tubers overwinter in plastic wrap. The dahlias need to stay dry with good air circulation and in a cool, dark spot.
I store my Dahlias in boxes. The garage works good until the real cold sets in. Can I cover the boxes in blankets to help keep them warm ? Basement temp is about 56 degrees.
In the really cold time of winter, it would probably be best to put them in the basement and look for the coldest section there to put them in until they can go back outside in your garage when the weather is cold but not real cold.
I am new to growing Dahlias. I had one tuber 2 years ago and I was hooked. This year I bought 12 tubers from a garden club member in my area. They were amazing! Storage is a problem…I have a basement that stays at 60 and I have an attached, unheated garage that stays between 55-60. I do not have a space that is 40-50. Although above, you mention in one answer on October 21st that 50-60 would work? I wrapped them in plastic wrap, per the American Dahlia Society. I am willing to unwrap and put in peat moss if you think that is better, if keeping them in the garage would work. I SO appreciate your help! Thank you..
We have never tried it wrapped in plastic wrap but reading the article from the American Dahlia Society it seems to work well. This is from that article and it says…”Another question was whether the close packing would cause the tubers to “sweat”. Condensation is a function of temperature and humidity and occurs when warmer humid air comes in contact with cold air. Tubers are generally stored in garages at fairly uniform temperatures ranging between 40 and 50 degrees F. The garage temperature and the storage box temperature are quickly equalized. Therefore, without a great temperature differential, it is unlikely that any appreciable condensation would occur.” Therefore it might work for you if garage and your bulbs stay at the same temperature.
I’m new to Dahlias this year and just dug them up. They almost looked like potatoes! I brought them into the house after rinsing to let them dry with plans to store them for next year. I looked at them today and rather than still being all plump they were shriveled and not squishy, but not as firm as they were. I read where I should put them in a bucket of water for 24-48 hrs to rehydrate and then store in a cool, dark place. Does this sound ok? Also, I don’t have a cool place in my house, is a refrigerator too cool?
Yes, the dahlias do look like potatoes. As long as they are not squishy, a bit shriveled is fine. You do want to keep them in the dark with a temperature of 40-50 degrees F and some humidity. Your refrigerator will be too cold. You can put them in a heated garage or unfinished basement or attic, somewhere that they will stay cool and not too hot or too cold.
I don’t know where to keep them over the winter. My basement storage area probably doesn’t get cool enough. I doubt it’s 50° in there. I was planning to put them in cardboard boxes in Peat Moss, but it sounds like they would be better in plastic grocery bags with Peat Moss. Thank you so much when you say the check for moisture throughout the winter I’m not sure what that means. Should I just miss them a few times over the winter
Placing the tubers in a cardboard box would be better for them because of better air circulation. Do not place in a plastic grocery bag. The key is to keep the tubers dry or they will get mushy. Only mist if the tubers are becoming shriveled to help rehydrate them. Do not let the tubers touch each other in storage so pack them with space and Peat Moss around each. The ideal temperature range is 50-60 degrees. This can be done in a heated garage, attic or cool dark closet. Good Luck
Thanks for the detailed information for storage. This is my first year with dahlias. They really grew well this Summer.
I grew my first dwarf Dahlias from seed. I harvested the tubers, separated them and planted them. however, only about 10% germinated, I think I didn’t store them right. This winter I plan to store them in a large paper shopping bag with peat moss. My concerns are should I separate the the finger like tubers before storing them and would the dry peat moss be too dry for the tubers over the long winter? Much thanks
Your dahlias should do well in a large paper shopping with peat moss. No, you do not have to seperate the tubers. Just make sure there is space between each tuber for air circulation. Remember to check your dahlia tubers periodically throughout the winter months. If the storage is too humid and moist, you may find mushy tubers. Remove those tubers and decrease moisture. If your tubers are becoming shriveled, mist them or add some damp vermiculite, helping them to rehydrate.
Thank you so much for this article! Just to confirm, I don’t need to store the tubers in anything, just keep them in a dry, cool place spaced apart a bit? Also, the clumps of the tubers have what look to be potato eyes in large clusters near the stem. Are those the eyes you’re referring to in the article? They’re not on the tuber itself, so I don’t think they are. Should those be cut off?
For storing your dahlias, you can store the tubers in a variety of containers – milk crates, plastic bins, paper bags, and cardboard boxes all do the trick. You may choose to pack them in peat moss. The important piece is to make sure there is space left between each tuber and enough room for some air circulation. You need to make sure they are in a cool, dry, dark space that won’t freeze.
For the eyes on the dahlias, they almost look like small round bumbs near where the tuber meets the stem! If you can’t identify them now, wait until the spring to divide your tubers as they may be more visible by then.
Would you recommend burying the tubers in coconut coir to store dahlias for the winter?
Yes, you could put them in coconut coir to store for the winter.
how many years can dahlia bulbs last. I found some stored in the same place as my last season bulbs, planted them and they grew, as that was the first year I stored then there. they only thing I can think my dad stored them there, but he died 23 years ago
Wow, not sure on that but what a nice sentiment and thoughts.
Good information! I just came across this article. Can I store my tubers in layers that have vermiculite between each layer of tubers? My space is limited in a closet that stays cool all winter, not ideal but I have had good luck. This year I would like to get away from the plastic wrap I use (I sprinkle in cinnamon on the tubers before wrapping) and store more as clumps (washed because I pulled one clump already and there were worms🤣).
Vermiculite as long as it isn’t wet should work for the winter.
Can dahlias grown in pots be overwintered in those pots if moved into an area which won’t freeze ?
Yes, you can. You will need to keep the pots in an dark, dry area that will be protected from frost, freezing and rainfall. Cut back the dahlia stems to a few inches from soil level. Let the soil dry out, not completely but you don’t want it too damp. You do not want to water the soil because the tubers are dormant. Once the threat of frost in spring has passed you can bring the pots out to get sunlight and begin growing.
I bought a GORGEOUS burgundy dahlia this spring. I’d like to try to overwinter the tuber. What other options do I have for storage if I don’t have a basement or other unheated room in which to keep them? I live in Minnesota…it would freeze in my garage. It would also perish in the pot in which it is growing if I left it on the deck. Can it be kept in the crisper drawer of my refrigerator…or would that be too cold? Thanks!
Dahlias store best below 50 degrees and make sure they stay dry and have good air circulation which unfortunately, they won’t have in the refrigerator. A non-heated cool closet might do the trick if you have one.
Why do my dahlias all bud but not all of them open
That is a difficult question because it could be many different reasons why your dahlia buds are not opening. Dahlia buds do open at different times depending on the variety. Some open in 3-4 days while others take up to 2 weeks to open. Unusual weather conditions like too much heat or lack of water can impact the plant. Insects and diseases might be the problem. Western flower thrips, for example, lay their eggs on the dahlia flower buds and their larvae live off the petals as they are still forming in the bud. If serious enough, the bud will not open.
how about storing them in a box filled with sawdust (lightly moistioned)?
Yes, sawdust should work. They should be stored loosely and barely moist. Monitor them during the winter so they don’t dry out. You may need to sprinkle a little water on them from time to time
Thank you for this informative article. Did not know that the bulbs should be washed, but am going to do that. I thought I would store each bulb in a section of an egg carton, that would keep them separate and my bulbs are not too big. Also thought of then placing the cartons in a big paper bag….
Margaret, if your dahlias are small enough to fit in an egg carton, you will have a difficult time overwintering them. And to place them side-by-side in the egg carton is still too close. I suggest using a grocery bag, plastic, grocery bag with vermiculite and keep it loosely tied. Paper draws moisture, so you really don’t want to put them in a paper egg carton even if they did fit, they will shrivel and dry out because the paper of the egg carton will absorb every bit of moisture that is in the dahlia..