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Bulbs/Dahlia Bulbs

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Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 7/5/2006


Question
I have cleaned, dried and stored my dahlia bulbs from last fall. However, I was not able to plant them this spring. Will the bulbs still be good next spring? Or should I plant them anyway, even though it's very late in the season. Thanx, Ann

Answer
I would plant them because they will likely not be good if stored for another year. Even with a short season, they are going to do better planted than stored. Try to plant them where they are happy (full sun in north, morning sun in south), give plenty of water to avoid stressing the plants and fertilize often. Also, before first frost, top the plants (cut off the top 6") and leave them until a light frost blackens the tops. Then lift immediately and harvest the tubers. These last few weeks with cold temperatures are when dahlias translocate energy to the tubers.

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Kenneth Joergensen

Expertise

Can answer questions about spring and summer bulbs: selection, soil preparation, planting, fertilizing, designing with bulbs. I can also give references where to buy the bulbs and how to store them. Besides the typical bulbs (tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, lilies etc) I can also answer questions about other geophytes, such as tuberous begonia, dahlias, etc. When to start indoors, light requirement, etc. My experience is in cool season areas, but I can answer questions about warm season areas if given time to research matter.

Experience

Have worked with various bulbs (spring and summer bulbs). I am presently an allexpert advicer on the lawn message board also.

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