a.k.a. What to Do With Your Dramatic Potatoes
If you planted dahlias this spring and now you’re staring at the fading foliage thinking, “Soooo… now what?” — welcome. Pull up a chair. Something I love just as much as growing and sharing flowers with you is teaching you how to grow your own. Trust me, there is no thrill quite like cutting a flower from your own backyard and thinking, “Look at me. I did that."
There are no hard and fast rules.
Dahlia people like to act like there are, but nope. The truth is, dahlias are basically dramatic potatoes with delusions of grandeur.
Let’s talk strategy.
1. Leave Them in the Ground
If you live somewhere mild-ish (like here in Central Virginia) and your soil drains well, you might be able to leave those tubers right where they are. Think of this like tucking them in for a cozy winter nap. Add a thick blanket of mulch (leaves, straw, actual mulch, etc.) and wish them sweet dreams.
Will they all make it? Maybe! Will you sleep better knowing you didn’t have to dig a mountain of tubers? Absolutely.
Just know: if your winter dips really cold or your yard turns into a swamp come January, those tubers might dissolve into mush faster than you can say “noooo.”
2. Dig Them Up
Here's the deal...if you're a home gardener near where I live, there are only a couple of reasons I can think of to dig up your tubers:
- You've invested big money into expensive varieties. Trust me, dahlia breeders and sellers can get real bougey.
- You're working toward multiplying your collection and planting way more of the same next year.
- You're thinking of making flower farming a hobby...or a business...or maybe you're going to try to sell the tubers...For any of these, WELCOME to the insanity. It is fun. And insane.
If you choose to dig, there are SO MANY resources on dahlia tuber storage. Just run a quick google search to explore all of your options. Spoiler alert: they can be very specific about the temperature and humidity at which they like to be stored.
And Remember…
If you lose a few tubers — you’re not alone. We’ve all realized they've turned to mush in the ground or opened a storage bin in March to discover a horror movie. It happens.
Happy end-of-season, friends.
Here’s to many more backyard bouquets and dramatic potatoes in your future.