Prepare bulbs, tubers for next season

Our dahlias, begonias, cannas and caladiums put on quite a show for us this year with all the warm weather. Now that the frosts have come, its time to dig and store these tender bulbs so we can enjoy them next year.

First, dig them up.

Using a digging fork or spade, carefully work your way around the clump of roots, gently loosening the soil. Remember that cannas and caladium can be planted several inches deep and dig accordingly. If you trim the stems back to five or six inches before you start digging, it makes it easier.

Second, prepare them for storage.

Dahlias: Gently wash the soil off the roots. Place the entire clump of cleaned tubers in a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water for five minutes. Remove them and allow them to dry for 30 minutes to an hour. Using a sharp knife, divide the tubers from the central stem leaving a pink bud on each section. To avoid springtime surprises, remember to transfer variety labels or write the variety on each divided tuber so you can tell what it is in the spring.

Dip each tuber in a fungicide to protect them over the winter and let them dry for a few hours.

Store dahlia tubers in cardboard or wooden boxes filled with cedar shavings or peat moss. Our winters can be very dry, so to retain moisture, cover the boxes loosely with newspaper or paper bags. Store them in a cool, dark place where the temperature stays between 40 and 45 degrees.

Some people use crawl spaces or insulated window wells that get some heat from the house.

Check on your tubers periodically through the winter and remember to removed spoiled tubers. If the tubers start shriveling they are too dry and need a little mist with water.

Gladioluses: Knock excess dirt off the corms and cut the stem to an inch long. Allow them to dry for three weeks at 80 degrees or four weeks at 70 degrees.

Do not separate the old corm from the new as it needs to cure and form a corky layer between the two corms.

Leave the husk cover on the corm to help hold in moisture during storage.

Dust the bulbs with a combination fungicide/insecticide to keep disease and insects at bay. Store them in mesh bags or paper boxes in a dry place about 40 to 50 degrees. Onion sacks are perfect.

Tuberous begonia, cannas and caladium: These tropical bulbs need extra-special care preparing them for winter. After digging them, let them dry at 70 to 80 degrees; dry cannas and caladiums for one week and begonias for two to three weeks. Once they are dry, pack them into boxes with sand or peat moss. Store cannas and begonias at 40 to 50 degrees. Store caladiums at 55 to 60 degrees.

Check all the bulbs every couple of weeks and remove any that are rotting or don’t appear to be healthy.