What to do in the garden this week: store dahlias

The dahlia is another plant that has made a welcome recent return from the wilderness, and rightly merits our attention. By now, it is probably a sorry sight of frosted blackness, and ready for its winter quarters. Cut down the topgrowth and lift the tubers, allowing them to dry off in a frost-free shed. Don’t forget to label them. Then, brush off the soil and store in a box filled with shredded straw or covered with insulating wadding to keep out the frost. Keep the box in a cold frame or a shed, ready for revival in the spring. SCD