There are many ways of storing your tubers over winter, you decide which is best for you. The key factors are:

• Temperature - keep the tubers in a frost free environment. A temperature range of 35 - 45 Fahrenheit will suit them fine. In practice, the garage will normally provide the correct environment.

• Dark - keep the tubers covered away from light. Again, the garage should be suitable.

• Moisture - the tubers must be kept dry, but not allowed to dry out completely. Surrounding them in peat, vermiculite or sawdust is a good way of achieving this.

Four or five tubers are placed in a plastic bag (pierced with small holes) with some sawdust to absorb moisture.  The bags are then placed in a plastic container which will be covered to provide darkness. To provide a more even temperature, the container is loosely filled with crumpled paper.

During the winter, examine the tubers each month, and throw away any which show signs of rotting. If the tubers appear to be drying out, open the bags and sprinkle with a small amount of water.

See April Mini-Projects for details of how to bring the tubers out of winter storage and grow new dahlias.