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Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
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| Yates Association |
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Winter Care of Tender Bulbs |
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When the first freezes of fall frost are upon us, there are a few important "end of the season" garden chores that must be attended to. One of these is the digging and storage of summer bulbs. Here are some suggested procedures for specific plants. Canna: After the first light frost, cut off the stems of the plants. Then dig the rhizome clumps and let them dry. Store them with the soil around away from frost. If your storage conditions are dry, embed the rhizomes in flats of dried peat moss for the winter. Then next spring, clean the rhizomes and start the growing cycle again. Gladiolus: Gladiolus corms should be dug before a hard frost. Corms left in the soil over winter do not survive freezing temperatures. Dig corms 6 to 8 weeks after flowering. This gives the plant time to produce food and build a corm for next year. Harvest the corms by loosening the soil with a fork and pull out the plants by the tops. Break off the tops close to the corms. Remove all soil and roots, place corms in shallow trays with screen bottoms or other containers that will allow good air circulation. Discard and destroy all diseased plants and corms. Cure harvested corms by placing them in bright sunlight for one or two days. Then place them in a well-ventilated location for about three weeks. High temperatures of over 80 degrees during this period hasten curing and greatly hinder development of disease. When the corms have cured after the three-week period, you can easily break off the old corms at the base of the new ones, discard these. After curing, store the corms in an area with proper air circulation and a temperature between 35 to 40 degrees F. Dahlia: Bring dahlias in a few days after the foliage has been killed by frost. Choose a sunny day for digging and use a long-tined fork. Insert it a foot away from a bush on all sides, then gently pry up the clump so tubers will not be ripped off. This is more difficult if the soil is very wet or very dry. Shake most of the soil from the tubers and leave them in the sun for several hours to dry. Leave undivided, pack them carefully in flats, boxes, or bushel baskets and cover with some material to prevent shriveling during storage. Vermiculite is probably best, but sawdust has been used and polyethylene bags are reported good. Place the tubers in a cool but not freezing place. Use the coolest part of the cellar and cover with newspaper to prevent warmth from entering since that would force unwanted growth. Plant in spring following all frost danger. Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
