Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Digging up bulbs for winter storage
Last week we were planting bulbs for Spring bloom, today is about digging up bulbs for winter storage! Gladiolas, dahlias, cannas, begonias and elephant ears to name some!
It’s important to wait until the flowers are gone and the foliage of these plants is browning or completely toast.
For the 2022-23 Winter, the Farmers Almanac is calling it “A Tale of Two Winters”. Their forecasted weather map splits the country in two. Guess which side will be cold? Yup, the eastern half from the Dakotas.
Interestingly, the Farmers Almanac touts an 80% accuracy while other sources say it’s 50-50. HA, I would venture to guess that that is MOST of the forecasts. So what’s up right now. I was finally able to take in some fall color on a motorcycle trip with a group of friends into Trempealeau, Wisconsin!
My Red Maple is still not impressive but I do believe much of that is the dry, hot weather we had. I’m looking forward to next year.
Digging up those tubers, corms, bulbs.
- Cut foliage back, once it’s turned brown and drying, so that only a couple of inches remain above ground.
- Use a garden fork, and sink it into the soil around the bulbs, being careful not to accidentally sever them and then gently lift them out.
- Once you’ve dug the bulb up, shake the dirt off and set it aside.
- Once they’re all out of the ground, gently rinse the dirt off.
- Then give them a good once over and check for rotten spots. If they’re small, you can cut them or throw them away.
- It’s the same with dahlias, cannas, gladiolas and other summer flowering bulbs.
- It’s important to dry them before storage.
More information on winter storage for bulbs from the University of MN Ext. And yet more from Wisconsin Master Gardeners
