Digging, Dividing, and Storing Dahlia Tubers Page 3

Tuber Clumps

There are five tubers visible in this picture. Note the following:

• Not all tubers have "eyes." The third tuber from the left has no visible eye. It might produce an eye next spring when it is moistened and warmed--then again it may not. Try to save the tubers with visible eyes first. Save the doubtful ones later or discard them. Tubers without eyes may grow roots, as tubers with eyes do, but they will not sprout.

• The tuber from which the dahlia plant grows (sometimes referred to as the "mother" tuber) sometimes rots and dies and sometimes it lives on. The dark colored tuber second from the left is the old (mother) tuber from last year. Sometimes it may have an eye, but it has been my experience that it does not produce the second year.

• The forth tuber from the left has three eyes and should be saved.

• The tubers on the extreme left and on the extreme right have eyes (not visible in the picture). Nevertheless, they are iffy. The necks are easily broken and if that happens they will not sprout. Additionally, tubers with very long and thin necks, tend to rot while in storage. If you decide to keep them, handle them with care and check them periodically for rot or shriveling.

PVC Pipe Cutter.

The picture on the right shows the PVC pipe cutter being used to cut off part of the stem from this clump along with a tuber with a broken neck.

Florist's Scissors

In the picture on the left a pair of florist scissors is being used to cut into the stem around the head of a smaller tuber to remove the tuber from the stem.

Separate the Tuber from the Stem.

The previous picture showed the scissors cutting the small tuber from the stem. The picture on the right shows the tuber separate from the clump. The "eye is visible on the head of the tuber.