Storing Dahlia Tubers in Saran Wrap - Overwintering Tubers - November 2025

Just yesterday, I posted my first Dahlia Tuber Ordering FOMO post about the initial tuber sales that are about to start online.  This is coming off my second successful season¹ of growing dahlias in the ground for cut flowers.  But, before I can get busy ordering for next year, I have to dig-up and process the tubers that I have on-hand.  This season, we grew A LOT of dahlias.  Here at my house, I grew dahlias in the backyard, sideyard, front yard and IB2DWs.  I also gave away a few tubers - to my mom and sister.  We had something like 20-or-so tubers to start the year. 

And, that means...the time has come to try to keep them over the winter.  Last year (my first year), I used the "Saran Wrap Method" to keep my tubers.  And, that seemed to work.  (Or, I just got lucky?).  I only lost a couple to rot with most of the rest coming thru the Winter and sprouting.  

Here's a post from early December last year showing the Saran Wrap method.   And, here is a post and photos showing how those tubers emerged (with eyes and small shoots) by early May this Spring. 

With the frost here, my dahlias have died back and it is time to begin to dig them out.  Before I get to the bulk of them, I am starting with the ones that my Mom grew in her containers.  They died-back earlier than mind, so I could start with those.  I also dug up a couple of mine that were more-exposed to the frost than others.  

(From what I've read....it is best to wait until all the foliage dies-back completely before digging out the tubers.  That way, whatever energy is left in the plant gets sent back to the tuber for Winter.  Now...is that true?  I don't know.  But, that's what I'm doing.)

Here, below, are the first few dahlia tubers in Saran Wrap.  

My process is to dig them out of the ground with a fork and bring them into the garage.  I knock of *some* of the dirt.  But, then I leave them hang around for a couple of days to age.  Some say that the 'skin' needs to age a little bit.  So, that's what I do with my tubers.  After a few days, I knock whatever other dirt is easy to knock off and then I wrap them up.  I don't divide them - unless they are dividing by themselves.  I'll try to divide them in Spring when the 'eyes' are more easily-identifiable. 

I made little bundles of Saran Wrap and (this year), I've tried to label each and every one.  See below for the first few:

Storing Dahlia Tubers in Saran Wrap

I have dozens more to process, but that's for the next week-or-so.  

Most of the pro growers do their dividing now, but I think that's largely driven by their need to be able to sell tubers.  I don't sell anything, so I'm going to wait on trying to divide them.

Last year, I kept these in my garage.  Just in a trug.  This year, I'll do the same.  I'll try to tuck them in with a little coverage and then forget about them.  Far enough away from the big overhead door, to protect them from the cold.  Our garage is un-heated, but it is surrounded on two sides by our house and seems to stay in the 40's all Winter.  Which...I'm hoping is perfect temperatures again for tuber survival. 

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^{1. Successful season meaning that I grew them in the ground in a volume that made cut flowers practical. I've grown onesie-twosie dahlias in containers - in particular "Dinnerplate" varieties, but those were one-offs.↩}