The Dahlia Garden at Anglesey Abbey
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Our top tips
- Make it easier, grow them in pots
We use pots throughout the year, even when planting out. For us, this method makes lifting the plants in the autumn simple and with minimal disturbance to their delicate roots. - Lift in November (usually after a frost!)
Our first job is to remove the tops and put them on the Anglesey compost heap. We then take the pots to a frost-free glasshouse. - Stack and rotate
We overwinter a large number of plants. Pots are stacked laying on their sides, with one on top of another. They’re regularly rotated to make sure the whole stack dries out evenly. - Keep them fungal free
It’s important to examine each plant to ensure they’re clear of fungal infections. We also trim off the stems as they dry out. - Protect them for next year's bloom
It's good practice to store lifted tubers in a frost-free area for about three weeks, allowing them to dry out naturally. They do best upside-down, so any water in the stems to drain out. When dry, store in boxes of moist (not wet) compost/vermiculite/coir or similar material to keep them frost free. - Inspect them regularly during the winter
If you see any mildew or rot, cut it out with a clean, sharp knife and dust the surface with sulphur.