Wintering Over Frost Tender Bulbs

Wintering over Frost Tender Bulbs

With the first real frosts of the season hitting the northeastern part of the country, the rest of the northern tier of America will soon follow suit. This signals the time to pay attention to how you are going to winter over your frost tender bulbs currently in the garden. Wintering frost tender bulbs is not difficult so long as you keep them dry and cool, and do not let them get too cold before storing them.

The most common frost tender bulbs in the north are the bulbs of dahlia, canna and gladiolus. These bulbs will perish in the cold northern winters that occur in zones 5 and north, and some may not survive the zone 6 winters.

To prepare the bulbs for winter storage, first allow the green top growth to start wilting or turn brown from frost. A light to moderate frost will not penetrate to the depth of the tuber or bulb but will kill the tender top growth. Remove the bulb (or tuber) from the ground and cut off the top material. Rinse the bulbs to remove excess dirt and debris then allow the bulb to dry in the open air if possible.

Bring the clean, dry bulbs into the garage or other dry place and layer them in sand or peat moss. I prefer to use large plastic storage bins that have a lid on them. Put a generous layer of dry material at the bottom of the bin and place the bulbs into the material. Make sure that the bulbs do not touch and that they are dry. Also double check that the material is not soft and rotten in any area. Remove these bulbs. Cover each layer with a layer of dry packing material. Finish with a final layer before putting the lid onto the container and moving it to a permanent cool, but not cold, storage area such as the basement.

The tubers of some tender bulbs such as cannas, can be rather large. Although it is preferable to cut these into smaller pieces before planting, it may be necessary to do so now. Use a clean knife to severe the tubers at convenient joints. Rinse the knife in weak bleach solution before doing this to prevent contamination from other tubers.

Take the bulbs out of their storage area next spring and you will be surprised at how well they have done. You might even find that you have some bulbs that have sprouted. Remember though that the bulbs need to be removed from the storage material gently and not rushed into the ground next spring. Wait until the ground is well thawed and warm before planting them. By wintering over your frost tender bulbs you will have a new crop of perennials to enjoy for next year.