Colorful bulb displays will appear at garden centers by the middle of the month. Even though you may not be planting for a few more weeks it’s a good idea to order early, right now! By so doing you avoid picked-over bulbs and can plant them on time.
In Southern California and Arizona, it is advisable to plant after November I when the ground has cooled off. However. bulbs should be ordered now so that on October 1 they may be put in the refrigerator for pre-chilling.
Chill (at a temperature of 365-40°. no lower) for about thirty days. This treatment “fools” the bulbs, making them think they are getting normal cold, winter conditions as in Holland and produces tall-stemmed flowers instead of those that pop out prematurely on 4” inch stems.
Fall Clean-up
A good fall clean-up will do much toward checking pest damage next spring. Be sure to burn rubbish and foliage that may be diseased or infested with insects. Spraying after fall clean-up eliminates pests that might overwinter on leaves, branches, or in the soil.
Care of Dahlias
Proper lifting, dividing, and storing of dahlias is as important a part of their culture as planting, feeding, and watering.
Dig before a hard frost. The new root clumps are fully developed ninety days after planting and can be dug any time after that. Dig on a dry day so that tubers may be left to air for a few hours before storing. Before digging, cut off the stalks about 6” inches from the ground.
Digging the tubers is safest when done by two people, each with a shovel on opposite sides of the plant. Handle roots gently—they are crisp and brittle when first dug. If the skin is broken, rot may develop later and an entire clump may be lost.
Divide clumps as soon as they are dug instead of waiting until winter because the eyes are easier to find, the tuber is easier to cut and the divisions require less storage space than the clumps. Ideally, tubers should be kept in a reasonably airtight container at a temperature of 45° to 50°.
44659 by Norvell Gillespie