Page 15 Fall Home & Garden | September 2023 Lincoln Daily News Fall digging and preservation To save tender bulbs and bulb-like structures for the following growing season, they must be dug up and stored properly. After a frost or when the leaves have died back, cut the leaves to a few inches above the ground. Do not leave bulbs in the ground more than a few days after the first frost in order to prevent the chance of spoilage. Using a garden fork or spade, start loosening the soil well enough away from the buried bulbs so as not to wound or damage the bulbs in any way. Damaged areas create an opening for diseases which can also promote spoilage. Once the soil is loosened, gently remove the bulbs, and even more gently shake or wipe away excess soil. Bulbs will need drying and curing before storing over the winter. The length of curing depends on the type of bulb, which can be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Place the bulbs in a well-ventilated area and out of direct sunlight for drying. It is a good idea to research the specific bulb being preserved. For example, the old gladiolus corm should be removed from the new gladiolus corm before storage, however, a dahlia is a tuberous root which should not be divided before storage. Storage Before storing for the winter, inspect each bulb, corm, rhizome, tuber, or root for damage, disease, or insects. One unhealthy bulb could spread spoilage to the rest and should be discarded. Do not let the bulbs touch each other while storing them. For best results, store the bulbs in a medium such as sawdust, sand, or peat moss placed in a crate or cardboard box, and keep them in a cool, dry place. It is also a good idea to label the bulbs, particularly if gardeners will be storing several varieties. Check on the stored bulbs once a month over the winter to identify any signs of spoilage. It is also important to check that the bulbs are not too dry. Very lightly wet the storage medium if bulbs appear too dry, but easy does it– too much moisture may also lead to spoilage. Healthy bulbs should be ready for planting in the spring. With a little effort, gardeners can enjoy their favorite summer flowers year after year! [Stephanie Hall] Sources: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/bulbs/ bulbbasics.cfm https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/ give-summer-blooming-bulbs-second-chancestore-them-over-winter
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzExODA=