October 1, 2024
Lifting and Storing Tender Bulbs
We’ve all enjoyed the gorgeous floral show from our spring bulbs*, including Gladiolas, Dahlias, Calla Lilies, and many others. But sadly, their beauty comes at a price as they cannot survive our harsh Canadian winters out in the garden soil. But that’s okay, because a little effort now will mean you can enjoy them again next year!
*Technically, they are not all “bulbs” as some varieties are corms, tubers, rhizomes, or other non-bulb forms; for the sake of this article, all varieties will be referred to as either “tender bulbs” (since they cannot handle our cold winters) or simply “bulbs”.
What to Lift: You’ll need to lift any and all of your tender bulbs before the hard frost hits, including Dahlia, Gladiola, Calla Lily, Freesia, Anemone (not the Perennial/Japanese varieties), Ranunculus, Tuber Begonia, Tuberose, Caladium, and Canna Lily.
What to Leave: Most of your Lilium varieties can handle the cold, so they can stay put. And since you’re out digging in the garden already, it’s the perfect time to plant fall bulbs to enjoy in the spring! Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocus, and other spring flowering bulbs all need our long winters to build up their energy.
When to Lift: After the first fall frost is when you’ll want to start digging up your tender bulbs. The foliage can handle being damaged by the cold, but be sure to dig before the frost sinks far enough to reach the bulb underground.
How to Lift Them: You can use a shovel or trowel, but we find a long-tined garden fork is very effective at gently lifting your plants with minimal damage to their roots and base structures. Bonus: you can shake your bulbs free of soil while they’re still on the fork! Your bulbs should be free of soil and dry, so a gentle rubbing with your hands or a dish towel is all they need. Avoid washing them or storing them before they’ve dried—rot can quickly spread among bulbs and rotted bulbs do not do well, period! Check your individual variety tags carefully to determine whether you need to clip off all of the foliage or keep a few inches attached to its base. Let everything dry for a few days to ensure there’s no moisture that will rot the collection once it’s in storage.
Where to Store Them: This will depend on your varieties, but most tender bulbs prefer a cool, dark, dry location that will not freeze, like a root cellar or unheated garage. Ranunculus and Tuberose prefer a warmer winter vacation, but most of the others are happy with temperatures around 4°C.
How to Store Them: A breathable container, like a cardboard box or loosely closed paper bag, is a great way to store your bulbs. Avoid plastic bags/containers as they trap condensation; tender bulbs + moisture = bad! Pack your bulbs loosely in vermiculite, peat moss, sphagnum moss, or even crumpled newspaper. And make sure that no one is touching anyone else, as storing them too tightly can result in rot, which can spread like wildfire to the rest of the group (rotted bulbs = very bad). Label your containers to keep your types and colours prepared for next spring. Check them regularly over the winter to check for rot, and toss out any bulbs showing signs of icky gross-ness to save the rest of your collection.
When to Replant: You can get a head’s start on the season’s gorgeous colour by starting some of your tender bulbs indoors in early spring, starting around March. Try this with your Dahlias, Calla Lilies, Begonias, Canna Lilies, Ranunculus, and Caladiums. Make sure they have lots of light and warmth, and of course water when needed. Your gorgeous Gladiolas and Freesias will do best when planted directly outside once the risk of frost has passed, which is usually around late May to mid-June but, as always, check your local weather reports.
Enjoy Your Efforts and Repeat this Process Next Fall!
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