Cooling temperatures are  a sign that summer is coming to an end. There has already been a killing frost in some areas of Prince George including our garden in Pineview.

 

The tender summer flowering bulbs/tubers such as dahlias, tuberous begonias, Canna lilies, and gladiolas can take very little frost. After the foliage has been touched by frost it darkens to a black colour, and this is a sign that the bulb/tuber is ready to be dug and stored. These bulbs/tubers are not hardy enough to withstand Prince George winters, and cannot be left in the ground over the winter if you want them to bloom again next summer. They only way they will bloom again, is if the bulb/tuber is dug up and stored in a frost free area and then replanted again next spring.

 

It is not hard to dig up and store summer bulbs, and it is well worth the effort. When the dahlia has been affected by frost, cut back the stems to 15 cm from the ground and then carefully loosen the soil around the tuber using a garden fork and when the soil is loose, gently pull up the tuber, trying not to damage the tuber. Carefully shake off any excess soil from the dahlia tuber and then lay the tuber upside down in a dry, ventilated, frost free space. Leave it there for 10-14 days allowing the moisture to drain out of the stems which will stop it from rotting. After the dahlia tuber is completely dry it is ready to be stored an a cool, dry, frost free space.

 

Remember to label all the bulbs/tubers that are being stored with name, size and colour so that next year you will know what you are planting. When in storage it is always a good idea to check the dahlia tuber every few weeks for signs of rotting. If there is a spot of rot on the tuber remove it right away and dust the affected area with sulphur, before it gets a chance to spread.

 

Tuberous begonias are another favourite summer flowering bulb. If they are grown in containers the entire container can be brought indoors and placed in a heated garage where the temperatures are just above freezing. Remove the foliage after it has died back and stop watering. In February the soil is moistened as you want to wake the tuber up and have it start to grow again.

 

If the tuberous begonias are planted in the flowerbed they need to be dug up and stored, after the first frost has affected the foliage. Dig them out carefully so that the tuber is not damaged. Place them on some newspapers and place them in a cool place for a couple of weeks, and then after cut the stems back to 10-15 cm from the tuber. Try to remove any excess soil from the tuber by gently shaking it and continue to keep it in a cool dry place. After a few weeks the remaining foliage will dry off the tuber and the tuber is then ready to be stored. Place the tuber in a container filled with vermiculite or dry sand store it in a dry dark place where the temperature is 6-10 Celsius.

 

To store gladiola bulbs for another season let them finish blooming and then remove the finished flowers from the flower stems, before they form seeds. Dig up the bulb and cut the stem back 3 cm from the bulb. Sun dry the bulb for a few hours and then store it in a cool, frost free space for a few weeks. When it is dry take the top bulb which is the new bulb off from the old bottom bulb. Toss out the old bulb and store the new bulb is a dry warm place until next season.

 

Canna lilies have large colourful leaves with stalks of flowers that rise from the foliage, making a beautiful container plant as well as in the garden. They are a tropical plant that are not hardy enough to withstand our zone 3 climate, so need to be brought indoors over the winter. After the foliage has been affected by a killing frost, cut the foliage back to 15-20 cm from the ground and then dig up the rhizome. Air dry it for a few days and then place it in moist sand, vermiculite, or peat moss and store it in a cool, dark, place for the winter. Every few weeks, check to see that the medium remains moist and if it is too dry add a little water to moisten it.

 

Bulbs can be a good investment for the garden if cared for properly and re-used every year. The spring flowering bulbs which are planted in the fall are now available in the garden centre and can be planted now for next springs flowers.