That sounds like it's going to be tough. Dahlias should really have all the foliage die, then about two weeks later, be dug out from the ground. The tubers need some 'curing' time before they're lifted out. I can't explain why that is but just that it's necessary. As long as the tubers are planted at the proper planting depth, you should be alright for when you come back in November. That would be the first thing I'd do when I came back though.

+1 Lizalily. I do try to wait for die-down because I chop them for the compost bin, but if I get stuck, up they come.

I usually wait til the frost kills them. Then off they go into the garage for the winter. I don't do anything special to them, just dig them up and stick them in a box. This year I'm going to place each one in a bag with a color string on them so I know what colors they are.

I second Lizalily's post... As long as they've been in the ground growing for at least 120 days, the tubers should be mature enough to survive winter during dormancy. The frost just forces us to do what needs to be done.

Many growers don't wait the week or two before digging... Birch Bay Dahlias, for example, start before frost, cut down a dozen at a time and dig/divide them on the spot. With a couple thousand plants and limited time, they don't want to be at mercy of frosts, rains and freezes.

The waiting time between frost and digging is to allow the tubers to eye up, ready to sprout new plants. This is to make it easier to divide; however, many varieties don't need this waiting period at all, with eyes obvious immediately.

I just read all of your posts about cutting back Dahlias and digging up tubers and I am confused! I am so hoping that you can help me. I am in the Pittsburgh area. A few nights ago (three), we had a killing frost and my Dahlias all turned black (foliage) which I expected. Today I cut the stalks and dug up the tubers. This is my first season with Dahlias and they were magnificent! I didn't know to let them "eye up". Help should I put them back in the ground or in a box filled with dirt to let them "eye up"? I am thinking from what I have read that eyes are the little green shoots that signal new growth, they were present on the tubers I planted in the Spring. None of the ones I dug up today have little green shoots. Also, some tubers fell off of the main clump when I was digging up. They look pretty healthy and large and they have roots. Is each tuber a viable new plant or only the ones that stay attached to the main clump? What do? Can I save them? Thank you so much in advance! I really appreciate any help!

pottingshedgirl: A couple things.

First, don't panic! All is not lost. There are many growers that cut down the stalks and dig the tubers on the same day. The reason for leaving the tubers in the ground for a few extra days is to make it easier to find the eyes. Digging soon after cutting down makes it more difficult, but not impossible, to find the eyes.

Look at the picture below. I circled the eyes so that you may be able to spot them better. That is what you will be looking for.

Unlike a potato, a dahlia tuber only has one eye. The eye will be at the stalk end of the tuber. A tuber that falls off of the stalk MIGHT still be good, as long as the eye is attached to the tuber.

A tuber that grows off of a tuber (you see that sometimes) will never grow as it will not have an eye.

You can see a tuber with a broken neck in the picture. That tuber is no good and will not produce a plant.

With that being said, broken tubers CAN still grow. It just depends on how much tuber is left and where the break occurred. We have planted tubers that have lost 2/3'rd of the tuber and they have grown just fine.

{{gwi:663144}}

A brief guide (with pictures!) on digging, washing and dividing tubers can be found in the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tuber dividing guide

Dear Snarg, Thank you so very much!!!!!! I really appreciate your time and your photo! I will report back. If I can save any of them, I would love to send you some. I think they are called Bodacious or Flamethrower. Thank you so much Snarg! I really appreciate your time and your help!

you guys are the best;I was about to ask the same question about digging before a frost and now I know! Thank you Thank you. Plan to cut the dahlias down on Monday and dig them up the next Monday.