Hey Digit, I posted a question earlier in the dahlia forum. I dug my dahlia tubers, washed them and have them drying upside-down in the garage. The tubers are dry on the outsides. And they aren't what I would describe as mushy. But when squeezed gently, they do have some give. Like if you were to squeeze a grape. Do you think they should be hard and dry before I put them in media to store?

Last year, I was not successful putting away dahlias. I'm trying again but still don't feel very confident about this whole process.

Popmama, it sounds like you are checking last year's roots with that squeeze test.

Do you have roots that are both dark and light on the same plant? The 2017 root will deteriorate through the winter. About the best you could hope for is that it just dries up completely and doesn't cause trouble for the new roots.

Actually, the BEST is to discard the 2017 root. Hopefully, the plant produced some nice, fresh tubers.

Steve

No I was squeezing any of the tubers. All of the tubers multiplied while in the ground this year. I think every one of these was a single tuber and now has a whole cluster. But each of the tubers is squeezable which seems odd to me. I thought they should feel dry and solid. Not dry and squeezy.

I don't understand it, PopMama. We finished getting in the dahlia roots, today. This year's tubers are as crisp as always. Brittle, even.

Went on to get half of the gladiolas. Much easier ...

Should be able to bring home the other half, tomorrow. If I can get the stakes out and cut down any taller plants since the corn and sunflowers are already down ... nah, no reason to knock ourselves out. What a blessing to have nice weather at this time of year.

Steve

Well, we did it - at least in the big garden. Not much need to go back. .Sure. There is always something that could be done in a garden until it's frozen in place and snow covered but ...

The little garden is still waiting but only for cleanup. However, I want to do things a little different this winter and should talk to property owner. Everything down to bare ground as usual, tho. This "gardening on other people's property" (GOOPP) has to be done with others in mind. Ya can't just act on whims and fancy.

Gotta unload a half a truckload of stakes and such but, that can wait. Dark out!

Steve

Barb, I told my good neighbor that I was gonna tease him a little and planned on leaving dead dahlias stems in his garden through the winter.

He said, "uh, okaaay."

I said, "No. Not really! I want to dig out 1/3rd, or 1/2 of the beds and bury the stalks. There won't be anywhere left on top of the ground."

He looked relieved. Ha! This is the "through the backyards fence into the shed-attached hoop house" neighbor. We have made use of that protected growing space for a few months over several years but it wasn't until last year that we took over the remainder of his garden through the entire growing season. Every frost-killed stem was hauled back through the fence at the end of the 2017 season. It wasn't how I wanted to do it or would have done it, if I'd been able to catch the property owner at the right time to ask about burying the plant debris in the beds.

I've learned that some people don't like this idea. Compost might be okay but decaying plants are offensive, even if they are going under soil. Ya know, quite a few people don't like the idea of putting manure in their gardens or backyards. It's all one way with us as the beneficiaries so, it's just best to ask. Hey, it works!

Steve

I'm glad you caught him at the right time and he was open to stem burying. Composting in place sure beats hauling it all out. It's wonderful how you've partnered with others to find more space to garden. I'm sure your neighbor enjoys the fruits of your labors.

I decided to leave a lot of the sunflowers up until after Halloween and maybe beyond. They look awful, but the birds are still foraging from them, so they'll stay until I know all the seed is gone. I'm in no hurry cut back most of the perennials, too. I know aesthetically, that's not for everyone. I imagine in the city or suburbia you could get a code enforcement ticket or complaints from the neighbors, but that's not an issue for me, the closest neighbor is 1/4 mile away. I see how the birds use the plants for food and shelter. I noticed a lot of bees out and about yesterday. If I'd cut back the asters, marigolds and mums already, what would they forage from?

I think there's been a lot of progress in the last 10 years in educating people on the benefits of composting and I'm glad to see it. A co-worker who lives in Denver said she's joining their composting program. I don't quite get their business model, though. You gather scraps and then pay to have them picked up. At the tail end, you have to buy the compost, too. I have to keep in mind most people don't have room or the inclination to have a compost pile to deal with. They are providing a service and that comes with operating expenses. I'm all for keeping that stuff out of the landfill, however it gets done.

In my mind, all manure is not created equal. When I had horses, I had nice, sweet smelling stuff, at least it didn't smell offensive to me. Cow and chicken manure can be pretty rank before it breaks down. I'm using composted, bagged manure now.

Barb