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How do I overwinter dahlias?
Several days after a hard frost, cut the plants back to within 2 to 4 inches of the ground. Carefully dig up the tuberous roots with a spade or shovel. Gently shake off the soil, then cut the stems back to the crown.Wash the tuberous roots to remove any remaining soil. Allow the tuberous roots to dry to the touch (usually about one day). When dry, place the dahlia clumps upside down in boxes or other containers and cover them with vermiculite, peat moss, or wood shavings. Store the dahlias in a cool (40 to 50 degrees F), dry location.
When should I harvest my horseradish?
The roots of horseradish make their greatest growth in late summer and early fall. To obtain the best crop, delay harvesting horseradish until late October or November.
Carefully dig the horseradish and cut off the foliage about 1 inch above the crown. Store horseradish in a refrigerator or root cellar at a temperature of 32 to 40 degrees F and a relative humidity of 90 to 95 percent. When storing horseradish, keep the roots out of light. Light will turn the roots green.
Horseradish can also be left in the ground and harvested in early spring. Harvest horseradish yearly as the roots of old plants become tough and are poor quality.
Can I overwinter my geraniums by digging them up and storing them as bare-root plants?
Garden geraniums can be overwintered indoors by potting up individual plants, taking cuttings or storing bare-root plants in a cool, dry location.
When overwintering geraniums as bare-root plants, carefully dig up the geraniums before the first fall frost. Shake the soil from their roots. Place one or two plants in a large paper sack. Then store the geraniums in a cool (40 to 50 degrees F), dry location. An alternate method is to hang the bare-root plants from a rafter or other object in a cool, dry place.
In March, prune or cut back each plant. Remove all shriveled, brown, dead material. Healthy, live stems will be green and firm. After pruning, pot up the plants and water thoroughly. Place the potted geraniums in a sunny window or under artificial lighting. Geraniums pruned and potted in March should produce healthy, attractive plants that can be planted outdoors in May.
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