READER’S QUESTION

MY DAHLIA tubers are stored in veg trays under bubble wrap in my shed. Although most are fine, a few have begun to decay. How can I stop the rot?

E. Brown, Kent. BeGIn by separating sound plants from rotting ones.

affected plants which still have some sound tubers can also be saved. Cut away all rotted or rotting material, then dust the cleaned-up tubers with yellow sulphur powder. This is also called flowers of sulphur and is widely available from garden centres.

If you have a greenhouse, an alternative is to plant your cleanedup dahlias in large pots.

They could then be placed under the staging. If kept moist, they’ll produce basal shoots during February, which can then be rooted as cuttings.

In future, your tubers will keep better during winter if covered with old potting compost, which is marginally moist, rather than bubble wrap.