Dahlia jobs in November

November is a tricky month lately; last year deep in snow, this year still in full bloom, although getting a little tired.  If your dahlias, like mine - see photos - are still in bloom and untouched by the frost, it is as well to leave them for a while in the hope that there will be a frost soon!  Frosting of the foliage kills the capillaries forcing the sap into the tuber both swelling them and enriching with the sugar content.  (Remember about the sugar content?  It is why wasps eat the stems)

Two images taken a week ago, the filed looks pretty much the same today.  I am still cutting selectively, a number of cultivars are still going well with fully formed blooms and good colour.

If you lifted your tubers last month it is time to check that the stems have drained, face them upwards and remove as much soil as possible.  When dried, lay the tubers in shallow boxes, dust with flowers of sulphur and keep in a frost-proof room.  When the weather is suitable burn all the foliage to destroy any possible disease being carried.  Ground preparation: manure and dig over roughly to allow the frost to break the soil down.