It is best to wait until the plants have succumbed to frost as the sap is driven into the tuber making it nice and solid aiding long term storage. However, if you intend propagating then the tuber needs time to rest before being started off again. As I'll be starting mine off in mid-January I'll be lifting now although they are still in full flower; damping off quickly and colours faded though.
To lift or not to lift?
Tubers will survive the winter cold, unless it's permafrost! if they are well mulched. However, this raises the question of whether one grows from tubers or plants. We raise all our premium cut flowers from plants; the stems are stronger, the colour is better and the bloom is a better size. So, if your are exhibiting you should be raising your plants each year. However, if you want a colourful display in the border then using tubers is good as they will produce a profusion of blooms all summer long; as long as they are dead-headed regularly.
I would caution against leaving tubers in the ground year after year though. After time the plant will weaken, lose colour, lose stem strength and revert to type. We have all seen those plants with faded, daisy eyed blooms on drooping stems; old tubers. It is better to lift and split them, this will prolong their life.
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