When should I dig up bulbs to separate?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.To dig bulbs for division, timing is crucial. Wait until the foliage has turned yellow (but nothing is frozen in the ground). I remember digging into a collection of rare dahlias I had acquired, and the bulbs were not ready because they had not stored enough energy- it was too soon. Allow Mother Nature to indicate when the plant is ready for division by observing changes in foliage color and texture.
Pre-Dig Prep
- Stop watering 10 days before digging
- Mark healthiest clumps with colored stakes
- Sanitize tools with 70% alcohol
Post-Dig Care
- Dry bulbs 48 hours in shaded airflow
- Label divisions with variety and date
- Dust cuts with cinnamon powder
Regional frost dates determine tolerance for delay. Coastal Zone 8 gardeners can afford to wait until December, while Zone 4 gardeners must be done in October. I use frost cloths to extend my window. It gave me 14 additional days for my late-blooming gladiolus last fall.
When stored fruit releases ethylene gas, it can diminish the recovery of bulbous plants. Therefore, make sure your divisions are separate from apples or bananas. For example, I had a client last week who had lily bulbs that did not sprout in the spring after wintering next to pears, which is why I suggested they consider identifying dedicated storage rooms for sensitive plants.
Accidentally split bulbs can be revived by soaking in a sea kelp solution before replanting them. Room-temperature kelp solutions are fine. To test viability, cut a single bulb in half, observation of a creamy essential flesh means still alive, while brown mush means discard. Last spring, 60% of "lost" tulip divisions flowered again after the triage treatment and I had not planted any in the fall!
Read the full article: How to Store Bulbs: Expert Guide for Healthy Blooms
