Dahlia Tuber Workshop

Next Year's Dahlias Begin This Fall - Tuber Workshop

Saturday, November 14, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

A dahlia season doesn't quite end with the last flower. Beneath the soil lies the beginning of next year's garden. Yet even gardeners who have lifted and stored tubers before can find themselves wondering why one clump kept beautifully while another shriveled or rotted, and what they might do differently.

Join Bear Creek Farm for a half-day workshop devoted to the practical work of lifting, dividing, and storing dahlia tubers. We'll begin in the field, then work through the decisions that matter most: when to dig, how to handle a clump, where to look for viable eyes, and how to prepare tubers for winter.

There is no single right way to store dahlias. What works depends on the space you have: a cool basement, an unheated garage, a spare refrigerator. In a small group, we can talk through what you actually have at home and help you choose an approach that suits it. Whether this is your first season or your tenth, you'll leave understanding not just what to do, but why.

Before You Dig

We’ll look at how tubers develop over the growing season and what is happening underground as flowering slows and autumn arrives. We’ll discuss when to keep deadheading for flowers, when to change your approach, and whether the timing of a hard frost matters. You’ll also learn how to identify and label the plants you want to keep while you can still see them in bloom.

The aim is to understand the whole process—not simply what to do once a clump is out of the ground.

What We’ll Cover

• Understanding the tuber. Learn the parts of a dahlia clump and what each division needs to grow.

• Digging and handling. See how we lift, trim, clean when appropriate, and care for tubers after they leave the ground.

• Dividing clumps. Practice with the tools and tubers provided, and learn why growers may choose to divide in autumn or spring.

• Winter storage. Explore how temperature, moisture, and your available space shape a storage plan.

• Making the call. Discuss when tubers can stay in the ground, when they need to be lifted, and what to check through winter.

Storage advice is rarely one-size-fits-all. In a small group, we can talk through the conditions you have and help you choose an approach that makes sense.

The workshop welcomes first-time growers as well as gardeners, flower farmers, florists, and designers who want a more confident understanding of the plant behind the flower.

What’s Included

All tools and tubers for hands-on practice are provided, along with a detailed take-home guide covering the process and common storage problems. Class size is limited so there is time for individual questions. Participants will also receive an exclusive discount on next season’s Bear Creek Farm tubers.

Workshop fee: $295

Rain date: Sunday, November 15, 2026

For workshop FAQs, please visit the Resources section of our website.

Coming with a friend? If you register together, each of you will receive 10% off the workshop fee. Email info@bearcreekfarm.com for details.