TL;DR
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Gardening Know How advises gardeners in hardiness zones 7 and colder to lift tender summer bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes before the ground freezes. Its report names seven plants for winter storage and gives general guidance on timing, curing and storage; the supplied source excerpt provides detailed instructions for only dahlias and gladiolus.
Gardening Know How is urging gardeners in hardiness zones 7 and colder to lift tender summer-flowering bulbs and related underground storage structures before the soil freezes, to reduce the risk of cold damage and rot. The report names seven plants for winter lifting and advises curing and storing them indoors, though the available source excerpt gives plant-specific instructions for only dahlias and gladiolus.
The report distinguishes tender summer bloomers from hardy spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocuses, which need winter chill as part of their flowering cycle. It says tender plants can be damaged when left in cold, wet soil: freezing can harm their tissues, while prolonged moisture can contribute to rot. Its advice is conditional on plant variety, hardiness zone and local weather; gardeners in warmer southern areas may be able to leave some plants under thick mulch.
For many tender varieties, the suggested lifting signal is the first light frost that blackens the foliage. The report cautions against waiting until the ground freezes. It gives a typical mid-to-late October window for zones 3–5 and late October to early November for zones 6–7, while emphasizing that timing depends on local conditions. The article’s title identifies seven plants, but the supplied material does not include the full list or detailed directions for all seven.
After lifting, the general method is to brush off loose soil and let the underground structures dry in a dry, ventilated, frost-free location. The report recommends breathable containers with dry packing material such as vermiculite, perlite, wood shavings or peat-free coir, kept in a cool, dark place at about 40–50°F (4–10°C). It advises checking stored material monthly for rot or shriveling.
Protecting Summer Flowers From Frost
For gardeners in colder regions, lifting tender plants before a hard freeze can prevent the loss of established stock and reduce the need to buy replacements next spring. That matters particularly for plants grown from tubers, corms or rhizomes, which may not withstand the combination of frozen ground and winter wetness described in the report.
The guidance is not a blanket instruction for every bulb or every garden. Hardy spring-flowering bulbs have different needs, and the report says some southern gardeners may leave tender varieties in the ground with substantial mulch. Readers should use the advice as a seasonal, zone-dependent recommendation, checking conditions for each plant and their local climate before digging.
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Frost Signals and Storage Conditions
The article explains that “bulb” is often used broadly for several different plant structures. True bulbs, such as lilies, have layered scales; dahlias grow from tubers; gladiolus form corms; and cannas and callas spread through rhizomes. Though structurally different, the report groups these tender summer plants because their underground parts can be vulnerable to winter cold and moisture.
Its instructions for dahlias say to wait until frost blackens the foliage, cut stems to 4–6 inches above the soil and lift the clump carefully. It recommends drying tubers in a shaded, airy place for two to three days and storing them around 45–50°F (7–10°C). For gladiolus, it says to lift when foliage yellows or after the first light frost, cure corms in a warm, ventilated room for two to three weeks, then store them at 40–45°F (4–7°C). These are the two plant-specific methods included in the supplied excerpt.
““For most tender varieties, the ideal window opens immediately after your region’s first light frost blackens top foliage.””
— Gardening Know How
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The Full Seven-Plant List
The supplied source material ends partway through the section on cannas. It therefore does not establish the names of all seven plants in the report or provide the complete care instructions for the remaining entries. The headline indicates seven, but filling in the missing names from general gardening knowledge would go beyond the material provided.
The report also does not give a single lifting date that applies to every location. Frost timing, soil conditions, plant variety and local hardiness zone can differ, and the excerpt does not specify how each named plant responds in every zone. Its storage temperatures and steps are recommendations from the gardening report, not a guarantee that every stored plant will survive.
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Lift Before Local Ground Freezes
Gardeners following the report’s advice should watch for the first light frost and check the forecast and soil conditions in their area. Where lifting is appropriate, the suggested next steps are to dig carefully, allow the material to dry or cure as directed for the plant, and store it in a cool, dark, frost-free place with ventilation. Monthly checks can help identify rot or shriveling while plants are in storage.
The source excerpt does not provide the remaining plant entries, so readers seeking a complete list and plant-specific directions would need to consult the full Gardening Know How report. Until those details are available, the clearest confirmed guidance is to distinguish tender summer plants from hardy spring bulbs and avoid leaving vulnerable material in the ground once freezing conditions are approaching.
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Key Questions
Which plants does the report say to lift?
The report’s headline refers to seven bulbs and tubers, but the supplied excerpt includes detailed sections only for dahlias, gladiolus and part of the cannas section. The complete seven-plant list cannot be confirmed from the material provided.
When should tender bulbs and tubers be lifted?
Gardening Know How generally recommends lifting many tender varieties after the first light frost blackens the foliage, but before the ground freezes. Its typical windows are mid-to-late October in zones 3–5 and late October to early November in zones 6–7; local weather may change the timing.
How should lifted plants be stored?
The report advises drying or curing the material in a ventilated, frost-free place, then packing it in a breathable container with dry material such as vermiculite or peat-free coir. Its general storage guidance is a cool, dark location around 40–50°F (4–10°C), with monthly checks.
Do all bulbs need to be dug up for winter?
No. The report says hardy spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocuses need winter chill. Its lifting advice concerns tender summer bloomers and varies by plant and climate; some gardeners in warmer southern areas may leave certain varieties under thick mulch.
Source: rss
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