The only comment I would add to Barb's is that I usually dig my tropical
bulbs and tubers and then simply rinse them to get all of the soil off
the roots. If I have many that are tropical I soak them in the
wheelbarrow and it makes the job much easier. I fill the wheelbarrow
with water and let them soak for a few minutes then finish by hose
spraying and air dry them during the warm daytime hours for a few days.
Once they have dried thoroughly I put them in plastic containers to keep
the moisture to a minimum and put them in the coolest spot in the
basement covered with peat moss.
Peggy Fairbourne
Hennepin County
On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 20:03:17 -0500 Barbara A Gasterland
<barbski@mn.rr.com> writes:
> That depends on if you are planning on keeping the plant or just
> saving
> the bulb and storing it for next year. The foliage is very sensitive
> to
> frost but if you want to save the bulb let the foliage get killed
> off
> and dig up the bulb soon there after. If it is in a pot it is hard
> to
> get at the bulb I have found, because the roots are so thick. I
> usually
> let the root mass dry out a bit and then hack away till I get to
> the
> bulb. I have stored them in a bucket with peat moss in, also have
> just
> tossed them in a paper grocery bag in the basement a couple years
> when
> I was real lazy and kept them in the basement till early spring.
> The last 2 years the basement has actually been warm and they still
>
> stored just fine. I have had the same bulb or its progeny for the
> last
> 7 years or more.
> Barb G. - Henn.co.
>
> On Friday, October 1, 2004, at 09:16 AM, Susan Morris wrote:
>
> > Should elephant ear bulbs be dug before frost? Never have left
> them
> > out in
> > a killing frost before, but the leaves are so huge this year that
> am
> > wondering if I should wait for frost tonight. For those who know
> the
> > answer, please let me know before the end of the day. Thanks.
> > Sue M.
> >
> >
> > mastgar archives:
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> > Mastgar mailing list
> > Mastgar@extension.umn.edu
> > http://lists.extension.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mastgar
> >
>
> mastgar archives:
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>
Peggy Fairbourne
(763) 475-3285
peggy.fairbourne@juno.com
