Figured now that people are starting to wake their tubers, drop your method of storage below and what your percentage (roughly) made it through the winter.
I split mine in October when I pulled them. Stored them in peat moss, dollar store totes, with airholes in them. Tossed a few blankets over them. Stored in my mudroom in Mid-Michigan.
I had about 90% success. Nothing shriveled and died. Actually they all looked as good as the day I stored them. I did have a few rot, but very limited. No mold, either. Pleasantly surprised. And the ratio of blind tubers to viable was very very low, which was great.
Changes for 2026/2027
-BETTER LABELING. Some totes had 2 varieties and I didn't label the tubers, so we will see how planting goes. I will be buying stamping sets because trying to very lightly label with a sharpie almost gave me a stroke.
-Better totes. The dollar tree ones were fine, but the ones home depot sells has locking lids, and I am going to add vents to them.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-6-5-Qt-Tough-Storage-Tote-in-Black-with-Yellow-Lid-999-6QT-HDX/332895815
Lastly: I really need to be okay letting clumps go in the fall to excited buyers. I had so much stuff this spring, it took multiple days to dig, split, move, relocate, etc. I'm small scale and its just me! Keeping 1 or 2 clumps of each variety, tops.
Also, peat moss vs vermiculite? Cost savings? Any benefits of one moreso than another? I found a local AG supply that charges 32 bucks for 4 cubic feet of vermiculite and that seems way cheaper than peat moss. But I am not familiar with moisture with vermiculite. Does it need to be moistened through the winter? I did not have to add any humidity to my stash. Just lightly damp peatmoss carried them through 5 months.
I would like to ask those of you that store your clumps and divide in spring:
How? Do you put them in totes? Cover in dirt? Toss in a grocery bag and pray? Because in the event I don't have the time or patience this fall, it may be a piece of information that would be pretty helpful.
by CrazyMadHooker
2 Comments
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I did coarse pine shavings under my house in totes with the lids on. All made it (34)