Scarlets Cut Flower Patch 2022/23/24

Yes. I lift them all. I read all the time that people leave them in but even if they do come back, they flower too late, send up too many shoots so they all get spindly and the flowers are smaller/poorer quality.

Cut down foliage when they've been frosted/gone over. Leave some short stems poking out so you know where they are. I often leave for a week or two. Dig up, shake as B much earth off as you can. Leave in the greenhouse to dry off, I put mine on racks, stems down so they drain/dry out. I then wrap in newspapers and pack in cardboard boxes. Check now and then that you haven't got a damp one in there as one wet:mouldy one will turn all the others. If you got those packing noodles/spare vermiculite etc - that would work brilliantly but I've too many and it's too costly.

#some people recommend washing the mud off but this can lead to rot if they haven't had enough time to dry off before packing. Don't rush packing up... the tubers take days to dry out. Cut any bits off that look rotten/old and any of those long straggly roots.

# I also find they keep better as a large clump - split in Spring.