Q: Time got away from me and I left my dahlias in the ground. Last year some came up from the preceding year, but they weren’t as pretty. Is it best to dig them up and throw them away?

A: I’d dig them up and see how they look. If the tubers seem to be firm and have no obvious soft spots, let them dry for a few days in a cool place and wrap them individually in newspaper. Store in a cardboard box, far enough apart so the tubers don’t touch (just in case one begins rotting). Check on them in January and if all are still firm, they’ll probably last until planting time in April.