The more articles I read, the more confused I get! I have started receiving some dahlia tubers already, but I probably shouldn't plant them in the ground for 5-7 weeks (I'm in zone 6, last frost date May 15th.) Some of them are already sprouting. What are the best and least labor intensive ways to hold these till it's time to plant them outside? Thanks for your help!

@ScarletTricycle

The tubers I'm receiving in the mail now are put into zip lock bags (with a few holes punched in the bags) of pro mix and kept in a dark place to slow the growth. Around the first of May I'll start them in pots/planters and keep them in front of a sunny window until the overnight temps are consistently 45-50+ degrees. Then they'll stay outside under the eaves 24/7. We're in the same 6A zone but I play it safe and wait till the end of May to plant them in the ground. By then the plants have usually grown to 10-12" tall. Good luck!

Dans advice is good!

I'm colder zones and all of mine are in 1 gal buckets in my basement or my hut by the patio door and once nights are warming they all move out to my porch. But I have such a short season that's what works in 4A for me and my garden.

I plant directly in the ground in early/mid May, and don't worry much about the sprouting tubers. That just means that they are viable and it's one less thing to worry about. I leave all of my tubers (new to me and my own tubers) in my unfinished basement until it's time to plant. There is folklore out there talking about the sprout rotting once you plant it outside, but I've never found that to be true, unless the tuber was rotting and didn't have time to make roots.