I just pulled my tubers out of the basement (leaky stone basement, 1940s house in Maine, winter temp 37-42 degrees). It's evidently a marvelous storage location! Over the storage season I lost less than 0.5% of my 500 overwintered tubers. Even my "possible rot box" i.e. check every two weeks, did well. Caveat - I was NOT storing many finicky/fancy tubers - last year was my first year growing more than a few in my (or clients') gardens and I'm only growing for the joy of flowers; my love of garden puttering after a chaotic day at work, the anticipation of blooms and sharing the flowers or selling bouquets to raise money for causes I hold dear, oh, and my wedding this October.
I stored in coarse pine shavings in plastic shoe boxes with holes in the lids and "fish tubs" (10"x14"x4"). I'm going to try some in vermiculite next year, so I can re-use it, but my compost area will be glad of the shavings this year. I'm sure some will rot or refuse to grow as they warm up, but, I was anticipating a greater reduction, and have only limited self-control, so I have (too) many coming in the mail. I also took cuttings (they are thriving, all rooting in 9-14 days), and have 100 seedlings for fun. Good thing my family is very patient - or just resigned to my shenanigans - with grow lights and metro racks in the living room. I added more raised beds to my yard and have friends who are total enablers and lend me a row in their garden. It's 6-7 weeks until I can plant out, and only because I can start in my warmer-than-the-ground raised beds; more sleet is in the forecast for this weekend.
