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New gunnera leaves look dead!

swisscheeseswisscheese Posts: 12
in Plants
Morning gardeners!

My gunnera looks sick... It's been covered all winter to protect from the cold, and about a month ago, new leaves started pushing through the covering (it thought Spring was here in Feb!). Since then we've had lots of snow and subzero temperatures, so I kept it covered. When I uncovered it recently, it looks very unhappy, as if the stems / leaves started to grow and then died. Also the 'hairy' part of the crown looks black, and I've spotted some small worm-like bugs in the soil.

Any thoughts? Thanks so much!

George





Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Mine looks just as unhappy.  All you can do is wait and see and make sure it's protected from any further frosts.

    I've been growing mine in a pot too, in a bid to get it to a decent size after losing two others to surprise frosts.  The plan, assuming it's OK, is to get it in the ground this year and then it will be buried under a barrow load of compost every autumn to see it thru winter.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I agree with Obs, looks like a bit of damage due to frost. It'll bounce back.If you're planning on keeping it in that pot, I'd suggest repotting it with more compost.
    Devon.
  • swisscheeseswisscheese Posts: 12
    @Hostafan1

    Good idea – I'll get repotting. I'd put in in the ground, if our London courtyard wasn't concrete!

    Thanks
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fill the pot to within a couple of inches of the rim ... it needs plenty of root room and fresh air around the crown ... it'll get a bit dank that low down. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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