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Cannas

WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
in Plants
Hi all I have a selection of cannas Black Knight, Wyoming and some unknown. I got the tubers last year and had a somewhat mixed success (pretty naff). I've had them out in this glorious sunshine and kept them moist (horrible word) but they just ain't doing much. Clearly like all gardener's I'm short on patience but is there a real knack to cannas, advice online seems fairly basic. Any help for an enthusiastic gardening fool greatly appreciated

Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I start mine on a windowsill and put them out mid to late May. If I planted them in the border I'd probably just leave them there though (as I did when I was in Bristol). Unless you're in a frost pocket.

    I don't think there's any knack to Cannas, other than getting them through the winter. Lots if water and feed will make them grow a bit larger and lusher but they're tough and tolerant. What has been your problem?
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @WillDB last year they were really slow to get going and only about half flowered. Again this year they haven't done anything at all yet not a peak of a leaf, the tubers all look ok with no rot. Doesn't help that the father in law started same as me last year and his were amazing and this year there already motoring along. Mine are lined up in buckets in full sun so hoped for movement, maybe I have lazy cannas 
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066
    Most of mine started to show this week, one is still hibernating so not sure if that's survived. 
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Getting them started indoors gives them a head start. I have to admit I don't really care about the flowers! How are the leaves? There is a canna virus around but you'd see disfigured leaves if they had it. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    I bought a canna from Waitrose supermarket two summers ago not really knowing anything about it but I just liked the leaves, and I couldn’t be more pleased with it.

    It came in a 2l pot, I put it in a medium sized pot straight away and covered it with shingle mostly as I’ve had terrible problems with vine weevil before, but I guess it also had the added bonus of protecting the tubers over winter.

    I’m not sure what soil I put it in but appears to be general MPC, with a couple of inches of stones at the bottom. I’ve just moved it to a slightly bigger pot and regularly watering in a sunny spot and it’s growing more every day.

    I live in Hertfordshire so winters are probably fairly mild compared to other areas, but I didn’t even expect it to come back last summer because I’d not given it any special attention.

    Couldn’t imagine life without them now!
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