Cannas

[Deleted]

Hi, I think this is probably one for Andy: what's the best way and time to divide a fairly congested clump of cannas? They get left in the ground over winter ... cheers ...

[andy]

I would probably do it in autumn....October/November time providing the ground is not waterlogged or has frost on/in it.

[Deleted]

Thanks Andy ... do I just slice up the roots where there are shoots? Cheers ...

[andy]

Yeah....i would. You'll obviously still have top growth on so just divide like you would a clump of herbaceous plants and replant.....or you could store them dry and restart them in spring.

[nightowl]

I never get any luck with Cannas My garden is sheltered and hardly ever gets frosted, but I've planted quite a few and got nothing except leaves! And then they just disappear.

What am I doing wrong? Is there a variety that is easier than some others? I love Cannas, but they don't seem to love me!

My soil is sandy/acid. Help anyone?

[andy]

If you have a sandy type soil....this could mean a hungry soil and cannas are very hungry plants. They need feeding really well with rotted organic matter in spring and liquid feeding throughout the growing season.

This will give good growth and hopefully encourage flowers and it will also build up the tubers for the following season.

[nightowl]

Thanks Andy. Do they do well in containers?

What do you think is best variety?

[andy]

I grow all mine in tubs nightowl. Don't really know what varieties are better but here's a site that might help you

www.hartcanna.com/catalog.htm

[nightowl]

After looking at those pictures I can feel an attack of HRT coming on!

Hold me back! Hold me back! ( no-dont-really-smiley) ;D ;D

Better make a trip down the stables too by the sound of it!

[Deleted]

Nightowl, Andy is definitely right about organic matter. I have two clumps - one newish one in full sun but only average soil, and it's doing just about OK. The original clump appeared by accident in very good soil - loads of organic matter etc. - but only gets sun in the morning - and is thriving (that's why I asked about dividing it up) ... cheers ...

[nightowl]

CC, I can't help but wonder how a clump of cannas, with their whacking great tubers, can appear anywhere "by accident"

Surely they can't self-seed? And I can't see a bird bringing it! ( maybe a vulture!) ;D ;D

[Deleted]

I know it seems ridiculous - but the first one that appeared did not yet have a whacking great tuber, only a very small root ;D! The garden was covered in asphalt for a number of years, and when we'd dug up the asphalt, dug over the soil, added compost and leafmould etc, a number of 'surprises' appeared which we had not expected - including what started off as a tiny canna (didn't flower the first year, obviously) and is now several cannas. Since cannas are actually grown quite commonly in Dublin, my assumption is that there had been cannas there before the asphalt was laid ... or that the seed was bought by a bird ... no idea! But given that most garden migrants are dandelions, ragwort etc. I'm not complaining ;D ... cheers ...

[nightowl]

Isn't it amazing what survives against all the odds!

And what doesn't, despite all your best efforts.

[nightowl]

Isn't it amazing what survives against all the odds!

And what doesn't, despite all your best efforts.

[Deleted]

Tell me, Nightowl! For the past two years I've been trying to grow Verbena bonariensis which grows like a weed and self -seeds like mad in other people's gardens. Have tried seed twice - nothing. Cuttings have died. And about six weeks ago I broke down, realised I wasn't going to be able to do this myself, bought a plant .... and it is in the process of dying. ... yet other things thrive with absolutely no effort or attention ... cheers ...

[rosagalicia]

I was so pleased to have cannas in the garden when we came here, and, as we hardly get any frost, they stay in place all year. Digging them up and storing them was the reason I never bothered with them before but I had seen them in the gardening magazines. The ones already here were red so I went out and bought some yellow ones and potted them up. I was so enthusiastic I also collected all the seeds I could, planted them up and they grew! And grew! Now I don´t know where to put them all .... and I shan´t be collecting any more seed this year.

[nightowl]

That's why I would love to go and live in Greece. So I can have Geraniums like small trees, and grow things like Cannas and other tender stuff without all the hassle of greenhouses and heating.

And, of course, having tomatoes and all the other veg growing like weeds!

What am I waffling on about? I just want to go and live in the sun!

[Deleted]

Hi all ... I know some of you have grown cannas from seed. I 've got T&M's collection, and on the pack it says to sow them in February ... however, they naturally set seed in the autumn ... so would it make sense to try sowing them now or in a few weeks? Any ideas? Or tips? cheers ...