| Author | Content |
CountryGardens
Lewisville, MN (Zone 4a)
September 11, 2008 1:12 PM Post #5537786
| We planted Canna bulbs years ago. I really didn't like them. They got so big I was breaking forks trying to dig them. So the last year I had them, I left them in the ground. That was maybe 15 years ago. That area was where I constructed my first greenhouse. 2 years ago I plowed up this area & started using it again. Last year in 2 different places in this area, Cannas appeared. I have no idea how it was around 15 years from the time we had them until they reappeared!
Mother Nature at work.
Bernie |
leaflady
Hughesville, MO (Zone 5a)
September 11, 2008 4:31 PM Post #5538733
| If you are offering seeds to this plant I would love to have some. If rhizomes, please check postage or shipping via UPS or FE. If they will survive in Iowa they will surely survive in central MO. I've had lots of canna seeds survive our winters and come up in the yard, compost pile, etc. |
hine57
Elkhorn, WI
September 11, 2008 5:15 PM Post #5538889
| I wonder if they will survive a Wisconsin Winter? I will be more than happy to test out this theory if you are willing to part with a bulb or two. Is there anything I can trade for yours?
Thanks
CC |
randbponder
Hornick, IA (Zone 4b)
September 11, 2008 5:47 PM Post #5539029
| Hi Larry!
Yes, I would like to try some Banana Canna. Would that be more sweet potato plants next spring???
I am planning on more of the bush type for next year. They are doing as good as can be expected, with the cold dreary start of spring this year. My centennials are running all over the place but the Vardaman's are pretty much self contained into rows. Their roots are not that big yet. I'm hoping we have enough of summer left to let them fill out a little more.
Great article and really quite amazing how that first one came to be.
Will we see you this next spring at Arlene's?
Russ |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
September 11, 2008 9:21 PM Post #5539816
| ...but will they survive deer and rabbits?? Gonna check the statistics before I ask for any, lol.
Russ, I was sooo disappointed to have deer or bunnies devour the sweet potato cuttings you sent me!
That is a good article--from destruction rises beauty, kinda like the phoenix rising from the ashes. Sorry about the loss of wonderful old trees, but happy that the house was not severly damaged or destroyed. |
randbponder
Hornick, IA (Zone 4b)
September 12, 2008 12:14 AM Post #5540367
| KY; I felt bad when you told me about loosing them. I had to spray repellent on mine, until they got a good start. I only had bunnies though.
It is still going to be touch and go, for mine to produce really good.
I dug out one side of a couple hills and only found one rather skinny one. Maaaybee 1 & 1/2" thick and about 8" long. not too good yet. |
LarryR
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)
September 14, 2008 1:16 AM Post #5548729
| Hi Bernie and Russ--Good to hear from you both! Interesting that you had the same experience with canna seeds, Bernie. But seed sprouting 15 years later--WOW! Russ, I'll reserve a musifolia rhizome for you. I got so many plants from you this spring--all are doing well--that it will take more than a canna rhizome to compensate. No trade is necessary. Wilma and I are planning to be at Arlene's.. We've got our accommodations already reserved!
Larry☼ |
LarryR
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)
September 14, 2008 1:22 AM Post #5548773
| Leaflady and hine57--Thanks for your interest in the article and the canna. I can supply both seeds and rhizomes. Going the rhizome route will assure that you get the musifolia variety. The seeds are not always true to the parent.
I'll reserve a rhizome for each of you. Would you like me to ship it in the spring? I can ship it now, but then you'll have to deal with overwintering it. Let me know... Thanks--Larry☼ |
randbponder
Hornick, IA (Zone 4b)
September 14, 2008 1:26 AM Post #5548794
| Larry We have our reservation for then as well , so we'll be looking forward to seeing you then.
Russ |
LarryR
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)
September 14, 2008 1:28 AM Post #5548814
| KyWoods--Thanks for your interest in the article and your kind words. We live on the edge of a wild game preserve and have LOTS of deer. So far all the cannas we have have remained untouched. We also have lots of rabbits and, although they nibble on our veggie plants when they are small, they've avoided the cannas. Let me know if you want to give it a go.--Larry☼ |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
September 14, 2008 1:36 AM Post #5548858
| Yes, thanks, Larry! All the sites I researched said the same thing, deer and rabbits don't bother them. When is planting time for them? |
LarryR
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)
September 15, 2008 6:38 PM Post #5555219
| After the last frost date has passed, you can plant the seeds directly into the ground where you want the plants to grow, but you'll get screening-height cannas faster if you start the seed indoors. The recommended start date is 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Seeds should be planted 1/4 inch deep. The seed coat is fairly hard, so instructions usually say that each seed needs to be scarified. However, since the seeds come up in our garden without scarification, I'm somewhat skeptical. You might want to soak the seeds overnight before you plant them, though.
The seed pods are just now beginning to ripen. When they're dry enough, I'll alert you, and then mail them to you. |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
September 15, 2008 8:35 PM Post #5555602
| Cool, thanks! I will send you postage, at the very least. |
hine57
Elkhorn, WI
September 26, 2008 12:42 PM Post #5601340
| Rhizomes for the spring planting is the best route I would think. I will gladly send you postage. And thanks. |
LarryR
South Amana, IA (Zone 5a)
September 26, 2008 6:08 PM Post #5602568
| I've got you down for a rhizome, CC. Would you like me to ship it yet this fall, or would you like to wait til spring? |
stella
Raleigh, NC (Zone 7a)
September 6, 2010 6:06 AM Post #8082955
| Banana Cannas are great. This is the type of Canna that the Victorian era folks were using. Before breeders created the plethora of huge flowers we see today, Canna as considered to be a foliage plant. Here is a link from Plant Delights Nursery that contains a list of great Canna cultivars plus an article on their history, and cultivation:
(www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Plants/Genus/Canna) |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
September 6, 2010 9:28 AM Post #8083360
| Is it normal for cannas to die off this time of year, or has it been the heat that has mine shriveling? This is my first year having them. |
randbponder
Hornick, IA (Zone 4b)
September 6, 2010 10:42 AM Post #8083531
| KY; have you had plenty of rain?? Or has it been hot and dry??
We have had more rain than usual, My Cannas are still going strong.
They are just over 6' an still blooming. I planted 2 rows an they have filled in to make a real thicket.
It is normal for this time of year for our grass to go dormant along with other flowers and ground covers but with the rains our growing season has been extended. So we are still mowing lawns. |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
September 6, 2010 1:18 PM Post #8083784
| Our lawns are dead, our trees are dropping dead leaves, even the invasives are shriveling! I've been watering, but evidently not enough, and they're on a hill, so it probably drained down too fast. Think they'll try again next year, or should I have a funeral for them now? |
randbponder
Hornick, IA (Zone 4b)
September 6, 2010 3:22 PM Post #8083941
| Cannas are pretty hardy but my guess is it may be like here. If I want any next year, I have to dig the cannas and store them inside over winter. Then plant the tubers again after the frost goes out of the ground and right about the time of the last frost so they aren't trying to send up new shoots and freeze off. Not that they won't still overcome the last freeze but it really sets them back.
Yeah, it sounds like it got dry and they went dormant. The trees could be another story. I've had trees winter kill, because it got too dry before winter set in and shallow roots would freeze dry and killed them.
This year it was either hot and muggy or raining, I eventually gave up and let the weeds grow. I just came in from running the mower over the weeds and iris. So I will have to dig the iris and replant them. I will keep them down to a row 2 or 3 wide instead of a large patch. Also next year I am taking a break on having a large garden.
Vacation a little. and do a weed seed kill with clear plastic.
It's been sprinkling off and on all day and looks like it could cut loose any minute. So I had periods of rest most of the day.
Good luck on the the trees and such.
Russ |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
September 6, 2010 7:27 PM Post #8084589
| We haven't had so much as a sprinkle for a long time here. Lawns are brown and crunchy. I hope the cannas come back next year--thanks for the info, Russ. |
randbponder
Hornick, IA (Zone 4b)
September 6, 2010 11:53 PM Post #8084823
| I don't know how mild your winter is, ( compared to ours that is ) but I'm guessing that is if you just put a good mulch over them, that your frost won't get deep enough to freeze the roots. Come spring just rake the mulch off and new life should spring forth.
May you be well.
Russ
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