Canna 2012

Yes, but it seemed as if the roots were growing 'umbrella shaped' just under the soil surface over the top of the seed and the shoot steadfastly growing downwards. Perhaps there's just always one award one?

I've also poked around in the pot containing a soaked/chipped seed but was left outside the propagators to see whether it would germinate. The 'shoot' was small, oddly shaped and I think I may have damaged the radicle when chipping my first batch before I got the technique right, so will repeat. (looking at my pics of chipped seeds above, I think I can guess which one it was).

And as I've still got some seeds left I'm going to try Kristen's boiling water method on them purely to check whether they'll germinate and if so how the time compares with chipped/soaked seeds. Off to put the kettle on ........

 

They'll sort themselves out. There is some sort of gravity-sensing chemical which makes the root grow down (and shoot grow up), so it doesn't matter which way up the seed is (forgotten the details wot I learned at Skool!) "Gyo-tropism / Photo-tropism" rings a bell though ...

 

I have just brought my first rhizome into the light/heat/water . It was a C. Tropical in a 14" container, I had just cut the stalks back to about 10" in November and stored in a cold garage. On Sunday I trimmed the stalks right back and let the container soak for most of the day. Put it in the corner of my study - and - 6 sprouts are emerging tonight Three days thats amazing
I plan to plant my other 3 rhizome sets this weekend and bring them into the house for light and warmth . I need to explain this to Mrs H when I have the courage - and she has had a glass of wine - always pick your moments

 

I have just potted up my Canna seedlings; 5 varieties in total, that's 20 plants on our bedroom windowsill, which is warm and has good light..I'll take a couple of photos tomorrow if I remember

 

Here's my little babies





And here is 'Cleopatra' (kindly donated by Pete) coming to life

 

They are looking great Bilbo How many do you have on the go now ? You must have a very understanding wife !
I potted up my rhizomes yesterday . I potted them in 3 clumps as they came out of the ground , as Kristen suggested. So hopefully I will be able to plant out fairly mature sets in May .
The canna that I left in a container from last year , I brought it into the light and warmth last Sunday . There are now at least 8 shoots emerging

 

Hi Harry, I have 2 pots with 'Cleopatra' in (from Pete) & 20 seedlings (5 varieties) on our bedroom windowsill as it is perfect for raising seedlings. I also have about 15 'Altensteinni' rhizomes in the greenhouse cleaned off and half buried in slightly damp compost, they need it to be a bit warmer to get moving I think; they're looking healthy though.

Yes my wife is very understanding, bless her ...our windowsill is packed with seedlings and I have a large heated propergator on top our drawers in there too..

That said, although she's not really 'in to' gardening she does love growing oranges and lemons from pips and is "borrowing" a lot of my space, but I can't really complain seeing as our bedroom is beginning to resemble a tropical house's nursery

 

Good to see Cleo is shooting Bilbo

I came across a small jar full of canna seed from probably 10 or more years ago yesterday.
I 've sowed a few just to see if they are still viable.
God knows what variety they were taken from.

 

That'll be "Heinz" then

 

I grew some canna seeds 2 years ago that were about 7/8 years old and got near 100% germination and they hadn't even always been stored in the fridge...

 

My cannas are showing there little heads!

 

Excellent news mowgley....

 

I'm so happy that I've at last got germination from my Limabata's and some half inched from Wisley..whoopee.
But as always there's always something I want..I've seen and want Canna Firebird.It's a dwarf variety, and it seems always to be in flower.

Has anyone got a chunk?? Up for for swaps??

Wayne

 

Its on Early Bird discount at Jungle Plants at present (which means its only 2/3rs-of-a-small-fortune instead of the-whole-fortune!)

http://www.junglegardens.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d44_Canna_Early_Bird_Sale.html

However ... Jungle Plants stock likely to be virus free, whereas getting a bit of tuber off someone is anyone's guess, and if you get Virus in your plants it will most likely infect the lot :(