Canna 2012

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/cannas-on-the-move.34077/page-6#post-440835
Scrungee this is how I stored mine last year . In a large plastic crate in newspaper with a light covering of slightly damp compost. I cut the stems down to 12" after a couple of weeks , and stored in a cold garage.
I potted them up mid march this year and brought them into the house ,they sprouted in 7 to 10 days . I planted them out in late May after the Tulips had finished.

 

Guys there we are the sad day as come.


they all end up in the rubbish bin , ten different variety e some have reached over 6 feet tall in one season.
overall on the other side of the garden could resist not to kill this musiflolia grande , from seed in fower....seams completly safe ....


should I give her a chance? or kill?

 

I've got 3 or 4 of those supermarket delivery crates so shall use a couple to put them in.

P.S. As mentined above - do these seeds from T&M sound like a good buy at £1.49 for 15 seeds and buy 2 get one free? http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flow...nnial-seeds/canna-indica-tandm-hybrids/7110TM (to be used for growing some plants to sell on - trying to raise for more money for my daughter's World Challenge trip http://www.world-challenge.co.uk/expeditions/exped_lh_dest_sea_borneo.asp - managed to raise nearly £4,000 so far, just a 'little' bit more for kit, visas and jabs, so looking for more early plant sales as she's off in July.

P.P.S. Re: those seeds, I've found out how to get more than one T&M offer that requires seperate codes which "cannot be used in conjunction with another code" to be used in conjunction another code.

 

Sad sight that Sal, really is such a shame

Regarding the musifolia, it does look the picture of health, I would give it a chance Sal, just keep a close eye on it next spring

 

What I`m most worryed is the fact the even if I`ve pulled all the the plants out , there are still lots of roots in the soil , sure they are infected and sure they can give me problem again ....any idea of how disinfect the area?

 

Hi Sal, I've just found this interesting article and they state that in their opinion it can't survive in the soil from one year to the next;

http://cannanews.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/thoughts-on-virus-from-hart-canna.html

 

BILBO , thank you so much , but now I feel worst then before as it`s say that can infect also bananas and Dhalias ......
But yes it makes sence , if canna producer realise that the cannas are infected they will still sell them because they don`t have anything else to sell ..

I`ve left the soil completly open , no tulips or what`s so ever , let the frost work to to our favour for ones......will try only from seeds .

 

I wonder if neem oil would help with the aphid problem i think il get stocked up with it for next yr..cant hurt to try x

 

Hi Sal, I don't think they refer to bananas, dahlia's etc getting the same specific virus that affects Cannas, just that they are also susceptible to other different viruses.....

 

for a minute I though that it was the end of my tropical dream ,

please I`m looking for some new variety to grow from seeds , if anyone have any suggestion would really appriciate and share some of the seeds..

I`m thinking how hard we work on those plants and even with the bad spring/summer , the virus and all the nasty bugs we still here and planning for next year ......

 

You tried Neem Oil Joolz? It has worked well for me, but its a contact insecticide, rather than systemic - so you have to apply it often (every couple of days if you get a heavy infection) and make sure you coat undersides of leaves and leaf axils etc. But that apart I have found it very effective. Smelly though!

If you've not tried it you might prefer a less-effort!! systemic insecticide, although the damage they do to other, friendly, insects is a worry

 

Thanks for that post Kristen - I feel much better now! You're mad!!!!!!!

Back to Canna. From watching this thread through the year I've learnt two things;

1] It would seem that you're better off only buying rhizomes from very trusted sources or growing from seed.
2] That I'm doing something wrong!

The one that I kept in a smallish pot in the greenhouse grew well, but no flowers. So I'll keep this ticking over in the cool spare room and pot on in the spring.
The rest went into the main bed and did very little in terms of growth, although I suspect that they may have produced good sized rhizomes based on the number of (small) side shoots.

Are they greedy feeders? They're of the same order as Heliconia which I know are greedy (an online buddy in the states grows his Heliconia in pure steer shino).

On the plus side, I am completely virus free.

One last question - what would you guys recommend as the best green leafed (preferably vivid green) variety with single coloured (not speckled or pink) flowers?