Canna 2012

A question about this 'Canna virus' I keep hearing about. Can it be carried in the seeds? If not does that mean an infected plant can be isolated and left to set seeds before being destroyed?

 

From what I have heard seed does not carry the virus.
What you say is probably possible, but is there any real point.
If its a hybrid the seed wont come true and if its a species the seed is fairly cheap and not worth taking the risk.

 

When I worked in a tissue culture laboratory we had a greenhouse maintained at 130F or something like that. Temperature was hot enough that the virus shut down - so did the plants to all intents and purposes! and the humans were none to thrilled when they had to work in there ...

The aim was to get the plant to make some growth; as the cells at the meristem divided the virus, being "shut down", didn't infect the new cells - we then removed a couple of cells from the meristem and grew that using tissue culture and then had clean stock

Might be a bit of a challenge to do that on your kitchen table top!

But maybe there is a similar principle in the plant's production of seed that the virus doesn't infect, or can't survive the chemistry involved in the "seed stage" of the plants growing cycle?

 

I suggest:

Buy from reputable sources (such as Hart Canna). Avoid the "sheds" and anywhere else that might have been imported from the Dutch nurseries that don't seem to care

Only buy plants that are in leaf, not tubers, so that you have a chance of seeing if the plant has virus.

Grow the plants in isolation / quarantine initially. Burn them if they are diseased.

Be quick to treat any Aphid attacks on your cannas

Grow from seed if you are happy not having any of the "fancy" hybrids

You are still at risk from catching virus from your neighbours etc., so be prepared to destroy the whole lot if you get infected. The virus does not persist in the soil so, apart from the cost, you will be able to restock for the following year

 

Well I can't let the virus threat make my decisions , so I ordered the C. Bengal Tiger rhizomes from Hart Canna . Which according to this thread is about as safe as you can get I'll keep them in slightly moist compost in a cold garage and pot them up in March .
How many growers on here have actually had the Canna virus ?

 

7 plants but through all my cannas away ..

 

Luckily, touch wood and hope I'm not talking too soon but I've not had the Canna virus and I haven't seen or know of any other gardens local to me that have had cannas growing in them, so fingers crossed...

 

My dozen or so remaining Cannas grown from seed this year have been removed from their pots and put in a couple of veggie crates kept in our garage for some time, placed near the glazed doors during the day whenever there's no car in there, and covered with blankets overnight when it's been cold, and taken (and even left out overnight when mild enough) are finally having their first night indoors, and are still in full leaf.

So do I keep that leaf on as long as possble (Mrs Scrungee is already murmuring with discontent about them being indoors), or cut them down and 'hide' them for only a short while because I can get them over heat and under lights within a week or two if required.

 

Scrungee I cut my Cannas down to about 3 feet and lift the rhizomes around November the 5th . I have let them dry out a little over the past 3 weeks and they are now in a cold dark garage . This weekend I'll brush off excess soil and roots and cut the stems down to about 6" to 12". I store the rhizomes in a plastic box lined with newspaper and lightly cover with just damp compost.
Mid march I pot them up in £1 plastic buckets and bring them into the light and warmth . They should show in 1 - 2 weeks.
Pictures of lifted Cannas about half way down this thread.
http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/cannas-on-the-move.34077/page-6#post-440821

 

I ordered my Canna rhizomes from Hart Canna in early November. Not received yet , even no reply to an email chase . When would rhizomes normally be delivered ?

 

Well i have ordered my seeds from alice(karchesky cannas)
Glauca
Indica cress
Tropical yellow & salmon
Redbird
Robert kemp
Rosea
Paniculata
Russian red
and also some purple datura seed x

 

I called Hart Canna today who were very helpful . They located my order and even offered to post after the Christmas rush , so they wont be in a freezing warehouse upside down over the hols ! Thank you Hart Cannas

 

Also Hart Cannas are having a sale after Christmas , starting possibly Jan 1st . So you can buy exactly the same Cannas as me , one week later for half price , that will make me very happy