Gunnera

I have been given a Gunnera, I know they like moisture and I have had two unsuccessful attempts in the past, one I 'drowned' by planting it alongside our natural pond, the level rose after a lot of rain, and the other just disappeared,. Now I know I have to protect it in the winter..but how??? :confused:

 

I have never grown it, but they have some fine specimens at RHS Harlow Carr close by. I seem to remember them saying on TV that they folded the old leaves over to cover the crown. A key part of the protection seems to be preventing wet getting into the crown and rotting it.

 

I just cut off the old leaves and stems
I cover the crown with the old leaves and weigh it down with the stems
It has worked fine

 

I didn't think of the crowns rotting, just thought maybe the cold and frost killed it, but then being drowned it never stood a chance did it?

Thank you, Now the plant I have been given has 3 crowns but no leaves..so perhaps if I find an alternative....to cover the crowns with..hmm not sure what? newspaper, bubble wrap perhaps that might help.
What a lovely specimen you have shown...

 

put some compost/ mulch/ straw over it and an upturned large pot or bucket with a brick on top.

 

You can do what Honeybee suggests ... I seem to recall doing something similar when the plant was new to me. As it matured it seemed to get hardier. They need lots and lots of water so I don't quite understand the 'rotting' situation
Unfortunately there isn't a pot in the world now big enough for the crown on my plant

 

Mine are still babies in comparison - is yours the big super-dooper whopper???? Mine should only get to about 3ft high....

 

mine has been known to grow quite big

 

WOW what a whopper....2 little girls playing hide and seek down the garden . Are they really in your garden? Or have you been travelling to Japan?
It seems that the gunnera by the pond is flourishing in that photo....don't understand why mine was so unhappy...oh well try try again and if we don't first succeed try again.....
Should I repeatedly water the roots throughout the winter.?...
now lets hunt out an old bucket and some straw, pity about the straw i recently gave a large bag to a neighbours children for their guinea pigs..I'll buy some more..hey ho

 

The only time I watered my gunnera was a couple of years ago when it started to droop during a warm dry summer
I don't think it would be wise to water it when it wasn't growing
Those two little girls are standing up and holding gin and tonics

 

I nearly said and mines a dry white wine ...... but didn't like to say in case
So I will water well now as the ground is fairly dry and I have only just planted it... trees and roots around tend to take the moisture, then cover it up with straw topped with a bucket put it to bed until spring..

 

Thats magnificant whis4ey

 

Fabulous whis4ey...

 

Whis4ey's picture reminds me of a holiday in Scotland some years ago. We visited a private forest that has been traditionally managed. A large German Shepherd dog tagged along as our guide (honest), I think he must have been a local.In a clearing was the largest Gunnera I've seen in my life, each leaf must have been 10' across. Of course, the camera came out and as we pointed it at the Gunnera, doggie sat in front of it to have his photo taken. I bet he does that with all the tourists!

 

wow, whis4ey: you look like two elves compaired to those leaves. Impressive!