Canna 2012

Hi mowgley, have a look at these;

Search for Item(s) named 'canna' - Chiltern Seeds secure online shop

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/retailer-feedback/40331-ebay-canna-seed-supplier-beloved1.html

Alternatively I have spare seed for Canna paniculata and Canna Glauca, if you PM me your address I'll pop them in the post.

Your not too late to start them off, most of us have sown ours over the last 2 weeks, but anytime within the next 2/3 weeks should still give you decent size plants..

 

Hi bilbo
I have sent u a pm with my address.
I grew a canna last year but can't remember it's name!
Think it was Durban if I remember correctly
It was stunning

 

I've just scratched my first batch of seeds, and not having found any blu-tack I lowered my pliers over the seed, raised them a little then gripped and turned them over to file the seed coating.

They are now soaking in water - should they swell? - I've added an 'un-filed' seed as a control. Maybe I should have weighed them before soaking? - I've got some very accurate scales.

Next question - compost mix, I've got Wickes general purpose and B&Q John Innes #1, and I normally mix the 2, but what's best for Cannas?

 

Hi Scrungee, I've found some seed may swell slightly, some don't, from my experience it seems to be the larger seed that swells a little; you may occasionally get an early shoot too..

I use a quality seed compost and add some vermiculite to it, Wickes compost will be fine, its an excellent quality, add some vermiculite or perlite just to 'lighten' it a little

 

I ditto what Bilbo said Scrungee . Some Canna sites say the seeds swell to twice the size after a 48 hour soak , I can't say I have ever noticed much difference .

 

Well chipped the seeds that I received from Bilbao. Many thx :-)
They are in the windowsill soaking now!

 

Nice one Mowgley; just a tip when you sow them don't get dis-heartened with Paniculata, it's a slow germinater...it's well behind compared to my others..


Here's mine so far, the one on its own is C.Speciosa ~ looking a rather lovely colour;

 

I split my plant of "Cleopatra" today, if anyone would like a root section PM me.
Obviously numbers are limited.

All roots gone now I'm afraid.






All roots gone now I'm afraid

 

I've taken three and potted them up for myself.
I've put them in the propagator to root up and hopefully grow on, they wont spend long in there.
Once they show signs of moving I'll put them on the greenhouse bench.

Its still early, no rush really. I was just taking the opportunity to split the plant, some years I've waited until April .

 

I'v moved my Cannas (we're not talking about Cleopatra specifically, right?) next to the boiler so they have warmth, but I have only given them a smidgen of moisture. I think they take a while to get going, and its warmth that they need. Of course once they sprout they'll need light.

 

Success - the Cannas have germinated at my first attempt. They were 'chipped', soaked for 48 hrs (as read about here) sown on 2nd March, and are showing through 6 days later. The chipped seeds swelled up to approx twice their original size after soaking (non-chipped encircled). One of the 7 pots has been left outside the propagator to see how much longer (if at all) it takes to germinate.

 

Well done Scrungee. I have found them to be remarkably quick to germinate after treating. I hadn't noticed that they swelled after a soak - I must look more carefully next time. But its obvious that they will. Lupins can swell up to 6 or 10 times their original volume when you chip and soak them.

 

Looks like some people will be inundated with cannas this year.