gunnera

hi can sombody please tell me whens the best time to plant a gunnera please thanx...daz

 

Hi daz and debs, I wouldn't do it till next spring when the hard frosts have gone. If you have one now that needs planting you need to cover the crown with a large plastic tub or loads of straw/leaves from this years growth. Otherwise don't get one till next year. I have a huge one up for grabs but I am some way from you.

BM

 

Can I pick your brains BM - I have got some fleece for mine, will this be enough or is the big tub idea better?

 

Good to see you back BM

 

where has he been?

 

....under the gunnera!

 

Hi Waco, I still have your seeds on my fridge to send you. I forgot about the arundo cuttings while I have been away and they dried out, but I will do some more so sorry about that. In terms of gunnera I haven't covered mine yet although it has been cold enough to warrant it. I think the fleece will be fine I just prefer to use a huge B&Q tub with a brick on top becasue it looks better/more tidy ? out the front than fleece. In previous years I have just bent the huge leaves over and secured them by puncturing through miscanthus canes.

 

Thanks BM, yes I hate the look of fleece and Martin not keen on the idea so I may just use a tub and keep fleece for somewhere else.

The gunnera is still growing so that is why I am hesitant to cover it and it is still so warm here. we have had one sharp frost that finished my dahlias and that is - not complaining!

Don't worry about arundo etc I am piled up with plants at the moment untill I get my greenhouse - yes Martin has finaly given in and let me have in the stable area

 

Thanks bannana man and nice to meet you.Iv been loocking at some pics of your garden and its FANTASTIC. i love banana plants my mats just gave me one {a baby} plant that is lol. its in the house now cant wait to get it going.Back to the gunnera thax mate ill get one next year.I have a stream in my garden so hopfully it will do well there.thanx again mate ...daz

 

Nice to meet you too daz. Look forward to seeing progress of your banana and gunnera next year. If you need any other advice just give me a pm.

Here are some fav shots of mine from this year. So many photos was a great growing year!











BM :D

 

hi Bm, old mate. fab pics again as always. I have wrapped my banana trees in fleece. in fact I very nearly lost them to jack frost.now they stand like ghosts in the garden.
I am going to treat myself to gunnera plant next year.
see you around BM.

 

Mr Waco is so impressed with picture of gunnera he has commented "its worth looking after". thats quite a lot comming from him!

 

ive had gunnera for years,they do like being by water,and to protect them in winter although we dont need it down here,i simply cut them down and let them rest on the base so to speak,and come spring they have rotted away in time for them to grow again,mine reach at least 12 ft tall,after a while then tend to spread,i simply hack away with an axe,and give them away to whoever wants them

 

Keith I think I will grow them in a pot at least it will be contained.

 

Fancy you will need a hell of a pot they are very robust to say the least as for overwintering as Bman says you can fold the old leaves over to cover the crown