killer frost?

The hard frost overnight seems to have caused my perennials to wilt but I am concerned especially for a young canna which did not flower. Should I lift the tuber or leave it in the ground. And will the perennials (daisies) come back again. Any advice on how to proceed?

 

Hi there - now sure about the canna, but hardy perrenials may be cut down by the frost, but should grow again in the spring. By daisies, I'm not sure what plants you refer to as things like the Cape Daisy, will only rarely survive our winters. So it depends on whether your perrenials are hardy or not.

The wet usually kills more things than the cold - however with the canna it may be sensitive to both - sorry but I've never grown them.

 

Surprisingly, new shoots of my Cannas I have in the border emerging after this years growth, along with begonias in a pot, arum lillies and fushias also in the border have been affected by the frost. It looks horrid, like as if weed killer has been poured over them.
I leave my Cannas in the ground for they do multiply, mine doubled from last year.

[ 18. November 2005, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: ducky ]

 

If your in a cold area, then cannas should be lifted, but you can get away with mulching them.
I usually lift mine in march and divide them, pot them up and bring them into the greenhouse, for an early start. That way you get flowers earlier.
As for the other plants, as Fran says, without knowing exactly what they are it difficult to say.

 

How hardy is hardy cyclamen? the ones I put in containers in full flower a couple of weeks ago are looking very fed up,as an afterthought I did thow some protection over them but alas probably a bit to late. :(

 

Hi, outside temp here has not risen above 5deg. C since 16th. All looks very pretty and still freezing tonight, though only -3. My outside cyclamen flowers in window box are wilted but leaves are fine. I think the rate at which things thaw has a lot to do with damage, these catch early morning sun and thaw quickly.