HART CANNA
Cultivation of Cannas
Spring is here, and the canna rhizomes are stirring into life. Now is the time to pot them up to take advantage of the sunshine, so that you get flowers from July onwards.
Here is how we do it.
1. Here is a canna rhizome that is already starting to grow. This is ideal. This variety happens to be Triomphe. Not all rhizomes have yet started to grow, but you can be certain that if you see a new root, then a new shoot will soon follow. To get them as good as this it helps to push them into growth by putting them in a hot place while in a poly bag. An airing cupboard is ideal.
2. Take a suitable flower pot. We use 2 litre pots because most canna rhizomes comfortably fit pots of this size. Incidentally we sell 2 litre pots at £3.50 for 10, to visitors to our nursery or by mail order.
3. 2/3 fill the pot with compost. Any good quality compost will do (eg Shamrock Potting Compost). We use a peat based compost specially formulated to our requirement, containing double strength balanced slow-release fertiliser and a systemic insecticide (Intercept). The insecticide protects against vine weevil, aphids, and sciarid flies (those irritating little black flies that live on plant roots). We can sell either Shamrock or our own formulation to callers.
4. Lay the rhizome on the compost. If any shoots are growing, place these pointing upwards. Be very careful with any shoots, because they break off very easily.
5. Top up with compost. Affix a label showing the variety and the date of planting. Give the compost a good drenching, and sprinkle a few slug pellets around.
6. Place the pot in a warm place. An unheated greenhouse is ok, provided it is protected from frost. But they will grow much quicker if heat is provided. We do not use heat, except to protect from frost.
