vbertone

Hello all, I am getting a little worried about my plants. They are growing well on the top but I am having to cut away lots of the stalk as they are starting to rot in the sides as they get taller. I wanted taller plants this year so covered them a little taller in the winter. I also have one big plant that is dead but not sure how to remove the main root or if I need to at all. How far is to far to cut the stalks. Thanks for all your input.

edwmax

If the stalk has growing green leaves, don't do anything other than cutting dead leaves.


If the stalk has not pushed any new leaves out after winter (in the spring) squeeze the stalk until you feel the stalk is firm. Cut the upper part off at that point. The upper part froze and is dead. ... Now the center should be green or white and some new growth should show within a day or so. If the center is black/dark brown you might try to cut a few inches lower.


If the stalk is dead (had fruited or froze), I leave these cut off at about 4 ft. The stalk holds a lot of sap & nutrients. The sap will drain back into the corm and feed any new pups that might/should/will grow from a healthy corm.

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vbertone

Thank you, here is how they look now.

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cincinnana

Great looking plants and garden space!!

Your big plant I would leave be because it is probably or maybe doing something underground but you do not know because it is early in the season to see new growth.

My plants do the same thing with last years growth turning brown and deteriorating.
I, like you enjoy a tidy garden area and clean up some of my plants in the spring....many gardeners do it and it really looks nice.

So the short answer is your good .....all plants shed the older brown seemingly rotting leaves as new ones replace them.

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