Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

So, this was my first year with cannas, and I'm totally hooked! I'm prepared to dig them up now.... do I just hack 'em off at ground level and just dig 'em up? Let the tubers dry out, clean off as much dirt as possible, and what, store them in a box, bag, or in peat moss? I've heard some store in peat moss, some store in boxes or tubs, what's best? Do you sprinkle them with water at ALL through the winter?

So I am betting other people are doing the same...and I'm going to be looking for some tubers. Perhaps now would be the time to ask around? I'm looking for striped varieties....tropicanna, bengal tiger, etc. Anything unusual, really. I only have two kinds myself...a generic green leaf with orange flowers, and Australia (which I love!). If anyone is digging up their tubers and has too many striped ones, I would be extremely pleased to take them off your hands, provided you've seen no signs of virus.

Thanks for any info!
Angie

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

Here are a couple of methods: How to Store Canna Bulbs in Winter | Garden Guides

Karchesky and Harris Canna Collection Scroll down to growing tips.

Someone else uses 1 gal ziplocs with damp but not wet peat moss, he punches holes near the top of the bags for ventilation. Temps are very important, kind of like Goldilocks, "not too hot, no to cold". Temps cool 45-50. HTH

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

I used to have Cannas at my old house, i didnt do anything to germinate more, i chopped them down every year, and next year it was as if the doubled, i eventually had to get rid of all of them, because they were starting to take over my whole yard!

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

Thanks! Living in zone 5, I have to dig them up...they wouldn't survive in the ground through the winter. But the enjoyment I got this year will make it worth it!

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

I dig mine up with stems intact. It helps with pulling them out of the ground and shaking off the dirt. I usually spray them off with the water hose then cut off the stems and let them dry a couple of days. Put them in banana boxes and off to the basement. Forget about them till spring planting.

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

michael..great garden .. ya..i started with i think 5 or so clumps of
musafolia cannas yrs ago..they got HUGE this yr..most flowered too
got them dug last week.. and hauling them in this weekend..
i cut the stalks down..leaving maybe 4", wash well,let dry,then keep
in cool part of basement, around 50F.. they overwinter great..
i have 3 big wheel barrows of them now..LOL

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

I usally spread mine out on the patio in the sun for a few days. I think that the cannas would overtake the irises but not sure they would survive the winter if you left them in the ground.

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

:03:Thank you, Juni. Using laundry bags is a great idea, very creative. Potato bags are what I normally use to store my tulip or hyacinth bulbs.

I only have very common cannas. Since deer eat their flowers and sometimes the leaves, I have never tried collecting seeds from my own. They multiply fast after they are well-established and are drought tolerant, a care-free plant. When I planted mine next to my iris, it was only a temporary solution as no other spots were available at the time. I just didn’t move them when I should have, and now they are a problem.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

Thanks for the ideas.... I've got mine out of the ground now, but I only had two clumps, since they were only newly planted this year. One started as a small plant I bought, (and spread quickly!) and another I grew from a rhizome in a bag. It also spread. They both came out well, but in one big clump. I've got both clumps sitting in my garage. Should I be trying to split them up into smaller pieces, or just leave them as is and replant that way next year? I did cut the cannas off at ground level before I dug them up....and what I have now are what looks like huge banana corms, with short stalks coming from the top. I had read before digging them up it's best to let them see some mild freezes....so they did, and the foliage was starting to die back.

I sure miss them....it's amazing what those cannas did for the spot where they were growing! But, I'm hoping they will be back next year! Better than this year!

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

I dug mine up three weeks ago,

They are drying out nicely now. Mine looked to be a double stem when I bought it so I split it when I dug it up.

Now next year I will begin with two. :woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner ::woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner:

You can leave them in the ground but with a very good mulch.

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

Digging the cannas. They never got this tall before.







Now they are in leaf bags in the basement. I still have three more beds and not sure I'll get them all out this year. I'm gonna mulch one area but don't expect them to make it.

Here are some Tropical Bronze Scarlet grown from seed this year.

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

michael andrew.. great cannas!! im guessing those are
musafolia?
i get told all the time by other gardening friends my musafolias
cant get as tall as i say they do.. till i send them pics and blooming..
heeehehe...
all my cannas are safely in 5 boxes in cool basement now..
next spring..whew.. i am going to have a TON of cannas to plant..
i will be selling some clumps on ebay..i wont need all of them..
ive been thinking of putting in some bamboo..so i have to leave some room for that...
good luck to all on overwintering !!!!

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

I had really contemplated bamboo but on a trip this year to Middle Bass Island they had these beautiful stands of I'm pretty sure Arundo donax. I planted some variegated last year and its been a little slow in spreading so I ordered some of the regular and planted it late this year. I ordered two plants that came in 3" pots so they are tiny. It can be invasive but should be controllable in a zone 5.

http://www.sthazards.com/Gallery/St....2004%20010.jpg

Re: Digging up cannas (and want more!)
 

all I can say is WOW!!