Cannas

From Gardening Wiki

The Canna Flower

Cannas are handsome subjects that mark a wonderful development by the plant breeder. At first the Cannas were only prized as a foliage plant; the petals were narrow and the flower was very unattractive. Now we have an excellent series of wonderful Cannas with superbly colored gigantic flowers, all of which are of easy culture and great value for the garden, where they are planted in formal beds or mixed in the perennial border.

Starting Cannas

Early in April the roots, which have been stored during the Winter, are best cut up so that there are one to three buds or eyes on each piece. They can then be planted in boxes of sand or sandy soil and placed in a light window. If the season is late and the plants get rather large, they should be placed in pots; those four inches high are generally large enough.

Cannas are tender and should not be planted in the open ground before all danger of frost is past. There is no advantage in planting too early, for they do not make good growth, till the ground becomes warm.

Preparing a Canna Bed

Spread a wheelbarrow load of manure over each square yard of soil and dig deeply; this means that the soil needs loosening to a depth of fifteen to eighteen inches. The deeper the digging the better will the bed absorb water. Large-leaved plants always require lots of water. Careful attention must be given to the question of the planting of varieties of harmonious colors as well as of the proper heights.

Gannas usually spread a little and, as they are large growing, should be planted at least eighteen inches apart. The Orchid-flowering varieties require from twenty to twenty-two inches between the plants.

Cannas from Seed

Canna seed is as hard as shot. It is difficult to get water through the seed coat so that the seed can start growth. Mr. F. P. Avery describes an experience with starting seed. He says: " March 22d I received some seed. I have access to an emery wheel, and I ground down to the white meat on every seed. That same evening I poured' hot water on them, and kept them in hot water until the evening of March 27th, giving the seeds a five days' bath. I found four seeds showing a white germ the size of a pin-head. I put the lot in a big dish of sand, covering them about an inch. The dish stood in a hot place over a stove, where the seeds luxuriated in bottom heat and had hot sunshine. Fifteen days after I put the seeds to soak there were more than two hundred plants, averaging two inches in height. Some are three inches and some three and one-half inches tall. If these plants keep growing as they have begun they will match any plants started from roots by the time warm weather comes. Heat' and moisture do the business, and March is a good month for starting the seeds, for fire heat is needed." Instead of using an emery wheel, the seeds are frequently nicked with a file.

Digging and Storing Canna

When the tops are killed by the frost the roots can be dug in the morning, and if the day is sunny they can be left to dry. They are easily stored in any place where Potatoes keep at all well. They must be kept warm, for if they are cold and damp they decay. They may either be buried in sand or soil, although sand is preferable. It is really unnecessary to wait till the tops die down, for the beds may be wanted to plant with bulbs, in which case let the Cannas grow as long as possible and then dig them.