Hey All! I like to start my canna inside, normally in ice cream containers or small buckets so they are decent size to put out. I cannot remember how early I normally start them though. LOL I don't want any more of a jungle than I presently have inside. When do you start yours/how long before you can plant them outside?
Michele
Who starts their canna inside??
'chele, I'm starting mine today in my GH. I'm lucky enough to have quart-sized pots to put them in. I set them out after the last frost, and they take off like gangbusters :)
I started half of mine inside this week and will be starting the remainder in a week or so. Looking forward to seeing how others do it - this is my first year with cannas. I collected these at a nearby city park when the workers were tearing them up.
Wow, quick answers! Good morning girls. I have a box full out in the garage plus some new ones from a co-op. Then there are those 100 or so seedlings growing in butter bowls. LOL I may not have enough room to start them all. LOL
you mean yall have to dig em up???? and bring them inside???? *nah nah chele* ;-) baaaad lisa
hi gals....we're looking here at Tennessee, Ohio, and New York and now, me, Canada! I start my indoors too, never know what size container to use?? Elaine.........oh, oh, forgot Louisiana!!!
I start mine in the house.........I have the Stuttgart potted up now, and today will pot up quite a few more. You gals will be amazed how much they grow between now and the end of March. Last yeat I started them in February, and they were half grown before I moved them outdoors. I usually leave them in the ground over winter, but since I am extending and redesigning that bed, I had to dig last year. 'Chele, some of those are rapid spreaders, and if you have over 100, you better go buy yourself a field. Planting distance is 18 - 24 inches, and that fills up really fast!
"eyes"
I usually cluster about three plants in a 15 inch circle to make a great showing. Yesterday I potted up three kinds, but have seedlings and a shipment of 12 more kinds coming in. I'm afraid the last shipment will have to wait and be planted in the ground about mid April.
I started mine indoors or with our short growing season they don't bloom long enough to get a great show of flowers. I wanna see flowers besides all of that great folliage!
I received my seed from Karchesky Canna. Here's what they say:
Take a small tri-file and score the canna seed's dark outer coat just until you see the white beneath.
Place the seeds in a cup or low jar of 1" hot, to the touch, water.
Place in a warm spot and change the water daily (room temp water) to keep it from spoiling. In a few days to a couple of weeks, you will see a little white sprout begin from the seed.
Plant seeds in moist vermiculite, being careful not to let them dry out. Place in a bright place to germinate. In a few days you will see roots and a little green sprout coming up. This is your new canna plant.
When large enough, transplant into ground or larger pots.
Fertilize regularly as they grow. As canna are heavy feeders. Most cannas started from seed will bloom the first year. If for aquatic use, establish the canna to maturity before placing in water to grow.
I had trouble using a tri-file so I crimped them with an electrican's pliers.
Golddog,
If starting from seed they should bloom just towards the end of the summer. But, having said that, they will multiply and next year you will have lots of tubers! Seed starting is a good way to go for any canna that are not variegated.
My particular seed is from named cultivar, but open polinated. If I get too many plants, I may just pick the best leaf color. I could end up with 30 or more plants if I am not careful.
I file mine with an electric drill that is for acrylic nails-one of the many things I have left from doing nails and hair! LOL I just put all my seedlings into a flat without cells and filled it with them planted 2" apart. Scary!!