Germinating Canna Seed...

is it true that if not nicked, Cannas can take as much as 5 years to germinate?

Heck no. Just stick em in the dirt and as long as it is hot enough outside, they will come up in weeks. Nicking doesn't hurt but it isn't necessary.

I don't know about 5 years. But, I know from experience that you do want to nick the seed. A nicked canna seed will, without doubt, germinate faster than an unnicked seed.

I forgot to nick some last season, and they still haven't germinated - took them out of the dirt to see what was wrong, and realized what happened. The ones I nicked, germinated within days.

Gee, I just take em off the plant and stick them in the ground near the base of the others and they come up. I have also used my rotary file on the dremel to file off a pick of the coat till you see the white inside and planted them in pots and they come up also.

LOL, I'll try to just plant them. I cant seem to 'nick' them at all even tho I have tried everything, nail files, razor blades, scissors, kitchen knives.. nothing seemto penetrate these blasted things!

cue chick. you or aneighbor got a dog that ha s some dog toe nailclippers. They work great. just hold seed over one edge of blade rub back and forth a coupel of times and whallla. you have nicked seed.

You really should invest in a dremel. Hundreds of uses around the house. Cut stakes, pipes, wire. Remove rust from tools. Sharpen tools and so on. I would be lost without mine.