Help, I Canna Deal With These Bulbs!
November 4, 2011 5:00 PM Subscribe
Practical suggestions for overwintering canna bulbs, please? A LOT of canna bulbs?
Freecycle has delivered unto me several large bags (think black plastic trash bags) of canna bulbs. It seemed like a good idea, particularly because I have a great spot for them...in four or five months' time. Meanwhile, they must go somewhere, somehow. I'm looking for practical guidance on overwintering them, given the possibilities open to me at the moment.
I'm in zone 6a, although the weather has been abnormal this year and I'm assuming a colder-than-normal winter.
Available spaces for storage include:
* bottom of the barn (gets cold, but is less chilly than outdoors; bulbs could be raised off the ground)
* top of the barn (cold, and wind-exposed)
* cellar (unheated; dirt-floor; will take water in extreme situations; very low ceiling; limited floor space; already being used as a sort of root cellar for onions)
* it would be possible--though the least preferable option by far--to dig a clamp, line it with straw and bury the bulbs in it. We've had good results treating potatoes in this way; will it work with canna?
As the bulbs are pre-dug, I don't have any control over the amount of dirt left on them. I've read that wrapping them individually in newspaper might help, and am willing to do this if necessary. I'd like to deal with these sooner rather than later as cold weather is rapidly approaching.
I'd be grateful for the hive mind's advice on dealing with these bulbs, and for any other help on planting, care, etc.
Freecycle has delivered unto me several large bags (think black plastic trash bags) of canna bulbs. It seemed like a good idea, particularly because I have a great spot for them...in four or five months' time. Meanwhile, they must go somewhere, somehow. I'm looking for practical guidance on overwintering them, given the possibilities open to me at the moment.
I'm in zone 6a, although the weather has been abnormal this year and I'm assuming a colder-than-normal winter.
Available spaces for storage include:
* bottom of the barn (gets cold, but is less chilly than outdoors; bulbs could be raised off the ground)
* top of the barn (cold, and wind-exposed)
* cellar (unheated; dirt-floor; will take water in extreme situations; very low ceiling; limited floor space; already being used as a sort of root cellar for onions)
* it would be possible--though the least preferable option by far--to dig a clamp, line it with straw and bury the bulbs in it. We've had good results treating potatoes in this way; will it work with canna?
As the bulbs are pre-dug, I don't have any control over the amount of dirt left on them. I've read that wrapping them individually in newspaper might help, and am willing to do this if necessary. I'd like to deal with these sooner rather than later as cold weather is rapidly approaching.
I'd be grateful for the hive mind's advice on dealing with these bulbs, and for any other help on planting, care, etc.
Hey, I'm doing the exact same thing. My Mom delivered an entire box full of them last week because I apparently said I liked them two years ago.
I live in the Twin Cities.
What she said to do was lay them out on newspaper to dry and then in a week or two pile them back in the box with a bunch of peat moss or coconut husk and set them on the cool basement floor. Just as long as they don't freeze.
posted by sanka at 7:44 PM on November 4, 2011
I live in the Twin Cities.
What she said to do was lay them out on newspaper to dry and then in a week or two pile them back in the box with a bunch of peat moss or coconut husk and set them on the cool basement floor. Just as long as they don't freeze.
posted by sanka at 7:44 PM on November 4, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jamesalbert at 5:22 PM on November 4, 2011