Well, the frost got ahead of me. Had a day yesterday where I could not get out in the yard to bring the cannas in that I had diligently dug up. Left them in a wheelbarrow overnight and they froze. Yikes!!! My fault..I know, I know. I have a good number that fortunately did not get the freezing on them, the ones underneath the others, so I they will be OK, but the ones on the top feel rather spongy. No wonder. As I usually get these beauties out of the ground and same day put into a cool place, I hve not had experience with the freeze. Anyone know if there is any point in trying to save the spongy feeling ones? Probably gone eh? But you never know. My husband so wonderfully at 7:00 last night went out and cut down the frozen gunnera leaves and put them on top of the gunnera, I appreciated that. It was dark, freezing outside, and he went out without even asking me if I wanted him to. What a guy!!! My gunnera is a pride and joy, it is such a monstrous beauty in my garden, it would have been a shame to lose it. We are in a very cold gully and man does it get cold!!!!! Banana sleeves are already on, hooray
The "Frost attack" has happened here as well, although it would seem to be to a lesser dergree. -1.3 celcius (29.5f) here in Lantzville just north of Nanaimo. I don't dig up any rhizomes. I just leave the with dead stems on until late winter of early spring. I also have a Gunnera chilensis that seems to be holding it's own in the cold. Maybe not quite the breaking point for it yet. I'm not overly impressed with it's growth. It may very well have to do with where it's planted and the lack of attention it's given. I wouldn't give up on your Canna! Cheers, LPN.
