Cannas and Gingers
 

Had several new ones last year which I brought in for the winter (until I
have bulked them up and can risk them out) Thing is they have not died back
as I expected, should I cut them down anyway or leave the new unflowered
shoots and only remove the old?

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Cannas and Gingers
 

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
...
Had several new ones last year which I brought in for the winter (until I
have bulked them up and can risk them out) Thing is they have not died
back
as I expected, should I cut them down anyway or leave the new unflowered
shoots and only remove the old?



My experience:

Leave the cannas they will grow away well once it warms up

Cut back the gingers - mine died back and put up new shoots after i planted
them out when I was in your situation

pk

Cannas and Gingers
 

yes cut back the older shoots, but leave decent newer ones on to
photosynthesize in the spring sunshine and get a head start, cannas and
gingers both similar in growth patterns, obviously harden off in May or you
will get scorch.

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
...
Had several new ones last year which I brought in for the winter (until I
have bulked them up and can risk them out) Thing is they have not died
back
as I expected, should I cut them down anyway or leave the new unflowered
shoots and only remove the old?

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Cannas and Gingers
 

"andrew jones" wrote in message
...
yes cut back the older shoots, but leave decent newer ones on to
photosynthesize in the spring sunshine and get a head start, cannas and
gingers both similar in growth patterns, obviously harden off in May or
you
will get scorch.

Thanks for replies, so much for them going under benches for the winter (the
original plan) still one of the cannas flowered until Jan 20th so i must not
grumble :~)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Cannas and Gingers
 

Charlie Pridham wrote:

Had several new ones last year which I brought in for the winter (until I
have bulked them up and can risk them out) Thing is they have not died back
as I expected, should I cut them down anyway or leave the new unflowered
shoots and only remove the old?

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Hi Charlie
I have no experience with Cannas, but as to Gingers -
You do mean the true gingers (Zingiberaceae)? In that case, there are
so many species that no hard rule can be given, I think.
For example, I found that my Hedychium gardnerianum grows much better
in spring if I leave the one year old stems on the plant. If I cut
them back, they are much slower to start (at least, mine are).
So if they remain green in winter, I leave them be, and eventually
thin out old stems later in the year.
Which does not mean that my treatment is correct...
Regards,
Roger.

--
Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right into the eye.

You're welcome to visit my gardening page:
http://users.pandora.be/roger.van.loon/gardenp.htm

Cannas and Gingers
 

Roger is absolutely right. Relatively few Hedychiums are truly
deciduous and only appear to act like this when subjected to several
degrees of frost. I grow about 15 different species and hybrids in my
garden and growth is always fastest with better flowering when the
previous year's stems have been retained. Only cut the most ragged
and oldest stems - every bit of extra photosynthesis from retained
leaves will augment growth rates and abundance of flower. Even Cannas
are better for being allowed to retain most of their foliage although
I tend to chop mine back once the new shoots are about a foot or so
high - usually in March.

Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK