November 24, 2017–it’s time for the canna tubers to be stored for winter. Thought I’d take some photos and describe how I do it. Some of our newbie gardeners may find this helpful.
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- This is how they look after two weeks in the sunroom. They are dry, any soil that clings to the tuber can be brushed off.
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- I trim off the roots, knock off any remaining soil. and cut off the stem stub, using a sharp kitchen knife (secateurs are too small).
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- Cuts made when these were dug have healed over by now. Cuts made today I will lightly dust with sulphur powder to prevent rot. If you don’t have sulphur dust, allow the cuts to dry and heal before packing. This could take a few days.
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- This is what a healthy tuber looks like. No soft spots indicating rot. Pink flesh showing behind the papery “skin”. Nice and fat.
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- This is sphagnum peat moss. Make sure it is dry. You can also try wrapping the tubers in newspaper. I happened to have lots of this in the shed, and I’ve had good results with this method.
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- I use a paper bag to allow some air exchange– to discourage rot. Try to pack them so they don’t touch– if one develops rot it is less likely to spread to other tubers.
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- Try to make the tubers “ready-to-use” in the spring. Cut them into manageable pieces that will fit into whatever size pot you plan to use.
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- Remember that you’re going to check on these a few times over the winter, so don’t make them impossible to get into. I put mine in a window well in the basement. You want it cool and dark and dry.
