Is it to late to plant Cannas in Lower Michigan?

birdlegs
zone 5
S.E. Lower MI.

No, it isn't too late. I'm in SE Minnesota, and I usually get mine out around Memorial Day, but I've been later than that, too. I still have one more box of rhizomes I need to get out in the ground. They require warm soil to grow well.

Zone 4 Red Wing MN

Thanks Donald. Warm weather, what's that LOL!

birdlegs
zone 5
S.E. Lower MI.

I second Sandy on the warm weather...another chilly miserable cloudy day here in western NY. My cannas don't look to great right now even though they are in the ground...did I mention the cold ground.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Cannas respond well to fertilizers like Miracle Grow - so you can speed things up that way - just don't overdo. Also water them in dryer periods this summer. Cannas like watering, except when they are dormant and inside their bulbs (then you have to keep them dry).

I am fortunate that where I live, some of my cannas will winter in the ground. I have a bed of them on the south-facing wall of my house that survive in ground and come back on their own every year. Some are over 2 feet tall already (this photo was taken yesterday) and they will be blooming by the 4th of July.



This patch also gives me a source population to grab some from every spring. I already have 7 - 8 cannas elsewhere in my yard (where they won't winter successfully in the ground) that I transplanted from this group. I still grow a 10 or 20 extras from seed every spring, just in case - those are only 6 inches high now - but they will still be 4 foot plus and blooming before August 1.

So cannas grow fast! You got plenty of time!

Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

Most of mine are just coming up and one row has been in for 2 weeks. I'm wondering about the ones planted in a sandy tidal flat on the Delaware River, no signs yet. Mayby the still cold river water that washes them twice a day is holding them back or maybe it was just another stupid idea. The idea was to set up a garden alert to migrants heading south over the river, a splash of red to slow them down and maybe pull them into the gardens. If you sit on the banks of the Delaware in late July and August you can see them buzzing down stream in numbers on good days. It would make an interesting study for a birder with free time, counting the southbound Ruby-throats and seeing what the influence of weather might be on numbers.

I'm just getting ready to plant mine. Wish I'd had them in the ground about 3 weeks ago...but have found it hard to "get-round-to-it". I fear some have totally dried up - just hope a few of each kind survived. I had a small clump of my favorite, 'Peach Gigantum', in a pot that I overwintered in the garage. I planted it on June 1rst, in the back row of my Yvonne's Salvias. The poor flower pot was getting totally warped out of shape from the pressure of the rhizomes. I had to cut the pot the get them out.

Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

My cannas that are planted out look awful. Thre edges of the leaves are starting to yellow. I don't know if it is because of the cooler than normal temps, lack of rain or what. They have been kept moist and the spot a well ammended. I don't know if they are going to survive this year or not. Well if they don't I still have plenty of seed for next year.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I got my order from Karchesky cannas yesterday, and I'm happy to say that the rhizomes are first rate. They all have tall shoots, and the weather has finally become hot here. I got Tiki Torch, Peach gigantum, Marabout, Altensteinii and Russian Red.

Priya
Zone 7, Maryland

I am so glad that canas stay in the ground year round here. I thinned my red ones yesterday and I just don't think I could dig all those things up every fall.

Linda
ne AL
zone 7b