| About Cannas |
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Upon searching the web, one is surprised to find we have one of the world's leading hybridisers of cannas in our midst, BernardYorke in one of the southern suburbs of Brisbane has been quietly hybridising and creating quite a revolution in one of Australia's icons, the garden Canna. We now see hybrids of some magnificence, a long way from the old Indian shot…cannas are well known to all gardens in Australia, always used to grow in wet damp drains to hide drains etc. Bernard says the modern day hybrids are as easy to grow, and reward the grower with little attention.. Once established, they can survive long periods without water, and only ask for regular pruning or trimming of the old growth to make the plants more attractive in appearance. Any fertilizer is an added bonus. It is a well known fact that old gardens in Victoria farm houses still grow some of the early hybrids of fifty years ago,having survived drought and frost over the years. Bernard's first release was the Zodiac series, which were released through www.karcheskycanna in Pennyslvania, Bernard commenting that upon arrival in the USA, most of these were sold within the first week to growers in Holland. That gave him the encouragement to pursue the challenge of hybridising, we now have on the international market the famous Moulin Series, these having large round blooms not unlike a windmill hence their name. Other series are to follow, namely the musical series, Schertzo having been released in recent weeks. Like most plants, hybridising is not easy and requires enormous patience. Bernard comments his love of hybridising he inherited from his Belgian ancestry, he trying his first hand as a youth at tomatoes and pumpkins,then double gerberas,impatiens and now in his later years, the canna. Cannas now come in all shapes as well as now some of the beautiful variegations on petal as well as leaf. What next…Bernard says cannas are now in the purest of white, through all shades of pinks, yellows and salmons, to the darkest of reds, even a picotee……we even have peuce and magenta…what next…"purple", he replied. GROWING CONDITIONS Bernard comments that although a lot of soils and growing conditions are different, he finds cannas do well in well drained soil with plenty of water, particularly in the early stages of becoming established. Whilst they require water regularly after planting, afterwards when established, they can go for a long periods with a minimum of water. They reward the grower a little or any attention, quite often responding well in the growing season with liberal doses of lime and potash, and blood and bone when dug into the soil. To maintain good plants, it is important in the growing season to regularly leaf prune, removing all the old and discoloured leaves and flowers, always remembering when replanting out, do not plant too deep, water well most mornings for the first few days and then wait for the plant to generate its own growth under the ground, and then above ground level. Another important factor to note is that the best blooms do not appear on newly planted rhizomes, mostly after the plant has become established, so do not become disappointed with first blooms on a newly planted division. Cannas are becoming one of the most popular garden plants. Always remember, each spike rewards the grower with a show of bloom, and in most cases, each spike flowers a second time. After that, it is time to cut the spike to the ground then remove to the compost bin.
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