Detailed Explanation of Canna Edulis Planting Techniques and Management Methods

 

Canna edulis originates from the tropical regions of South America. It prefers warm, sunny environments, is both cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, and is suitable for growing in deep, fertile sandy loam soil. Its suitable growing temperature is 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. It propagates by dividing tubers or by sowing seeds. Tuber division is generally carried out in March in spring; sowing can be done in a sunny cold frame for seedling cultivation, then transplanted in the following spring, and it can bloom in that same year. During the flowering period, 1 application of topdressing must be applied, preferably organic fertilizer, such as dried manure, soybean cake, or sesame paste residue. Regardless of which fertilizer is used, it must be fermented, otherwise raw fertilizer can easily damage the root system. 

 

The plant's morphology resembles that of a banana. The plant height is 1.5 to 2 m. The leaves are alternate, ribbon-shaped, 50 to 70 cm long and 15 to 20 cm wide. The leaf surface is bright green, and the leaf underside is purple. The inflorescence is loose, and the corolla is red, later turning orange-red. The flowering period is from July to September; the capsule is wart-shaped, and the fruit ripening period is from September to October. Canna edulis tubers contain about 40% starch and are generally harvested from July to September. After digging them up, wash off the soil, remove the outer skin, slice and dry in the sun, then put them into a crusher or mill for grinding to make starch, which can be eaten and can also be used for industrial sizing. In gardens, Canna edulis can be used for courtyard landscaping or as a green windbreak. With green leaves and red flowers, it is beautiful and graceful. 

 

Canna edulis cultivation techniques: The longer the growth period of Canna edulis, the higher the yield. In the south, it can be sown from February to May. Choose high-lying land that is convenient for irrigation and drainage, then after land preparation, open furrows and make beds; the bed width is 1.0--1.2 m, the height is about 30 cm, and the furrow width between beds is 25--33 cm. Before planting, select tubers that are plump, have many roots, have slightly red bud ends, grow well, and are free of pests and diseases for use as seed. Use 50--75 kg of tubers per mu. The row spacing is 120--150 cm, and the plant spacing is 60--100 cm. Plant 1-2 seed tubers per hole, with the bud end facing upward, and cover with burned soil or wood ash mixed with fine soil, limited to covering the bud end, so as to achieve deep planting and shallow covering. Planting begins when the temperature is above about 10 degrees. Banana canna plants are tall and have a long growth period, so they require relatively more fertilizer. Generally, apply 2500--3000 kg of base fertilizer per mu, and apply 5--7.5 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per mu as topdressing during the growth period. Before frost, the aboveground part of banana canna should be cut, leaving stubble 10--15 cm. After cutting, cover it, and take and use it as needed. Generally, the yield per mu is 5000 kg of stems and leaves and 1500 kg of tubers. 

 

    The above information is for reference only.