A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 When should I dig up Elephant Ears & Cannas

How do I know when to dig up my elephant ears and cannas? I'm assuming I should let them stand long enough for the bulbs/rhizomes to finish forming babies? How can I tell? It's still hitting 80 here during the days and only in the 50's at night, so things are still growing and flowering like crazy. GREAT fall to set in new perennials! And besides, the clearance rack was calling my name! $6.99 Astilbes for 99 cents!

HI slredmond I leave my cannas in the ground over the winter but i do cover them with lots of leaves but i live in a different zone than you do.but i do dig up my elephant ears after the first frost and store them in lightly moist peat moss place them in a warm dark place .that is the best time to dig up cannas also.after your first frost cut off all the foliage,dig them up and rinse all the soil off them let them dry indoors for a few days then store them indoors in a dark dry place with the temp about 50 degrees store them in a mesh bag.hope this helps.your friend in gardening.mike57

I'm with Mike !

Great info, Mike and BF!

I, too, was wondering what to do with my cannas and elephant ears. Now I know...

OK - thanks all - greatly appreciated.

OMG!

Cindy your down in zone 7 with Mike and I so I think you are safe if you mulch heavy. The only reason I plan to lift mine is because I planted them in the concrete planter and that silly thing freezes. But next year they will be safely in the ground somewhere lol.