How to Plant Canna Robert Kemp Bulbs

The Canna Robert Kemp is a showy, tall late spring bloomer with yellow or red to mauve flowers and shiny, smooth green leaves. In optimum conditions it reaches 6 to 8 feet in height with a two to three foot spread. Hardy in zones 8 through 11, it is a favorite with bees and birds, especially hummingbirds.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select a place in your garden where the Kemp Canna bulb can get 6 to 7 hours of sunlight per day. The Robert Kemp Canna only needs 6 hours of sunlight per day, which makes it a rarity among lilies that usually require much more direct sun.

2. Test your soil with a basic garden soil test kit available at any garden store. The Robert Kemp Canna bulb grows best in acidic soil in zone 5, mildly acidic soil in zone 6 and neutral soil in zone 7.

3. Dig holes 3 inches deep and 18 to 24 inches apart.

4. Plant one Robert Kemp Canna bulb per hole. Place the foot-long tuber in the ground horizontally.

5. Cover the Kemp bulb with 2 inches of soil.

6. Water the newly-planted Kemp Canna bulbs. Keep the soil moist throughout the growing season. The Robert Kemp Canna bulb is tolerant of wet conditions and won't rot, so it's hard to accidentally overwater it.

7. Fertilize once per month with a 10-10-10 bulb fertilizer.

Tips & Warnings

• To get the best flowering results from Robert Kemp Cannas, plant the bulbs near water.
• The Robert Kemp Canna is known to be susceptible to bud rot, leaf rust and Japanese beetles.

[taz6122]

on 9/1/2009 Mine only get 4 hours and are doing just fine.