Gunnera

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've always vaguely fancied having one of these down by the stream at the back of my plot, so when I spotted some in the market the other day, I snapped one up. So now I've got it, does anyone know how to grow it? All I know so far is that it's enormous, greedy, likes moisture, and it's frost-sensitive.

[Robert_Brenchley]

[return of the mac]

On the money, that seems enough for successful growing 8)

[Travman]

I have one on my plot.

Due to be it not being in a boggy area i sunk a large container about 3 feet round and two feet deep about 1 foot under the soil surface to act as a reservoir for the plant.

During winter months  i  try to fold one or two of the leaves over the crown to give it some protection but frost will knock new growth  although it comes back fine.

The plant is growing fine like this but how large it will become who knows ?

The comments from other people on the site asking " how do you get your rhubarb that big "  is priceless ;D ;D 

[Roy Bham UK]

I have a biggun growing in a large pot, had it a few years now, planted in standard compost watered copiously daily in the summer, fed once a fortnight thoughout the growing season. :)

Come winter I cut off the very large leaves and cover the plant with them for frost protection, I think your gunnera would love to live by the stream and be self sufficient for the rest of its life. ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Thanks.

[dibberxxx]

i have 2 Guneras and what advice has been giving is good , i do fold my leaves round but i also pack it with straw to for a bit of extra protection , some peeps use fleece , you just have to make sure the crown is protected

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's in a large pot at the moment, until I get a chance to clear a spot for it; it's going in what's currently a mass of nettles. It sounds as though, if the cold weather arrives before the job's done, I need to sink the pot overwinter.

[gardenqueen]

I have two gunneras near my wildlife pond. Both of which have been in situ for about 10 years. One plant is a dwarf gunnera, growing only to about 5 feet. This year with the lovely weather and some intermittent rain, the other gunnera has really excelled itself-enormous! Igive them plenty of mulch throughout the growing period, which keeps the moisture in. In the autumn when the leaves are starting to go over, I cut the leaves down and place them over the crown for frost protection.

[Bambi.1]

What a gorgeous looking plant,l've never heard of it and hadn't a clue what it looked like,so thanks for putting a pic up Roy.
It will be interesting to see how big it grows Robert.

[Robert_Brenchley]

There's a bit on the coast path along the southern side of the Land's End Peninsula where it crosses a little valley carpeted with gunnera, or at least it did when I lived down there. I used to walk under the plants with plenty of head room to spare. If it gets that big I'll be really happy.

[Roy Bham UK]

 ;D You mean like this?



Or this?

[Robert_Brenchley]

The ones I'm thinkinhg of are at least that size; it was a long time ago but I remember walking across the bottom of that valley under the shade of the leaves.

[raisedbedted]

I think its a cornish thing.

We went to some gardens around Falmouth last year with its own valley which ran down to a private beach at the bottom.  You walked under the Gunneras there without ducking, and I'm 6' 1!

They also had massive swathes of Zantadeshias (sp?), it was heaven.

adrian

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's probably the warm damp climate and the longer growing season. Gunnera gets much bigger in the tropics than it ever does here.

[raisedbedted]

Ahh I wondered how come mine didnt get as big even though I speak to it in a west country accent and give it pasties from time to time. :-\