6 BULLETIN 54, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
HARVESTING 
Edible canna has no definite period for maturing. In Queensland , 
its growth is checked in late fall by the frosts, and the plant begins 
to die back at any time during the next few months. In the Hawaiian 
Islands, where frosts do not occur, the plant continues to grow 
indefinitely, and it is difficult to determine the time tubers should 
be harvested to obtain the maximum yield. If grown for stock 
feed, the crop need not be removed from the ground until it is wanted 
for use. No labor-saving devices for harvesting edible canna have 
been invented or adapted to Hawaiian conditions. The stalks 
are cut down with a cane knife or other sharp instrument, and the 
entire stool is dug up with a spading fork or mattock. In some 
instances a plow is successfully used to loosen up the soil adjoining 
the hills or stools. As soon as the tubers are dug the roots and 
adhering earth should be removed. If the crop is wanted for stock 
feed, the tubers can be held for several weeks without injury. 
Tubers which are to be used for starch production should be taken 
to the mill immediately after digging in order that exposure may 
have no deteriorating effect on the quality of the manufactured 
product. 5 
YIELD 
Yields vary with the rainfall and soil of the different regions in 
which the crop is grown. At the Glenwood substation, 7 tons of 
tubers were obtained with a 9-months' growing season. 6 At the 
Castner substation, 28 tons of tubers were obtained in 12 months 
from a soil to which manure was applied. A year later, yields 
ranging from 18 to 23 tons were obtained in the same locality. 7 
At Waimea, Hawaii, it is reported that 40 to 50 pounds of tubers 
have been obtained in single hills of edible canna. The first trial 
planting at the station (Honolulu) yielded at the rate of 43 tons of 
tubers per acre in 24-J months after planting. 8 Subsequent tests 
gave results varying from 10 tons of tubers within 4 months after 
planting to 34 tons within 12 months after planting, with an average 
yield ranging from 18 to 20 tons per acre for 8-month periods. 
KEEPING QUALITIES 
One of the important features of the plant is the excellent keeping 
qualities of its tubers. Original seed tubers have been known to 
remain in excellent condition when left unharvested in the ground 
for a year or more. The tubers may be harvested and kept from 
decay for seed purposes for at least three months provided that 
they are cleansed of adhering soil and are thoroughly dried before 
being put in storage. The storage place should be kept cool and 
dark. The tubers may be piled in heaps not over 2 feet high. 
Higher stacking prevents proper circulation of the air and may 
result in the tubers decaying. The tubers may be stored in the 
field for a short time if the weather is dry. Results of experiments 
conducted at the station would seem to indicate that tubers can be 
» Queensland Agr. Jour., v. X, Pt. I, p. 36, Tropical industries: Arrowroot, its cultivation and manu 
facture. 
• Hawaii Sta. Rpt. 1919, p. 71. 
• Hawaii Sta. Rpt. 1919, p. 47. 
• Hawaii Sta. Rpt. 1917, p. 51. 
