Gunnera ready for winter

[moomoojaj]

I need to prepare my Gunnera ready for winter to protect it from the frost. Do I cut the cone shaped 'flowers' off before covering it with its leaves or do I leave them until next spring?

[woofgang]

the flowers will drop seed and give you more plants if you leave them on. Reallly and truly i don't think that it matters

[andyjevs]

Cut them off !!!!...they will only rot. I've been growing gunnera for years and never known them to seed naturally !

[logman]

I'am just about to tuck my own Gunnera up for the winter. I usualy cut the leaves and stems off then make a cage around it then pack straw all around the crown, then place some of the old leaves on top to keep the worst of the rain off. It never occurred to me to remove the flower/ cones as their only short.

I noticed growing wild in north west scotland in some damp rocky places, which seemed to be doing pretty well without any help from man.

[moomoojaj]

Thanks for all your replies.

I have wrapped my gunnera up nice and cozy ready for the spring and hope that she will sprout ever more leaves and flowers next year.