WHAT'S LOOKING GOOD IN NOVEMBER 2020

Thanks for the nice comment. I just looked up a website page on the flowering quince now and it says late winter, early spring flowering as well. I guess my ones must be a bit confused.
Up to now the autumn here has been fairly mild with just some light frosts on a few nights so maybe they think it is spring already.

 

@pete What is the red leafed shrub, please?

 

I've seen it flower sporadically right through winter in mild years, in the old days it was always pretty much an early spring flowering plant around here.

Iresine herbstii, I'll include some cuttings when I get round to sending them.

 

Shiney, mine lived outdoors in Bucks for many years, brought it here massively cut back and it died! Bought another M 'Tarantina' (tiny leaves and smaller shrub) at Ventnor Botanical Gardens in c2002 and still have it! It doesn't bloom much though and never had berries.

I thought it was. There is a townhouse in the old town Silves that has a courtyard garden with a little hedge of it ... but T'other Half wouldn't let me pinch a piece and I have not seen it in the GCs.

 

Pete, having been tempted by your plant I have got my Pineapple Guava from YouGarden today. I am very pleased.
It will be growing in a large pot. Should I repot it now or better wait till spring. What kind of compost do you recommend? Can I leave it in the garden till the spring?

 

Oooooo...what are numbers 2 and 4 please?

 

No 2 is a Ginger, the name escapes me at the moment, but it always looks its best in the winter and stops growing in the summer, its never flowered and I think is mostly used as a foliage plant.

No 4 is a large Hebe, which gets really big really fast and makes a good hedge.

 

That's a good looking plant.
I'd not repot till spring, but put it outside in a sheltered spot unless the winter gets severe.
Its a lot hardier than is often thought.

But really it depends on its previous growing conditions, which you will not know, so play it by ear, and see what the weather does.
Dont keep it indoors unless you really have to.

Compost next spring, I'd go for JI no3, 33%, multi purpose 33% and sharp sand, or fine grit 33%, the other 1% can be whatever you like

 

Thank you Pete for your recommendations. I have read that Pineapple Guava grows better in acid soil. What do you think?

 

Well it's not something I have found but it could possibly be right if you are pot growing .
Maybe just slightly on the acidic side rather than full on ericacaous.
Perhaps use ericacaous JI if you can find some.

 

The ginger is Alpinia zerumbet variegata.

 

Here are some pics I took yesterday .....

Bellis in a hanging pot :-



Liriope muscari :-



Tricyrtis hirta :-



Hardy Fuchsia 'Phylis' :-



Hardy Fuchsia 'Lechlade Magician' :-



Hardy Fuchsia 'Margaret' about 8 feet tall :-



The remains of a Clematis :-



Hardy Fuchsia 'Delta's Sarah' :-



An autumn view taken from my patio :-



Plumbago growing in a perspex shelter for winter :-





Holly berries in hedgerow outside garden :-