Is there anything I should know about fuschias ?There's loads of gorgeous ones on ebay but nobody here seems to grow them and there's probably a reason for that. (Although nobody here grows much except shrubs and veg as they are mainly farmworkers & are too knackered or busy!) :D Do they need special soil? Mine is rubbish and everything dies unless you feed constantly. Am high and open in Scotland on a south facing slope.
I have several fuschia's and they really need very minimal maintainance. Most of mine are in beds and have direct sunlight from about midday onwards. No special soil requirements as far as I am aware and once established they are pretty resilient. Just give them a good hard prune once the leaves have all died back. Just be careful to get hardy fuscias as some can be sensitive to frost.
How do you spell Psssscchhhttt? What threads have you been following Ming? I know the shrubs and veg ones. :D :D
P.S. Sorry. Can't help. I have a couple of fuchsias but they just sit in the garden and have done for years. But they are a lovely shrub.
Ming - I know very little about Fuschias - but I don't see that as a reason for not giving an opinion. :D There are various types. The truly hardy ones tend to have quite small flowers. But they are easy and can grow into big bushes. They will survive over winter OK. But they are generally not the varieties you see on sale. Most of the flashy ones with big flowers are not very hardy (even though they are often described are being hardy - they sell more that way), and are unlikely to survive overwinter in Scotland, though it will depend on exactly where you are. Then there are the intermediate ones, which will survive 9 out of 10 winters outside. But when the tenth winter comes - you have to say goodbye. I have had a couple of those in my garden for 9 years. :D You can buy the plugs at garden centres very cheaply, and you might like to just grow them as if they were annuals. Some can get quite big in just a summer. They make good pot plants outdoors, but you must water them and feed them regularily. They are long flowering, and pretty easy plants apart from the hardiness.
Ming browse this fuchsia index when you find a fuchsia you like put it in to google search and find out if it's hardy,one of my favourite hardy ones is dollar princess and it does have quite a good size flower, http://www.fuchsiamagic.com/fuchsias/findex.htm
I think I've killed all mine - even the hardy ones :( I trimmed them all back just before that six day freeze in late feb. Doh! I am waiting for new shoots to appear but so far nothing!
Thats a good page Walnut. However I still have concerns about hardiness. The category H3 is described as both 'hardy' and 'withstands some frost', which implies that it is not that hardy. I suspect that some in that group come in the 9 out of 10 years category - but having said that - well worth a try. 65p for a plug spread over 9 years is cheaper than trying to get a new mortgage. :D
I have a fuchsia in my garden (I think it is the "Mrs Popple" variety) which has been growing for years and is now very untidy and needs either a good prune or removing completely. I recall on a visit to the Isle of Man a few years ago that the island seemed to be covered with hardy fuchsia bushes just like mine! Non-hardy fuchsias can make a lovely display in hanging-baskets. La Campanella is a favourite of mine...as its name suggests it appears to be smothered in clusters of little bells.
I think it was Kathy3 who had the most gorgeous fuchsia last year, a black one. Since she also lives in Scotland, she obviously wouldn't leave such a one outside all year round. Anyway, she has lots of luck growing the prettiest flowers and can probably give you some tips, Ming.
Jack, take a leaf out of Ellie`s book and cut it hard back. Wait until after the weekends bad weather,though. Ellie, yours should be fine, if you can give them a bit of protection then do so, but I think you will be surprised anyway.
Hi PeterS I find with all plants the key to keeping them alive in winter even if they are borderline hardy is keeping them dry at the roots, you will find they can stand much lower temperatures than usually stated,once the wet soil freezes the roots suffer crushing damage which usually sees them off,the same plant at the same temperature in a dry soil would probably survive,Ihave done an experiment with a couple of echiums virtually side by side one had a wire cage that supported a clear plastic bag that kept the rain off it the other was open to the elements, the one that had the shelter has new growth the other looks a lost cause although I will give it a little longer. Ellie don't cut back in autumn or if you do only cut back by half to stop wind rock (do this with your roses as well) in spring once new growth appears cut back to the desired shape/size,give your fuchsias some more time there's a good chance they will come through.
Walnut - thats very interesting. I am aware that winter wet probably kills as many thing as winter cold. Penstemon in particular suffer more from wet than cold. But I had never thought of giving them a raincoat - must help the temperature as well. I have always lifted dubious plants and put them in a cold frame. I have really wanted to try an Echium. Any suggestions for Yorkshire, which will be colder than Cheshire?
Thanks Kedi-Gato,I think Walnut is right, at the back end of last year,i tust wraped up my fushia in thick plastic, left it in sheltered area,didnt cut back, took the covers of 6weeks ago,was a poor looking sight,didnt touch it ,just gave it a good old soaking and its away,it is looking great,now I put it in greenhouse at night,will take photo later on and show you
