Snow squash.

Hi Jonathan, don't they look a sorry sight? mine are just the same, I am hoping they will pick up when the snow has gone if it ever does.Our snow was melting yesterday but today it is snowing heavy again. I say roll on spring Jonathan how about you.?

Take heart Jonathan mine are just like yours and its snowing again, more will recover than we dare hope.

Same here, I'm afraid - but there's supposed to be a thaw on the way - so our plants may well perk up - as we will, too! :-)))

Most will recover perfectly well - but bear in mind, heavy snow on evergreens should be knocked off because sometimes the added weight on the foliage will snap the branches. As for baskets and tubs, they should be fine UNLESS they've been frozen solid for more than a fortnight, which can sometimes mean the plants in them don't survive.

unless its really heavy and breaking the branches as Bamboo says I just leave mine I think its supposed to act as an insulator ( or maybe thats an old wives tale:-)

I'm feeling a bit worried about my baskets and troughs now Bamboo. Mine have indeed been frozen a very long time. My spring viola and pansy display is so important to me. I hope I won't have to replace them all to achieve it. Are violas and pansies likely to be available in the early to late winter from garden centres? Or will they be out of season?

Pam it may be an old wives tale but it is true, my strawberries seam to be ok and they are in baskets, Jonathan I think pansy's are in the G/S begining of april, by this time they will all have picked their heads up and this winter will only be a conversation pice, so chear up every one ,all the plants the winter of 47 survived and this is nothing conpaired with that winter, the oud feller has spoken lol

ah but back in '47 many plants were not available that are today. but many plants that are hardy will indeed survive.

I wouldn't worry too much, Jonathan - it's unlikely they've been frozen solid, right through all the compost. The last time that happened in London was during a snowless February a few years ago when the temperature never went above -2deg. C any day, and dropped to -12C one night, more usually -6 every night - that's pretty rare, and certainly not what we've had this time round - and the snow does help to insulate, like a blanket.

Ah, hopefully like you say it is just the top bit frozen and is OK underneath.

snowdrops are well known for having their own antyfreze, I feal that other plants have some of those trates.

They do, Cliffo - hardy plants that keep their leaves increase levels of various salts and reduce other things in their tissues to survive the winter. Ain't nature grand...