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great

By Great

London, United Kingdom Gb

Do I really need to dig up my fuschias for the winter or can I protect them in the ground?. Most of them are still flowering. well quite a lot of my plants are still flowering. It must be these sunny days weve been having but the nights are drawing in and its getting a lot colder.




Answers

 

I personally would suggest that if they've been sold as Hardy, It wouldn't hurt to give them a little protection if you're not sure. A fleece jacket, and a heavy mulch of leaf mould wouldn't do any harm. But you could take cuttings just incase, then suck it and see. I lost a couple of my group I bought, My Delta Sara and Shrimp cocktail, were lost in the last cold winter, but the others survived. I hadn't taken cuttings, more fool me!.
I don't take any of mine in, But all mine are of hardy types. The 'unhardy's' I have are in pots and are under cover now.

16 Oct, 2010

 

If they're not hardy, I'm afraid you will have to take them to a frost-free place for the winter soon...it's a bit late for cuttings, too, though you might be lucky.

You can wait for a while, though, until frost is forecast. I know it's a shame when they're still flowering.

16 Oct, 2010

 

Thank you 2ndhand. I will go and dig out the fleece its in the cellar.
Thanks again spritz. I'll watch the weather forcast.

16 Oct, 2010

 

Spritz is right, Great - depends on the variety of your fuchsias - the half hardy ones will not survive outside, fleece or no fleece.

16 Oct, 2010

 

I have taken cuttings, eventhough mine were sold as hardy, just in case.

16 Oct, 2010

 

Guess I'd better dig them up then. This is the time of year I wished i had a conservatory!!!Am I right in thinking I keep the plants dry over the winter.....No water at all???

17 Oct, 2010

 

No - I've overwintered fuchsias and geraniums in the same box, what a mistake - I found the fuchsias needed some water during winter (though very little) and the Geraniums much less. Keep some of the leaves on the fuchsias, just reduce the tops by a third or a half - give a drop of water when you see the leaves droop. From memory, I think it turned out to be about once a month... and I only gave them a bare minimum

17 Oct, 2010

 

I must admit, I don't reduce the flowers or bush until theres no fruits left. I'm happier munching on the fruits, than pruning the lot down. Sorry, but my plants work for me and if any part is edible it has to wait until it's finished producing before I do anything for the winter. Then I prune and water sparingly once a week.

18 Oct, 2010

 

2ndhand, I'm somewhat confused by your response - are you speaking of fuchsia specifically when you talk about munching on the fruits? And if you are, and you mean a hardy fuchsia, then I wouldn't for a second suggest cutting that down at this time of year. This treatment is reserved exclusively for half hardy fuchsias which need removing to a frost free place for winter. Hardy fuchsias should not be cut at all until April, as new growth begins. But perhaps you were not speaking of fuchsias?

18 Oct, 2010

 

Hi Bamboo, I didn't mean to confuse, I was talking about my half hardy fuchsias. I also agree that the hardy ones I leave until next April, Then cut them down. My hardy rarely fruit successfully, or if they do, sommat gets to the fruits before I do.

19 Oct, 2010

 

Okay, but I'm still amazed at your munching on the fruits - I always think they're a bit tasteless myself...

19 Oct, 2010

 

I love them, sweet and juicy.

20 Oct, 2010

 

munching on fushia fruits ...... wots this you mean . never herd of it

3 Nov, 2010

How do I say thanks?

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