FUCHSIAS AND HERBS OVERWINTERED IN MINI-GREENHOUSE

Finally, I have cut back hard the trailing fuchsias, Swingtime and Southgate, that have decorated four hanging baskets all summer long.  I hated to do it as there were still plenty of flowers and buds on the plants but the leaves were starting to fall and you just cannot trust the weather anywhere nowadays, including high up on the Pennine Mountains of West Yorkshire where I live.  I'm never sure what is the best way for me to overwinter fuchsias as I have no room for them indoors, and I don't have a regular greenhouse.  Still, last year I put the whole baskets with cut down fuchsias in a Gardman mini-growhouse (I call them mini-greenhouses) and most, if not all, of the plants survived.  This year I have done the same. 

Gardman mini-growhouse, flaps open to air plants on sunny day

November 2015

Southgate and Swingtime fuchsias are half-hardy which means they will tolerate temperatures down to 0 degrees centigrade and 32 degrees fahrenheit.  When the icy weather comes, and soon it will, I shall cover the baskets with a layer of garden fleece to help keep them above freezing.  However, I want the plants to remain semi-dormant so it's tricky when the sun comes out, as it has done today.



You will see that the mini-greenhouse on the right in the above image has two covers on it (a clear and a heavy duty cover).  I also have a spare heavy duty cover.  Taking no chances here!



Swingtime fuchsia



Southgate fuchsia

I have the mini-greenhouses, two this year, at the top of the garden where it gets more sun in winter.  I have to think of the other plants that are in with them - the more tender herbs (like the lemon verbena) and, for now, the cut-down pelargoniums which I will bring indoors when the weather gets harsh.  Pelargoniums are tender and I treasure the ones I have which make a beautiful display each year and are actually more cerise than shown in the image below. 



Red pelargoniums