FUCHSIAS 2018

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by ARMANDII, Jan 1, 2018.

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  1. Gail_68

    Gail_68 Guest

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    Hello @Ezzie,

    I used to pay £25 for large hanging baskets in Fuschia's and they did look nice..watered them well in the shade but being a sun trap here...they kept burning with the heat so I changed to these :frown:

    [​IMG]
     
  2. ricky101

    ricky101 Total Gardener

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    Hi,

    Mrs. Popple

    Have a north facing boarder of four Mrs.Popple and they grow and flower very well, getting about 3ft high and 3-4ft wide.

    However a redesign of the boarder really needs something about half the size.

    As yet still to find and grow on something hardy and small enough to replace Mrs Popple.

    In the meantime, had thought about nipping out Mrs Popple as the long stems grow, to try and create a more compact bush but not sure if that would work on such a vigorous plant ?

    Do you think it would work ? and any suggestions as to a good smaller replacement 2ft max thats equally hardy and shade tolerant ?

    thanks
     
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    • Mike Allen

      Mike Allen Total Gardener

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      Well I might have to restock. Due to ongoing ill health, sad to say I have lost almost all of my fuchsias. Over the years I have gained much knowledge and pleasure, taking cuttings and producing standards baskets etc. At one time I had a collection of over four hundred different varieties, and at least ten of each variety. I have to say and perhaps other forum members might like to add their experiences. Even now. I find that the, 'Golden Oldies' Mrs Popple. Margaret. Army Nurse. Winston Churchill. Mrs Lovell Swisher. They are stayers. Many of todays plants do appear nice at the garden centers but I have found them to be in what I would call, the half hardy types. What say you?
       
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        Last edited: May 15, 2018
      • Pushkin

        Pushkin Super Gardener

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        Look into the Thumbs.
        Son of Thumb and Tom Thumb are quite hardy.
        I find Lady Thumb is not as hardy if it's a very bad winter.
         
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        • ricky101

          ricky101 Total Gardener

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          Thanks, have grown both of them but they seem a bit too small, even after a couple of years, was looking just that bit bigger but not as wide as Mrs Popple.

          Will have to try nipping her out and see if its realistic to try and contain its size.
           
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          • Jack Sparrow

            Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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            Can you grow trailing basket fuscias in shade on a North facing wall?

            G.
             
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            • Pushkin

              Pushkin Super Gardener

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              What about Beacon or Brutus?
              Or my favourite Flash.
               
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              • ricky101

                ricky101 Total Gardener

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                That sounds a shame, do you mean you have lost your outside hardy ones or your greenhouse collection ? - through the weather or that you just could not tend to them ?

                Seem the garden centers and catalogues are full of small fuchsias for such low prices these days.
                Are you in good enough health to restock this spring and enjoy some blooms in the summer /early autumn months, even if its just a few as indoor/windows cill plants ?

                My greenhouse is bulging with them at the moment, have a very good garden center not too far away with masses of well grown young plants in 4" pots for just £1.25 a pot, just too good not to buy !

                Took quiet a few cuttings last autumn and they have grown well, and of course the tender ones left out in pots are regrowing, yet some of the hardly ones like Lady Boothby, yet to show any signs of a bud or shoot.

                Probably have to cull half of them as no room to let them all grow on fully in the greenhouse, would say I could send you some but their size and weight mean they are difficult to post etc and expect you would want the varieties you really like.
                 
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                • Ezzie

                  Ezzie Gardener

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                  @ricky101 , have you considered Army Nurse? It’s almost to your 2ft specified dimensions. I have one which whilst not north facing loses the sun early in the day and it seems to survive alright. Alternatively, Dollar Princess might fit the bill and is within the specified size.

                  I have a Giants Voodoo (only a half hardy) in a north facing border. Not sure how it ended up there but it did! I was very surprised this week to see that it was growing again from the base. Lady Boothby, just a foot or so away from the Voodoo, looks dead as a dodo by comparison. I have about 60 cuttings/now plants also taken last Autumn so have contingencies for most of the 15 varieties in my garden. I’ve grown them mainly for a forthcoming plant stall in aid of charity.
                   
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                  • Ezzie

                    Ezzie Gardener

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                    :):)
                    @Mike Allen , many years ago, I put 4 Blacky fuchsias plus other plants in 4 hanging baskets on an east facing wall. At the end of the summer, for some reason, I put two of the spent baskets, both soil and dead plants, into an old compost bag. I think it was with the intention of taking them to the tip, except that didn’t happen. I found the bag behind a shed in the spring and on opening it up, realised the fuchsias had survived and were growing away. They have been in my garden ever since - I decided that treatment truly meant they were ‘hardy’. Though it probably wasn’t too different to how fuchsias can be overwintered by burying I guess.
                     
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                    • Mike Allen

                      Mike Allen Total Gardener

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                      Ezzie. Thank you for your comment. Yes I truly believe that.. Some years ago, I visisted with the purpose to buy more stock plants, fuchsia grower in Leytonstone London. I actually met face to face Margaret. Margaret was the lady after whom th hardy fuchsia was named. If meory serves me well. Margaret's dad or relation, being a vicar and an avid fuchsia grower.
                      We tend to imagine a nurseryman etc as having lots of glasshouses etc. In this case. NO. I was given access to the glasshouse. It was simply a span glass roof, resting upon the soil either side. Basically a trench had been excavated about three feet wide. The sidewalls being the ground level, provided the staging. Heating???what's that. Margaret explained. Come the onset of winter, the plants would be protected by a covering of newspapers. In time it was found that this was perhaps not enough. So the method of taking out a trench and actually burying the plants proved a success. This idea was later taken up by the various fuchsia fanatics. As a scientist. I must add. To cut ot a trench from the ground, rather than create an above soil level. The former has natural abilities to block freezing. Artificial aides remain frost penetrable.
                       
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                      • ricky101

                        ricky101 Total Gardener

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                        Hi,

                        Did see Mike also mentioned Army Nurse earlier, but its not one I can remember seeing in the garden centers locally, visited a couple of different ones today but non either, will probably have to order it online as it does sound the size we are looking for, Mrs. Popple while as tough as old boots and a great later flowerer, the four we have just dominate the whole boarder at the expense of other plants.

                        We have three 6ft+ high Lady Boothby in different locations, but have done a finger nail scrape test on its main stems and branches, not looking too promising, but think some may have some life left, though fortunately we did take some cuttings last autumn, but they will take a full year to get to 6ft.
                         
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                        • Mike Allen

                          Mike Allen Total Gardener

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                          I have always bought my potted plants, albeit fuchsias or whatever, into the greenhouse for the winter. I had several full standards of Mrs Popple. Margaret. Beacon etc. Yes sadly ill health was the enemy.
                          If I may at this juncture suggest to all experienced and newcomers to the Fuchsia fraternity. Please take your time in choosing new varieties. I say this because IMO even in the plant world, there are 'lost leaders'. Trust me. In the past the Fuchsia along with the Geranium, were accepted as the stayers in probably was the pot plant era. Time passes and the nurserymen and plant breeders see a niche in the market. After all said and done. The commercial grower etc, might claim to be a plant lover....interpretation....money in the bank. Yes I have fallen for it. A new fuchsia...must have. To be honest I later find I have dropped a clanger. This one is nowt but a flowering weed. Please if you seriously love fuchsias, take your time in buying new stock.
                           
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                          • Mike Allen

                            Mike Allen Total Gardener

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                            Reference to named fuchsias. Interested folk can always google the name, often the RHS Plant Finder will be suggested. Hope this helps.
                             
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                            • Gail_68

                              Gail_68 Guest

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                              Mike mine are all thickening out with new leaves :thumbsup:
                               
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