Can someone please tell me how best to overwinter my HH Fuchsias which I am growing for the first time this year. I'll be moving them into the mini greenhouse once the night temperatures threaten to go below freezing but should I cut them back in Autumn or wait until Spring? Thanks.
G x
We cut them back in Spring... incase the frost nips the branches... but could encourage moulds... can cut right back and cover with dry compost/sand when/if it gets really cold..
:-\
Georgie, i take mine in cut them back by half (it keeps mould at bay) water them lightly cover them with fleece if it gets very cold.
In the spring i water them, then a week later i give them a weak feed, cut off any straggly bits, and just generally keep an eye on them. Good luck with them Georgie. Can i just say if you want expert advice i just thought about Veggie Perrin, he is a showman of Fuchsias so he can help you lots ok.
Something I would recommend, if you are going to overwinter plants, as opposed to taking cuttings from them, would be to water the pots with Provado vine weevil killer and/or Armillatox.
Vine weevils absolutely love fuchsias. They lay their eggs, and the next thing you know is that you have a plant with no roots, because the grubs have eaten them away.
Provado is a 'contact' killer of vine weevil grubs. Armillatox is a soil sterilant that will kill the eggs.
You will not get information re Armillatox as a soil sterilant readily available. If you go to armillatox.co.uk, you will be told that it is illegal to use Armillatox for any other reason than cleaning the patio, and its furniture within the EU, BUT, if you go to arrmillatox.com, you will be given the dilution rates for any of a number of other uses, most of which I still use it for, particularly as a soil sterilant against vine weevil eggs.
Just another example of the moronic stupidity of the EU!!
valmarg
Thanks for your advice, Saddad and Rosebud, looks like I can do it either way then. ;)
Valmarg, I'm going to try and over-winter the plants and take cuttings. Belt and braces me! I will not be taking your advice though because I don't use chemicals. There is no tell tale sign of leaf attack on my Fuchsias so hopefully I won't have any weevils either.
G x
Georgie, I don't use chemicals on the edible crops in the garden, but have no problem using them on the 'ornamentals'.
You may have no tell-tale signs on your fuchsias, but there may well be evidence elsewhere in the garden.
Next Spring, when you come to look at your overwintered plants, and they are nothing but twigs, because the vine weevil grubs have eaten all the roots, you may think differently. And, you have the added bonus of the knowledge that you have encouraged the proliferation of the bugs.
You can take the non-use of chemicals a tad too far!!
valmarg
Quote from: valmarg on September 03, 2007, 19:21:53
Georgie, I don't use chemicals on the edible crops in the garden, but have no problem using them on the 'ornamentals'.
valmarg
Well I do so we'll have to agree to differ.
G x
Ah well, next year don't be surprised that your overwintered fuchsias are dead twigs, simply because the vine weevil grubs have eaten all the roots.
And as I also said, you will have have proliferated the spread of the vine weevil, but thats all right then!!!!???????????
valmarg
Please don't flame in my threads. I've allowed you your point without arguing against you. All I wanted to know was when to cut them back.
Gx
Quote from: Georgie on September 03, 2007, 21:36:59
Please don't flame in my threads. I've allowed you your point without arguing against you. All I wanted to know was when to cut them back.
Gx
Translation, please!!!!!
valmarg