Hello on the allotment I took on in April this year there is a large brick built coldframe, it is tucked away at the back of the plotand faces a westerly direction behind it is a small privet hedge.
I have recently upgraded the glass with old secondary double glazing windows they slide open but lock shut.
this year in the garden I have 8 non hardy fuchsia plants and usually I just leave them to the frost.
do you think it is worth digging them up and planting them in the cold frame and hoping they come through the winter?
would buying some horticultural fleece help at all? I am in two minds as to whether of not to do this but as otherwise they would defiantly die this winter I am thinking of taking a chance.
What do you think?
Nora.
These things are always worth a try. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. Non hardy fushias are not bothered by a little cold but anything below -3/-5 and they really begin to suffer.
So yes plant them in the cold frame with some fleece/straw/plastic or what ever you think will protect them.
Another easier solution is to bury them (the whole plant) - in the cold frame if it's possible with at least four inches of soil covering them. Dig them up in march/april when they would naturally come into growth.
I love you nothing ventured /nothing gained outlook so today despite it blowing a hoolie here in London /i have been outside and uprooted the fuchsias and replanted them in rows in the cold frame _ i have spaced them quite generously and have kept them away from the walls. gave them a little water as it was so dry in the cold frame. so I will order some fleece and see how the winter goes, there is still a lot of room in there so I may stick i a few geraniums that would other wise be frost bite and see what happens. also saw Monty on GW last night moving his chocolate cosmos - mine is still in flower but I may shift it tomorrow.
Nora
You do need to keep them quite dry if they are to keep alive in unheated condition. You could also bury them with dry straw...it is much warmer stuff than soil.
It is the damp-cold combination that often kill border line tenderness plants..if/when we get really cold spells you could put small paraffin/oil lamp to burn for during the night...or...if you have some sort big black container fill it with water, keep it well covered and if place in sunniest spot..it will behave like radiator and hopefully keep environment that fraction warmer to make difference to the plants.
AND....remember to ventilate if we get mild days..open few covers up for hour or so to prevent moulds settling in.
I used to bury mine in the greenhouse floor and dig them up in March the following year.
If you do that, you need to cut the stems to about an inch and a half, remove all the foliage, bury them completely over their heads and water them in sparingly.
Do not water again until you dig them up.
I don't have a green house anymore, but this worked very well for me in the past.
Good luck!