Hardy fuchsia question

[queen of the cobs]

Hello,

I have 3 hardy fuchsias, army nurse, Sarah's delta and Shrimp cocktail. They are looking ok now, prob in a 20 cm pot, but I was wondering what do do come the winter. Usually I chop back to base and wait for them to shoot next spring, but you always end up with smal plants that way. Is it ok to leave them, and will they have new growth on this seasons growth, next year?

Thanks.

[rustylady]

I find it better to leave the foliage on during the winter - this gives some protection for the plant itself. Then in Spring when they start shooting cut out any dead bits.

[Thelma Sanders]

That's what I do, just cut off the dead bits. But all the plants left outside in pots died last year

Only the ones in the ground survived and were very late to shoot in spring. This year I'm taking no chances - I'll put all the potted ones in the greenhouse, tender and hardy. I don't want to lose them again.

[Glutton4...]

One of my 'Ladies' has a hardy Fuchsia in her front garden (in the ground). Every autumn, she asks me to cut it down to around 6" which I do, and it grows back beautifully every year. I have no idea what happens if you leave it, but I have discovered that if you poke a load of the off-cuts into the ground (to keep the neighbour's cat off!), a good third of them are likely to root, giving you free plants!

[YFS]

hardy Fuchsia

I just assumed that because its called 'hardy', it would not not to be cut back due to frost? Just bought one, a few weeks ago.

[rustylady]

I just assumed that because its called 'hardy', it would not not to be cut back due to frost? Just bought one, a few weeks ago.

Depends on how hard the frost is.

[Two_Sheds]

Sarah's delta

Delta's Sarah ?

I have that (it's the nearest to blue that I can find), and it survives in my garden all year round. I don't prune it until the new growth starts in spring.

[binley100]

Chop mine back in the spring as well.......

[queen of the cobs]

Thanks for all e responses, very helpful. I tend to keep my fuchsias in pots anyway (solid London clay in my garden), they always seem to like it better, and that way I can put them in a corner of the summerhouse overwinter.

Will take your advice and wait till spring to cut back.