The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

The big move.

12 comments


Looked out of the window this morning (Nov 24th) and thought that today was the day to move my potted Pelargoniums into their winter quarters. Some still had the odd flower on.

So, I re-arranged ‘Ginger Villas’ – the playhouse belonging to and named by my twin nearly 8 year olds – and put some old carpet on the floor.

And in they went along with my olive tree. This will be re-potted next year into a large clay pot.

Whilst I was in the garden, I thought I would have a look and see what was flowering at the moment. Not a lot but a couple of surprises: the yellow Crocosmia is still in flower and my little yellow saxifrage has opened a flower! This is a bit early but then this year has been a strange one in the garden.

My Pelargonium sidoides is still flowering really well. I wonder if there will still be flowers on it on Christmas Day?

And finally, my lovely Clematis is doing really well.

More blog posts by geraniumdad

Previous post: Reach for the Skye!

Next post: Have a great Christmas everyone!



Comments

 

What a cozy little house. Hope my greenhouse will do the trick but not holding my breath!

25 Nov, 2010

 

I try not to protect my plants too much. I leave the Pelargoniums outside from March until end of November, but even during the winter they will be out during the day if the weather is nice and mild (above 5c).
'Ginger Villas' has plenty of gaps in it for fresh air but should just about keep the worst of the weather off.
Last year, all the Pelargoniums in pots died right back to the roots and I thought I might have lost them. I dont like throwing anything away, so I kept the pots just in case.... and they all came back!

25 Nov, 2010

 

I only ever buy the red ones Gdad, got hooked on them while watching the Stella Artois advert! I buy 4 each for containers at bottom of the steps and a couple for the two hanging baskets. Thats my lot! But never had any survive the winter.

25 Nov, 2010

 

I hope there's enough protection in that little house for your pelargoniums.
You have a Clematis cirrhosa :o) It seems to be doing well. It's a favourite of mine.

25 Nov, 2010

 

The Pelargoniums will be fine in the playhouse for the winter. They are are a lot hardier than people realise and with some acclimatisation and minimum protection, they can come through a winter. I have 3 species Pelargoniums growing away happily on my raised beds, none of which are generally mentioned as hardy enough to leave outside: P. sidoides, P. ionidifolium, and P. abrotanifolium.
Also bear in mind that I grow 4 species of South African Geranium as well: G.Harveyi, G.pulchrum, G.caffrum and the mysterious G.'schekterii' (whatever it turns out to be!).
In Hull last winter, we had temps of minus 15c and apart from some plants dying back to the rootstock like my agapanthus (which came back with no problems) I lost hardly anything. I try to be brave and not give up and get the plants out in the garden as early as possible and leave them out as late in the year as possible.

25 Nov, 2010

 

Interesting to see which plants you still have in flower.

25 Nov, 2010

 

We have had a dusting of snow overnight and this morning, and so far all is well. The Pelargoniums are looking fine. We will see what this coming weekend brings....

25 Nov, 2010

 

Wht an original idea for a playhouse ! I shall have to pass this on to other gardeners I know.

Let's hope they all survive.

25 Nov, 2010

 

Well thats a very good reason for keeping the childrens toys around even if they consider themselves too old to play with them, hope they stay snug in their winter quarters.....

25 Nov, 2010

 

Harrison and Christian (twins) still fit in it, just. It will be staying when it is too small for my younger children, just in case of grandchildren in a few years time.

25 Nov, 2010

 

Agree with you completely about the hardiness of pelargoniums - that's the perfect spot for them in there I'd have thought, keeps the wet off them and still with a bit of airflow. They will withstand up to ten degrees of frost, but its our winter wet that kills 'em.

25 Nov, 2010

 

I am often surprised at how hardy some plants actually are. Before I 'knew so much' i used to just try things and see, out of ignorance. Now I'm a lot more cautious just because i've read so much and it's made me more fearful of just having a go! Also, other local gardeners will look oddly when I say things like...oh yes, Hoheria Sextylosa has grown to about 6m tall and lasted through all the winters so far.(in my old garden btw...I haven't yet found one for here!)...they look at me as if they don't believe me! Good to know that you are still 'braving it' Geraniumdad!

25 Nov, 2010

Add a comment

Recent posts by geraniumdad

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    17 Aug, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    4 Jul, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    16 Feb, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    31 Oct, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    3 Sep, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    19 Jul, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    14 Aug, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    22 Oct, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 Mar, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    8 Apr, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    10 Mar, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    15 Jan, 2010