Planting in tubs and baskets
Container-grown plants in our Fife garden
In our Aberdeen garden pots and baskets were generally all about annual plants. Here in Fife, the garden is much smaller. The borders are jam-packed. The only way to compensate was with the use of containers. This time it’s much more than just annuals.
Begonia Flamboyant
We still have the Flamboyant begonia tubers which we purchased in Aberdeen 24 years ago. They gradually got so big I had to cut them in half, then quartered. I gave away many of these butchered tubers. The ones I have left are still going strong. The flamboyant below is from a single gnarled misshapen tuber.
Fatsia Japonica
I had my doubts when I saw this Fatsia in the garden centre in May of 2017. I mean, they are a bit on the tender side. However, I took a chance and it came through the Winter with very little damage. I think they would struggle to survive further inland in many Scottish areas.
Multiflora Begonia Buffy
I prefer these multiflora type Begonias. For one thing, they don’t get destroyed by the wind, and they look good in tubs.
Hakonechloa macra aureola
Hackonechloa is one of my favourite grasses. This one below would look much better if the wood pigeons would stop sitting on it.
Multiflora Begonia Richard Galle
In the early part of the 20th century, three begonias were developed. Flamboyant with the red blooms, Helen Harms which is yellow and this little beauty with orange flowers Richard Galle
Phormium Cookianum Apricot Queen
Described as frost hardy, this Phormium was a bit of a gamble. However, like the Fatsia, it came through its first Winter comfortably and is looking rather good.
Hanging basket by the garage door
This Pine tree sits in a tub by the garage door. When we got back with it from the garden centre we found the name label was missing.
Multiflora Begonia Peardrops
Even if you are not a fan of Begonias I think the multiflora pear-drops may turn your head. The blooms sit tightly against the dense foliage making it withstand any weather the Scotish climate throws at us. Purchased as plug plants in April, I asked the seller if it would be likely to develop tubers. Well, apparently not, as the season doesn’t give enough time for this to happen. I’m thinking, perhaps I could try potting up a few and overwintering them indoors.
Phyllostachys nigra Black Bamboo
We have several Bamboos, in tubs and in the borders. Hiding as much of the fence as possible is very important to us. Phyllostachys nigra is doing a good job in the patio area.
Oriental Lily Golden Romance
Planted in tubs early April, these two Oriental Lilies flowering July/August filled the air with a fantastic fragrance.
Oriental Lily After Eight
Buddleja Black Knight
In the warm Summer days, the butterflies enjoyed the Buddlejas. we have three of them in large pots. They don’t seem entirely happy, leaves turning yellow and dropping.
Buddleja pink delight
Hydrangea Petiolaris
The bare garage wall as seen from the back garden. The Hydrangea petiolaris one of the most purposeful plants in the garden, helping to cover the ugly wall. What did I do! Plant it in this ridiculously small half barrel. It’s been there for eighteen months now, it will soon start to suffer, I have a plan!
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle
I featured this Hydrangea in my Previous post
Skimmia Japonica Temptation
This self-fertile Skimmia with year-round appeal is a plant which I will feature soon.
A few of the plants which I had doubts about came through the winter and apparently it was one of the harshest Winters in a few years. Which is promising.
Most of your potted plants are annuals here and could not survive our winter. They look wonderful in your garden! Always good advice from you Alistair. P. x
Hi Sunil, Begonias are easy to keep over winter. By what you say I think you are leaving them in the pots. In Autumn when the plant is looking past it, cut back the stems almost but not quite to the base. Clean of most of the soil, place them in trays in the greenhouse preferably away from direct sunlight. Leave them to dry for a few weeks then brush them clean, any remaining stem will fall away. Wrap each tuber individually in newspaper. Place them all in a cardboard box and place them somewhere cool, not the greenhouse, too cold. The loft or a cold cupboard indoors. Start them off in trays in late March in the heated greenhouse.
Hello Alistair, you seem to be really lucky with keeping plants in pots an having plants that are a risky for winter survival but do fine. We can’t seem to keep begonia tubers alive over the winter and we move all the pots off the patio at the end of the season and crowd them in the greenhouse (mainly to clear the patio for its winter clean). I’m surprised at some of the plants you having growing in pots such as Climbing Hydrangea, Fatsia and Buddleia, these are large plants!
Thank you Nadezda, take care with your tubs, Winter in your part of the world is much colder. I do remove the begonias from tubs in the Autumn, dry them off in the greenhouse then wrap them up in newspaper and store them in a cool frost-free place and start them in growth in late March.
Hello, Alistair!
Stunning collection of begonias! Your Flamboyant begonia is in bloom!
I fear to cut begonias tubers, if the cut parts get dry?
Now I change my mind watching your garden in tubs, decided to plant some of my plants in tubs or barrels. This year 4 of my clematises have grown in tubs.
Happy new week!
Alistair, thanks ! you have jarred my memory about the name/plant family .. now how funny is that !
Now maybe it will finally stick with me? LOL
Thank you Debs, the hydrangea does need good drainage but is also very thirsty.
You have really demonstrated the versatility of growing plants in pots! I have been admiring Hackonechloa, and now more than ever I want it, though I may have to order it rather than find it at a local nursery. Your Annabelle hydrangea is gorgeous. I am not surprised it is doing so well in a container, as it is easy to give it the good drainage it needs.
Hi Shaun, good luck with your Fatsia. I never had success with it when we were in Aberdeen, we were in a frost pocket though. Send me a picture or two of your exotic looking garden sometime.
I’m in Aberdeen (Rosemount) and planted my newly bought Fatsia Janponica last week in a sheltered corner. Fingers crossed it does as well as yours! Slowly but surely I am trying to build up to a “exotic” look.
Thank you Joy, The watering can become tiresome, especially if you have been lazing about on a hot day and then find out at 5 pm everything needs watering. The common name for Fatsia is the castor oil plant.
Hello Alistair .. Your begonias are truly gorgeous ! .. the history of Flamboyant is amazing .. some plants just want to live forever no matter what. The Fatsia lends such an exotic flair to your garden .. almost reminds me of the castor bean plant that would be an annual here , it is a dramatic plant especially the purple variety.
I have no hand for potted plants .. can’t keep up with the watering so I spare potential plants that demise ? haha
But you have wonderful hand with yours .. very pretty to see !
We are one mile from the coast I didn’t give it any Winter protection. It is in a sheltered situation behind the fence although I have seen other Fatsias in the village which show a little damage in late Winter but soon recover. To be honest the Fatsias which I saw in Cheshire didn’t look as good as the one I have here. I put it down to being sheltered from the cold winds and being near the coast.
I’ve often been tempted to give Fatsia a try. It looks too exotic for an English, never mind Scottish, garden. Are you very close to the coast? Did it get winter protection? East coast is drier than the west and it’s the rain combined with the cold that does in most of my borderline plants, even much farther south. Still tempted though..
Thanks Indie, I water them regularly but fear I overdo it at times.
So gorgeous! I don’t put a lot in pots because I tend to neglect them and underwater. You obviously take very good care of them. The begonias and lilies are beautiful, and I just love your Fatsia!
Anne, I feed with Blood, fish and bonemeal in the Spring
everything is beautiful what do feed your pot plants with?