I am looking for a vine that can withstand the cold in Zone 5 (Chicago)
in containers. I have 2 copper pots that are approx 36" high and 16"
square at the top (tapers down to base of about 8 " square). I am
looking to grow a vine (preferably fast growing) on a large trellis and
there is nowhere other than these pots to put it. I tried grape vines
and a couple of other things and they didn't make it through winter.
The location gets partial to full sun. The two pots need to cover a
trellis approx 20 feet long and 2 feet high above my fence.

I was considering clematis, but think that the metal containers will
make the roots get too warm, which I know they don't like.


Thanks

I don't know that you have a chance to grow any vine in there. The pots
are small for a vine, first of all. Second, you are right that you lose
a lot of zones when you leave plants in pots outside. Just to give you
an idea, I lost all the lemon balm that I had planted in a much larger
pot outside (2.5 feet in each direction), with good thermal contact to
the ground, and lemon balm is hardier than grapes (and I live near
Detroit, which is warmer than Chicago). But the jujube which is in the
pot survives and thrives to this day. So, I am guessing that anything
hardy to Zone 3 will survive - I know of no vines that hardy. Perhaps
an annual vine, such as sweet potato? That way you can change the soil
every year and have it prosper.

I guess a possibility is growing something that gets cut back in the
fall and moving the pots to my garage. It is not heated, but will be
protected from the wind. I would need something that grows very
quickly though to cover the length of my trellis if it is going to
start from scratch each sprint.

In article says...
I guess a possibility is growing something that gets cut back in the
fall and moving the pots to my garage. It is not heated, but will be
protected from the wind. I would need something that grows very
quickly though to cover the length of my trellis if it is going to
start from scratch each sprint.

Morning Glories are excellent fast growing vines. I grow a lot of them
in pots and if started early, like now, they can climb more than 15 feet.
They also provide nice foliage. I can get 3 plants going in a
12"x12"x16"(high) pot with no problem. They do however need to be
watered practically every night during the summer which can be a PITA
after awhile.

I was thinking of growing grapes in large pots here in Chicago but it
appears that may not be possible. I'm building a permanent trellis
system and hoped to populate that with a grape vine that would take many
years to grow. Oh well.