On 14/10/2013 17:35, David.WE.Roberts wrote:
This year I have grown tomatoes and cucumbers in plastic bags - wide and
shallow - and they have done O.K.

I am now left with these containers for the winter.

I can just leave them, empty them (leaving a blot on the back garden where
they sat), or find a nice winter flowering bedding plant to cheer them up
until spring.

Not having that much success, though.

Do pansies and primroses flower through the winter?

Is there anything else obvious and 'off the shelf' which would do?

Cheers

Dave R




I am concerned that this mere 'plastic bag' is not going to offer frost
protection for your plants. If you could put the compost in a tub or
trough raised off the ground, then I think you have a chance.

I would start with a smallish Skimmia (often sold for just this
purpose), as it offers modest evergreen structure. I would underplant
with as many hyacinths as you can cram in (for later Spring interest),
then cover the remaining bare earth with either polyanthus,bellis or
pansies (which ever is best at the time). Whilst planting these, I
would also tuck in as many early-flowering crocuses as possible.

The good thing about the bulbs as that they carry their own food store,
so will cope with the impoverished compost. Most, if not all, of these
plants can go in the garden later, so there will be very little wastage.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay