passionflowers & overwintering
 

Hi everyone,

I have produced 2 passionflower climbers from seed this year and they are
romped away to at least 8 feet although they haven't flowered yet. As an
inexperienced gardener I am very proud them and am hoping to keep them alive
over the winter in the hope they will survive and produce lovely flowers
next year.

I hoped that someone would give me some advice about winter protection for
them. They are in a south-facing garden in the Midlands, climbing up
against a fence. One of the plants has grown up into next doors holly tree.

I have bought some bubble wrap but am not sure of the best way to use it, as
I'm worried that if wrapped to tightly that dampness may prove a problem.
Also, is the root area more important than the top growth, as obviously it
will be difficult to wrap the whole of the plant?

Many thanks for any advice given to help me keep them alive!!

passionflowers & overwintering
 

"Janna" wrote
Hi everyone,

I have produced 2 passionflower climbers from seed this year and
they are
romped away to at least 8 feet although they haven't flowered yet.
As an
inexperienced gardener I am very proud them and am hoping to keep
them alive
over the winter in the hope they will survive and produce lovely
flowers
next year.

I hoped that someone would give me some advice about winter
protection for
them. They are in a south-facing garden in the Midlands, climbing
up
against a fence. One of the plants has grown up into next doors
holly tree.

I have bought some bubble wrap but am not sure of the best way to
use it, as
I'm worried that if wrapped to tightly that dampness may prove a
problem.
Also, is the root area more important than the top growth, as
obviously it
will be difficult to wrap the whole of the plant?

Many thanks for any advice given to help me keep them alive!!

Hi Janna,

If they are 'ordinary' Caerulea type passionflowers, they will
probably be ok outside.
Leave the top growth in place. You can always tidy it up next spring
before it starts growing again.

You might want to protect the roots with some form of insulation, like
leaves, straw, or fleece. Fleece lets does not cause damp to build up
like bubble wrap will.

Most other types of passionflower will need a frost free place for the
winter.

Jenny

passionflowers & overwintering
 

"Janna" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone,

I have produced 2 passionflower climbers from seed this year and they are
romped away to at least 8 feet although they haven't flowered yet. As an
inexperienced gardener I am very proud them and am hoping to keep them
alive
over the winter in the hope they will survive and produce lovely flowers
next year.

I hoped that someone would give me some advice about winter protection for
them. They are in a south-facing garden in the Midlands, climbing up
against a fence. One of the plants has grown up into next doors holly
tree.

I have bought some bubble wrap but am not sure of the best way to use it,
as
I'm worried that if wrapped to tightly that dampness may prove a problem.
Also, is the root area more important than the top growth, as obviously it
will be difficult to wrap the whole of the plant?

Many thanks for any advice given to help me keep them alive!!


I'm only 100 miles S of you (Reading). I have one growing against some
trellis, and my neighbour against a brick wall, both in the soil, not pots,
both N facing, both of us just leave them.

--
Tumbleweed

Remove my socks before replying (but no email reply necessary to newsgroups)

passionflowers & overwintering
 

"Janna" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone,

I have produced 2 passionflower climbers from seed this year and they are
romped away to at least 8 feet although they haven't flowered yet. As an
inexperienced gardener I am very proud them and am hoping to keep them
alive
over the winter in the hope they will survive and produce lovely flowers
next year.

I hoped that someone would give me some advice about winter protection for
them. They are in a south-facing garden in the Midlands, climbing up
against a fence. One of the plants has grown up into next doors holly
tree.

I have bought some bubble wrap but am not sure of the best way to use it,
as
I'm worried that if wrapped to tightly that dampness may prove a problem.
Also, is the root area more important than the top growth, as obviously it
will be difficult to wrap the whole of the plant?

Many thanks for any advice given to help me keep them alive!!

www.passionflow.co.uk/myatoc.htm lists useful imformation about minimum
temperatures

passionflowers & overwintering
 

JennyC wrote:

"Janna" wrote
I have produced 2 passionflower climbers from seed this year and
they are
romped away to at least 8 feet although they haven't flowered yet.

They must have been really close. That is flowering size.

If they are 'ordinary' Caerulea type passionflowers, they will
probably be ok outside.
Leave the top growth in place. You can always tidy it up next spring
before it starts growing again.

You might want to protect the roots with some form of insulation, like
leaves, straw, or fleece. Fleece lets does not cause damp to build up
like bubble wrap will.

Assuming they are one of the more hardy sorts. I'd go for a bit of straw
over the roots and maybe some fleece or old net curtain over them to stop
the worst of the frost. I will freely admit that mine have to fight for
their survival unprotected in the unheated greenhouse and always get back
to growing on the roof by midsummer. The only benefit they get there is
dry soil.

Most times you will get away without doing anything at all, but if it is a
*really* hard winter...

Something to keep the soil near the roots dry and warm will help. Any
mulch will do.
But don't obstruct air flow with polythene or the moulds will have them.

Regards,
Martin Brown