WELCOME TO THE BRITISH FUCHSIA SOCIETY.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING PLEASE VISIT OUR MEMBERSHIP PAGE
Wishing all members a happy and prosperous growing year in 2024
Now we are into autumn, the outside garden hardy fuchsias that have survived the light frost are still looking quite good at least in the south. However soon the first frosts will have blackened all the leaves and they will go dormant for another year. Once the leaves have come away then you can prune back the stems about one third to remove any green stems and minimise any loosening of the plant by strong winds over the winter. The main prune is done in mid to late March or early April next year. All the fuchsia will benefit from some extra insulation around the crown of the plant such as a layer or straw or similar. This especially applies to any hardy fuchsias which have only been planted this year.
The showmen will have already cut a lot of their plants back in August and by now they will have good green shoots on and either have been put away in the heated greenhouse or soon to be so. These plants are also used to take cuttings which can be overwintered in the greenhouse. Make sure the greenhouse is cleaned and sterilised and the plants are free of pest and disease before putting away for the winter. Any Standards or other fuchsias you wish to save from containers or the garden also need to be dug up, pruned, de-leafed and potted up, and then put away in the heated greenhouse to start to grow again or other frost free storage areas as dormant plants.
Your Annual and Show Results publications will arrive towards the end of the month and I hope you enjoy the content. For members, it will contain your 2024/5 renewal form if you have not joined during the summer show offer or renewed early. Also the plant distribution form and for Affiliated Societies, the affiliation renewal form. Please don’t forget that the renewals are due on the first of November 2024. Electronic members will have everything sent to their email address.
Why not have a look at the links page and visit some of the fuchsia nursery websites and see what they have new for next year. Some have a catalogue or lists you can download as a PDF file, others you may have to contact for a printed copy sending an SAE or stamps to a certain value. Those that advertise with us will also have details in there adverts in the Annual. Some nurseries open early in the new year, others send out by mail or carrier. Getting your order in early means you will get your plants early the next year, as soon as the weather is suitable to post them out.
Note that those of you who renew via the website it will now be possible to order your members plants for collection or add the post & packing fee to your renewal to have the fuchsia plugs posted to you. This will mean you do not need to return the form. Again note that this part of the membership page will only be active between 1st November to the 31st January for UK members.
A our June committee meeting we decided to maintain the subscription and affiliation subscriptions at their current level for 2025.
(1) Lyndon
(2) Colin Dorrington
(3) Anne Reid
(4) London 2000
(5) Lillian Annetts
(6) Shatzy B
(7) Nell B
(8) Ginny B
(9) Mrs Diane Parrott
(10) Margaret ViscountessThurso
- Remove any old or yellowing leaves and treat any pests or disease as soon as seen. Whitefly can be a difficult problem in the summer if they become established.
- Keep plants as far apart as possible and avoid leaves touching. Ensure the greenhouse has suitable shading and good ventilation. Some growers remove some glass from the apex ends of the greenhouse and cover with netting.
- Damp down the greenhouse floor and benches to keep up the humidity in the greenhouse. This will also discourage red spider mite.
- Turn plants through 90° every few days.
- Preferably water your plants in the early morning, not when the greenhouse is in full sun in the middle of the day. Any plants which flag despite not being dry, do not give them more water, but move them to a cool shady place.
- It is generally too hot in June, July and August to take good cuttings. Wait until the late summer and early autumn to take them. Many growers take them from show plants that have been cut back and allowed to shoot again.
- Garden hardy fuchsias should now be coming into flower. Keep any beds hoed through to keep down weeds. A second application of granular balanced fertiliser can also be hoed in in June. Established hardy fuchsias should not need any watering except in an exceptionally long dry spell. Newly planted hardy fuchsias should be given a good soak weekly until established.
- Any decorative pots, planters, baskets etc should be kept watered and fed regularly. Remove any dead flowers or forming berries (seedpods) to ensure that the fuchsias will continue to flower
- Any tall structures e.g. standards which are growing outside, ensure they are well supported to prevent them blowing over and being damaged.
- Most plants grown for show, should have had their finals stops except for the September shows. These will be made towards the end of June and early July. As a rough guide 60 days for singles, 65 to 70 days for semi-doubles and 70 to 75 days for doubles. However, some cultivars will behave differently needing shorter or longer times, so you need to get to know the varieties you are growing
- Keep a close eye on outside plants for any signs of growing tips being infected with fuchsia gall mite, especially after strong winds. If any tips are found to be infected, cut them back three nodes below the damage and spray the plant with a pyrethroid based insecticide.
- Most Important! Continue to enjoy your fuchsias