[northfifeduckling]

I lost quite a few plants in the greenhouse this year - some out of pure negligence (Avocado, Ginger), some a bit unexpected, as I had thought they withstand the cold (Thyme, Lemon)... ah, well, time to start again! And I am still learning as we never had a greenhouse before last year! 

[doganjo]

I don't have a greenhouse but I've lost an awful lot of my pot plants on the new gravel garden my son and I made last year.  Wondering if they'd fare better dug into the ground, so think I'll tackle one or two of the surviving ones tomorrow.

[bloomer]

i have lots of pots and stuff in the ground and i believe i know what im doing and im in the midlands and still i have lost a lot of stuff this year

like ALL my french lavenders!!!

[Fleecewife]

French lavenders are very tender.  After one year of losing them all I don't even try any more.  I think things in pots will suffer more in a cold year as their roots are more exposed out of the soil, with only a thin pot to protect them. Also it's difficult to get waterinmg right in winter.
 Even in my greenhouse-inside-my-polytunnel lots of things have been lost this year.  The great thing about gardening is that come Spring you can just start all over again 

[bloomer]

the lavenders are all 2 years old i know there soft they survived last winters snow but this year we had -10C for 2 weeks and thats not happened here in my lifetime before!!!

[Fleecewife]

Hi Bloomer - that's positively balmy    We get -18 most years and that's not nearly as cold as further north.  So that is why you can give French Lavender a go but it's never going to be worth it for me.  They are lovely though.  In fact I love all lavender, growing plants, essence, furniture polish, anything, unless they have added something to it which I think may be vanilla which destroys the lovely smell for me 

[doganjo]

Does anyone know if I can grow Choiysia in Central Scotland?  I visited a friend near Peterborough at the weekend and their 'sundance' one is beautiful - such a lovely yellow leaf, and evergreen too.  I'm just not sure if it's hardy enough.  They did have severe frosts over the winter too.

[bloomer]

no idea

mine happily survived this last winter but our winter whilst bad for us was nothing like yours!!!

probably do ok in a sheltered corner

i use them a lot in garden builds here for there winter appearance.

[doganjo]

I planted a climber at my last house that had the same effect of looking like the sun was shining when you looked out the window, and it was fine in all weathers, but I can't remember what it was called. After building was complete I had run out of money when it came to landscaping so I bought loads of stuff from Morrisons (still got the VAT back too) and they all took off like mad; and they're still all doing well 3 years later according to my friends who bought my house.

[doganjo]

Just had a thought - I think it was maybe humulus (the golden hop) - I kept thinking of mimulus but knew that wasn't right.

[northfifeduckling]

yes, we had a lovely hops and I think it came back for quite a few years, no sign of it just yet...

[doganjo]

You can actually use the hops to make real beer too!  Haven't tried it myself mind.