Winter planting

[captainbovine]

hello you gardening peeps. I have two planters at the front door, not very big about 12 to 14" square. I had viola's in but they've gone all manky looking, so they're coming out.

any suggestions on what I could put in them? not box I have enough of that already, I had thought of those cabbages, but I'd only get one in each and they'd look a bit daft.

I fankyou

[ilove2patch]

A small conifer or cordiline?

[burtonshoney]

If its just to see you through winter/spring cyclamen and early flowering minatures bulbs inbetween. Some supermarkets have mixed planting in eg a heather, ivy, cyclamen, white silvery leaf plant (can't remember name) those plants with orange through to green balls on and there are some small plants with red berries on (these grow quite large eventually).

[captainbovine]

oh I think they're a kind of pepper plant with the orangey ball on. Never thought of those, I like them. They'd look good with a miniature conifer wouldn't they?

Yes it's only to tide me over until I find bigger planters I like.

I have cyclamen along side of them in a long planter, they look lovely, could just get more of those I guess.

[burtonshoney]

Well my husband is the least DIY person you have ever met but in the summer he made me planters and window boxes from decking.  Then used Sadolin to protect and they look lovely.  This was because I couldn't find anything I liked.  I have 4 window boxes and 4 square planters, planters full of snowdrops.  Tring to do a picture for you

[burtonshoney]

Now one of the planted windowsill boxes

[ilove2patch]

They look lovely.

[ooh*la*la*la]

Wow, buttonshoney, they look very good, what a clever OH you have!  I like the planting of ivy with cyclamen, heathers with a mini conifer look good too.

[twishy123]

They are smashing Burtonshoney....he could make some decent pocket money making and selling those...

[notgrumpyreally]

What about some hellebores. They are such pretty shades and give you flowers at Christmas.

[guardpig]

watch the miniature conifers.  Miniature is what they aren't, slower growing versions of the big guys is what they are!.

Mum had a neighbour who planted twomini conifers and kept them trimmed lovely.  They moved, the conifers didn't, next thing they are higher than the house and Mum is having to fight her way past one of them to get to ther front door(small terraced gardens), one dark night .............................

[rose2008-2008]

I have got a Cordyline Red Star its really nice but might be too big for what you have to put it in!!!!.

[ed_blackadder_1]

I have cordelyine in one and lime green conifer in the other with ivys, pansies and cyclamen also some primroses,

[captainbovine]

wow! lovely planters, very well done to your OH.

Oh tell me about conifers!!! we've just had 5 of the boogers chopped down at the front and then we tidied up and laid stones to edge between the bungalows. Gawd, they were atrocious. Thats the trouble with them, someone plants them then usually they get well out of hand if that person moves.

I've got some ideas now, thanks a lot

[petitecalicocat]

Lovely plants & planters , we have put some Winter pansies in  hanging baskets , with the rain weve had recently its a wonder they havnt drowned LOL

[rsjlew]

I think the plant with the orange/red balls on you are thinking of is Solanum. It's actually related to the potato family, we used to sell them in the florists I worked in

[captainbovine]

ah, that's it, thanks. I love them as they last ages don't they? I didn't know they would last outside though, I thought they were a houseplant!!

[rsjlew]

They certainly last well Would need to be acclimatised to being outside and may not survive if it get really cold, as most thing wouldn't, but in a sheltered position they should be ok.

I've put violas on top of bulbs in some pots out the front of our house. They are looking good at the moment as they get lots of sun (when it shows it's face!) but I know a good frost will not do them any favours. Very hard to find much that will survive a sharp frost though!