Can I grow hardy geraniums in containers?

pandora205

I love geraniums, and fuchsias, but it seems such a waste growing annuals. I've tried overwintering but don't have a green house or big window sills, so most are lost. I've tried the shed but its too cold and dark there. Anyway, I've decided not to waste my money on annuals this year (apart from the begonias I'm already growing).

So, I'm wondering what are the best plants to grow in containers that will give me a good colourful display in the summer. I've already got lillies and them grow back well, but not much else that gives a display. What about hardy geraniums - are they suitable. Anything else?

My patio is south facing and gets quite warm but isn't sheltered enough to grow very tender plants over the winter.

Opinions welcomed. Thanks.

dogstarheaven

A lot of my plants are in pots such as heucheras; ox-eye daisies, ixia, grasses; violas; verbena bonarensasis (sp?); epidmedium; pulsatilla... I have hardy geraniums in the ground, but I don't see why they can't grow in pots. So go ahead. They're really easy to look after and hardly troubled by pests, plus they don't need much watering.

REEN

I got some free pinks with a plant order last year and put them in a container because there was no room in the garden. They were lovely and they've overwintered.

pandora205

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll give some of these a try.

Davesnave

Hardy geraniums will be seriously troubled by vine weevils if you put them in pots. If you don't have vine weevils in your locality, fine, but otherwise you'll have to change the compost over winter and squash the grubs, or use nematodes before temperatures drop.

This also applies to many other plants, notably heucheras, any members of the primrose family, geums and those fuchsias....

It's not a "No," just a warning. I keep dozens of these things in pots, but I accept that killing weevils is part of the routine, if I want them to survive.

firely2327

I've just realised what a useless, haphazard gardener I am, and such an amateur. I plant, water, weed, observe and hope for the best. I'd never even heard of vine weevil until reading of the above post... I'm now a little wiser.

Davesnave

Well there is an up-side, vine weevil grubs make great fishing bait! My chickens also appreciate them.

To be fair, I don't remember weevil larvae as a big problem when I first gardened, but by the early noughties I was spending a considerable amount on controls to keep my nursery stock safe over winter.

Now, we co exist to a certain extent. I just protect the very vulnerable plants and catch most of the rest when re-potting in spring.