What could I plant in a shallow trough beside a trellis that would climb well and maybe even flower?

[carrotsandcelery]

I have always planted sweet peas in this trough but last year they didn't do well at all.

Is there something similar that would climb well yet still cope with the shallow trough.

It would be even better if it would also flower.

We are in the NE of Scotland so it would need to cope with our weather conditions.

[Ponders]

how shallow?

mile-a-minute (Russian vine) will grow pretty much anywhere I think.

[Ponders]

& the trough should contain it (it's quite aggressive apparently) (smacks you when your back's turned)

[Ponders]

hmm - think I meant invasive

[carrotsandcelery]

It is really shallow, at most about 12 inches, probably not that much even.

[Kellamity]

We have 2 clematis that are doing really well. Maybe in slightly deeper pots than you've described but there are some really pretty ones around.

[carrotsandcelery]

Oooh! I googled it and it sounds scary! Yikes!

I think I need something a bit more robust than sweet peas but maybe not as enthusiastic as Russian Vine

[carrotsandcelery]

I wondered about a clematis. I planted one in the back today and the pot was really deep. That is what made me think it wouldn't work in the trough we have.

[Ponders]

clematis montana is pretty robust - I have an ancient one in a big round tub, deeper than 12" but not by much. The soil has never even been top dressed & it comes back every year. Also it's in a tight E-facing corner with house walls on 3 sides.

Not very vigorous, but tolerant! About the first 6' of stem is very old & woody but once it gets to the top of the trellis (about 9') it falls back down & covers most of the woodiness.

[40notTrendy]

Bit of an odd suggestion, but how about runner beans? Nice red flowers, will easily fill a trellis in summer and you get food! Think they are fairly tough too so should be ok in Scotland.

[Kellamity]

Hmm difficult, our pots aren't that deep but as I said maybe a little deeper than you want. We also have honeysuckle and jasmine doing really well but they are in flower beds against the wall so that doesn't help you!

[carrotsandcelery]

I like both suggestions. It didn't occur to me to plant a food. The dcs would love that.

[carrotsandcelery]

Honeysuckle does well with us but both the jasmine we have planted have died Our honeysuckle is in the soil too though.

The difficulty with this spot is that it is the side of our garage and in a little neuk. There is no soil really. There is gravel and under that there is sand, hence the trough.

The sweet peas worked the first time but not the second. I thought it was because the soil was tired so I replaced it last year but they still didn't really come to much.

[Ponders]

I've got 2 different jasmines, in pots; they survive (just) but are a bit thin & pale. I'm in E Lancs which tends to be damp & not terribly warm & I wonder if that's why...on holiday in Tuscany I noticed town streets are full of jasmine growing in half-round pots, no more than 12" wide & 6" front to back, & they grow amazingly well so I suspect it's the climate

(They are quite deep, probably 2-2½ feet, but still don't hold a lot of soil. But it could be the depth that's the thing I suppose)

[Kellamity]

Climbing roses need a bit of depth don't they? Wisteria?

[Kellamity]

Ignore my wisteria comment - wouldn't work!