Getting the garden ready for winter

[TheSpottedZebra]

May I ask some advice please?
I have a collection of smallish fruit plants: rasps, tayberries, blackcurrant, blueberries, plus a tiny fig, a kiwi. All new this year. I don't have anywhere to plant them put, so they're all in (plastic) pots. I do t have a green house but I do have a sheltered alleyway.

Do I need to do anything specific to get them through winter? None of the plants were costly, eg the fig and kiwi were v v cheap from The Range. They said hardy on the wrap, but I remain slightly unconvinced.

So far, everything that needs support has it. The pots are all chocked up on plant stands or tiles etc, and can go in the slightly more sheltered bit of the garden. I was thinking of bunching the kiwi, fig up and maybe wrapping them in fleece, and gathering some of the other pots in 2nd pots for a bit of insulation, but I am just guessing...

Anyone have any advice? It wouldn't be the end of the world if the plants died, but I'd be quite sad! I've basically been buying plants for a garden that I don't yet have . The fig is only mini and has no embryonic fruit on it, alas, so at least I don't need to work about that!

Plaintive bump for advice. It's cold out there now!

Oh dear, sorry you are being ignored . . .

Maybe no one with any specific knowledge of this has come on this thread.

Yes, I would guess fleece, or bubble wrap, could help keep out the cold - and I'm only guessing too!

Depends where you are in the country, how cold it gets. Maybe don't make the area TOO cosy, or you could get mice, rats or squirrels bedding down. And unless you are 'organic' I would suggest a few slug pellets, as they might be looking for a winter home too.

But, ideally I would advise you to ask on a more specialised horticultural web site, such as the RHS, Gardeners' World, or a fruit growers forum.

(I used to 'post' only on educational topics, but now do all-sorts - music, computers, gardening, and more. MN is great for 'general purpose' advice, but there are specialist sites for EVERY subject in the world. Also, look at the National Gardens Scheme: they have garden open days all over the country, so if you find one near you - just put in your postcode - their members may be able to help.)

Good luck.

oh dear zebra I know nothing about fruit trees in pots but put my pots in the sheltered verandah and patio where they wont get snowed on. Some dont fit and they takes their chances but lemons are supposed to be covered up. In the garden a nice mulch of well rotted leaf mould or bark (3 ins) helps keep the beds cosy
If I'm well the garden gets that if not the beds just get a covering of this autumns leaves cos I dont have the strength to rake them off the beds but you're not really supposed to do that.

Yes all of those are perfectly hardy. Why are they in pots? They need planting out into their final positions and you wont get much of a crop until they are set free.

November is the ideal month to plant them out. Dig a hole the same depth as the pot, and a little wider. Tip the plants out and unruffle the roots a little. Then plant, firm the soil around the roots and give them a huge water.

By the way, if you are struggling for space, ditch the kiwi. It can grow big enough to cover a house. Concentrate on the more native plants.

here is what you are supposed to do

www.almanac.com/content/putting-garden-bed

here are tips for town gardeners
www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/4792247/Put-your-garden-to-bed-for-winter.html

The minimum I do do is sweep up the patio, rake up the lawn, wash and tidy empty pots and move plants in pots to shelter.

Aww, thank you so much all.
They're in pots now as I have no actual garden, my house move fell through at last minute! I've got patio and that's it for now, until spring, hopefully. But I got all ahead of myself and bought plants; gardening used to be my refuge when things were tough. Have had a great crop of the berries too, although the fig and kiwi are too little at the moment. But I can't let them die!

I'm suddenly obsessed by the thought that it's going to be a tough old winter. I'm Bucks, in a bit that does not actually get any severe weather.

Thank you for tips and links -I shall have a good read of the links now and also try some of the other sites mentioned. I'm guessing the death of fruit/pots winter tips is down to the fact that it's really not best practice? And them tomorrow, the putting to bed shall start...

They wont die. They are hardy. You only need to cut back raspberry stems that have fruited. Hardy plants generally like a cold winter, bearing in mind they usually are in the groun all year round, just leave them be.

More plants are killed by overfussing than underfussing.

fig is best left in a pot apparently. if you put it in the soil build a brick pit to put it in to restrict root growth. otherwise you get all leaves and no figs apparently - i've only just got a couple so have been reading up