I need some really fast growing climbers - maybe Russian Vine but it has a bad name? And ideas for a boring bit of garden :)

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We have a really under-used and sad looking bit of garden .
It's about 20' x 16'
Bordered on 3 sides by NDN garages and our garage/shed with a wooden fence on the 4th side. (At the end of our garden so quiet)

We don't want to spend ££ having it paved so we might clear it ( theres a concrete base) and put a layer of gravel/stone chip.

I fancy a metal gazebo with plants but DH is so I've suggested some support (not sure what yet, maybe thick wire) from our shed to our fence and some large containers (DH could make a wooden trough) for a climber.

I have a Virginian Creeper in a pot that could go there.
Sweet peas in a pot (not grown yet)
Passionflower on the other side of the shed that has grown quite well but no flowers yet ( planted last year)

I would really love a grape vine but they are ££.

So.... I know Russian Vines aren't the most attractive but if I grew one and got the leaves I wanted , I could add something smaller and pretty for colour.

What else could I try? (Has to be in a container though)
TIA

Clematis Montana is very fast growing, pale pink flowers, much prettier than Russian Vine.
I would guess it would be ok in a container and can be pruned to size and shape you want.

Could you ask your neighbours if it would be all right to paint their garage wall that faces your garden? Our very big garage wall faces our NDN and we've given her carte blanche to paint it any colour she likes.

It's not Russian vine, its Rushin' vine and for a reason.

Do not plant Russian vine unless you enjoy going on to yours and your neighbours rooves to prune it.

Clematis montana is a good recommendation. Also climbing hydrangea.

Things that grow quickly are hard work in the long term as you will have to keep returning to them in order to keep them in check.

If you plant that Virginia creeper it will be enough work for you anyway.

I would worry just a little bit about climbers trained down wire to a fence - it could be quite heavy on the fence if you're not careful - how about a pergola instead, which is a kind of a mid-way between your gazebo and this plan? Your DH sounds handy, and I believe you can get kits that are not too difficult to put up (others may be better placed to advise on this!)

Instead of just one climber, why not have several that give you year-round interest - you could have a winter-flowering jasmine, an evergreen one (clematis armandii/tracylospermum jasminoides), one of the fragrant climbing roses or a clematis montana (great recommendation from PPs - they grow so quickly!) and then a summer-flowering clematis too.

Grape vines often pop up in Lidls for £4.
They are very heavy though.

If you plant Russian vine you won't have the option of adding something for colour, you will hardly be able to see your garden at all.

The fence (which is ours) is a lumping great 6' panel fence with concrete posts (I was thinking of training the wire from our shed - I call it 'shed' it is a garage size but we can't get the car in -grin] to the posts)
I was pondering today painting the fence though.

I don't think the NDN would be happy with me doing anything to their garages, they're new-ish.

I was coveting the metal pergolas in Costco and online but they're ££ and it'll cost us a fair bit to clear the area.
It;s at the end of the garden so just sitting there 'wasted'.

How much sun does it get ? Some clematis need a lot of sun to flower well . It sounds very shady with buildings on three sides

Climbing hydragea can cope with shade

Clematis like cool roots and head in the sun so you'd need a reasonably sized container

Mmm not sure about the sun because we've never done anything with it really.
DH would like to put our patio furniture there.
I was thinking of washing lines but I wouldn't want to walk all the way down the garden in the dark

I've got a mature clematis in a large container near the house , it has some shade until the sun comes up . (It is at least 12 years old , I cut it right back every year but it is a compact one),large purple flowers

The clemitis that seem to do well round here are the pale pink ones (not sure if that's a Montana but I hear Nelly moser named quite often) .

You need to find out when / how long it's in sun for . And what aspect .

And I want to know why you hang out your washing in the dark ?

Clematis Montana are very vigorous ( this means big ) and spring flowering , they are white or pale pink, small flowers . You don't hard prune them like your purple one . They coudl cover the wall of the garage

Clematis nelly moser are summer flowering, much bigger , pale pink with a stripe down the middle that fades . Much smaller, maybe 6ft

Just Google them - use images

Don't worry, there are hundreds ( probably thousands ) of clematis sold in the UK, there will be one for your space

Just popped into say don't get Russian vine

DH planted one to cover a trellis and it certainly did the job but it had to have constant haircuts. Someone commented that yes they were good for covering things, but things meant barns, not little fences!

Agree you should just pick a clematis!

I have hops which grow at an alarming rate over my pergola each year. Nice fresh lime green leaves.

These (see photo) are £4.99 this week in Aldi and are a clematis montana its about 1m high when planted. They've got smaller climbers at £1.79 including passion flower, jasmine, more clematis etc.

Clematis montana are about 1m when planted, true - but on growing they can cover an area 5m x 10m, beware.

Clematis montana after 2 years.
The one in the pic is double this size now.

Definitely don't go the Russian vine route. We had one in my first house (well, in the garden, although it did it's best to be in the house as well) and we could launch the most vicious attack we could manage between us, and you couldn't see where we had been 3 days later.

In addition to the suggestions you have had, I would consider honeysuckle. we have a not particularly attractive metal pergola in our garden, about 10ft wide and the same high, which is now entirely buried under a honeysuckle we planted 8 years ago.

We did plant a kiwi fruit at the same time, which is supposed to be really vigorous, but both it and it's replacement died - could be worth thinking about though, as I suspect our problem was that the young plant couldn't cope with competition from the surrounding lawn, which yours wouldn't have.

It's looking like clematis montana is the choice for me, loads are around here (Essex) so I know they like the climate.

We've decided to just clear the bit of space (it's going to cost £££ to pave or gravel, so we won't at the moment) but ...........I'm going to plant the pumpkins out there ( DH can make a raised bed and I can let them have free rein) I bought 3 plants.

I don't like the smell of honeysuckle, too cloying .

I have a Passion Flower in a pot so might move that.

Ivy - I love ivy, it can go up our fence.

I still like the idea of a Pergola 'style' DH can put some criss-cross wooden posts up from our garage to the fence if wires won't work (but I reckon I can find a thick heavy duty cable wire)

No Russian Vine then

Ooh, in Aldi next week they have grapevine and fig (70-100cm tall, £15)

I fancy the fig plant , how tall would it grow to? It would be in a pot , but I can get a huge pot for it.

I had a look in Lidl, they have a few bedding plants, no climbers, they were last week

The Asds nearest me is selling a lot of young clematis and other climbers this week. Might be worth a look at yours?

Asda, even.

ooohh I bought a fig tree from Aldi. (I wanted the fig and the grape but DH would've been )

The grape would have been a better climber but if by any chance it bears fruit, the figs might have more of a chance.
Anything I need to know to care for my new addition?

restrict the roots for more fruit; less room to grow below = more growth above. Keeping it in the container will restrict the roots pretty well.
put it against or sheltered by a warm wall.
water regularly.

I love fig trees.

There are different varieties of clematis montana: for example 'Broughton star' or 'Marjorie' which are vigorous and have slightly more unusual and pretty flowers compared with montana Elizabeth.
Clematis montana flower in May. It is worth thinking about the rest of the year and about scent. Thus, a winter and/or late flowering honeysuckle may be nice to plant with it.
Jasmine polyanthum is an evergree winter flowering jasmine probably needs sun.

Cutted. Is that your garden?

it's gorgeous.

I'm also in love with that garden! Taking some ideas for my sloped area. Also looking for something to cover a shed wall so watching with interest-I'd rather something that didn't cost too much maintenance in the long run.