should I prune my fuchsia already?

[NotAnEMERGENCY]

It's in a pot. I thought I was supposed to wait until April for pruning but it's beginning to get new shoots already. We're in the East Midlands and frosts are still likely so not sure what to do.

I wouldn't prune it yet. Hardy fuchsias aren't as hardy as some plants even if they're supposed to be hardy IYSWIM and they're generally less hardy if in a pot. If you prune it now and we have a cold snap, it could die. Leave it for now.

How large is the pot? Larger the better, to give frost protection; mulch or drape with fleece if very hard frosts expected.

Fuchsia are easy and interesting to grow, and can be trained into bush shapes or tall standards. When coming into flower, picking off buds will encourage more flowers to form.

www.fuchsiaflower.co.uk/index.htm