Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Alpines => Topic started by: David on November 11, 2020, 10:13:16 AM

Title: Alpines
Post by: David on November 11, 2020, 10:13:16 AM
Good morning, i am just starting in to the world of keeping alpines.
Could anyone advice me about growing alpines outside in containers. I understand about the compost and correct drainage.  My question is, will they need overhead protection from the rain and what is the best position in the garden, ie sunny and full light? or are they best kept in a greenhouse?
Thanks for reading this and i am looking forward to being a member.
 Best regards David
Title: Re: Alpines
Post by: Maggi Young on November 11, 2020, 02:05:17 PM
Hello David, and a  warm welcome to you!
There  are  a  few  alpines that do prefer to be  protected  from winter  wet ( and  some that resent  summer  wet  too - a  bit  like  most  of  us!) -but  those  are  not  in the  general run of  alpine plants  that  you are  likely to  buy.  If  you  are  buying  from a  good  specialist  nursery they will be  able to advise  you  if  a  plant  is  better  given some  cover.  By  and  large  though, alpines  are  immensely  hardy  little  things  that will cope  with all sorts  of  weather.  As you get  some  experience in growing them you  will  discover  that the  odd  one  will be  a  bit  fussy  about  its  position, but  most  will grow  well and  give you  great  pleasure  whether  grown in a  rock garden bed, trough or  raised  bed  or  in  pots.
If you plan to grow  a  lot  in pots  it  may  be  a  goo idea  to get  some  sort  of  cold  frame so you can put the  pots  in it  over  winter- to give that  bit  of  extra  protection to the  plants and  the  soil they're  in if you are  in an area  where  you  get  very cold/severe  winter  weather.  Most  troughs  can provide  enough protection to the  soil in them except  in  deep freeze  weather.

( see  our  list  of some  of the  very best  nurseries here: http://files.srgc.net/journals/NurseryListSRGC.pdf  )

You are  entering a  world  of plants with an amazing  array  of  features- from all sorts  of  places  around the  world, where  they survive  in  what we  would think of  as  impossible  conditions- Enjoy!!
Title: Re: Alpines
Post by: David on November 11, 2020, 05:18:26 PM
Thanks for your reply Maggi. I bought the plants from RHS Harlow Carr and are lovely looking plants.
  I have put them in planters and i think i will keep them in my cold greenhouse for the winter.
 And i have big problems with a b....y blackbird that keeps hoyking my young plants out,
    Thanks David
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