Ned-H3 winter hardy fuchsias

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Author/Editor: Gerrit van Veen

Drawings: Aat van Wijk

Go to Dutch version

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Foreword

To collect knowledge about winterhardy fuchsias, the fuchsialover had to consult books about growing and care of fuchsias.

Those who controls the Dutch language may obtain much information from the book 'Winterharde fuchsia's' (a book about Ned-H3 hardy fuchsias') that is written by the author of this 'Gelderse Fuchsia Info-site'. However, this book is allready some years out of print. Never it has been translated into the English language, so the collected knowledge from that book only could be read by people that control the Dutch language. And the information about Ned-H3 hardy fuchsias was until 2001 not available on any site of the internet.

During my surfing on internet sites of English nurseries (mostly situated in USDA-zone 9 or 8), it did surprise me how long the lists of recommended winter hardy and semi winter hardy fuchsias are contained in their catalogues. But are the in England as winter hardy recommended fuchsias also suitable for wintering outdoors on the European continent? While winters on that continent are meant to be colder than in England.

On a testing ground in Velp (near Arnhem in Holland, USDA-zone 7) the UTC working group 'Trials to test fuchsias on their hardiness in winter'  tested from 1986 till 1995 fuchsias with supposed hardiness in a semi-professional way. During this period there were two winters, that were considered as good sampling periods.

These two winters (1986/1987 and 1990/1991) have been graphically recorded. They form  the'Reference-standard quality winter A or B', and together with other 'Supplementary Standards' the testing standard. In future this will allow other supposedly winter hardy fuchsias to be tested to the same standard, anywhere with USDA-zone 7 conditions.  

Tested Fuchsia cultivars, that satisfy to the testing standard, received the title 'Ned-H3 hardy'. This was done to allow a clear distinction from varieties with the title 'H3 hardy'. That H3-hardies were tested in England in USDA-zone 9 or 8..

In seven chapters, available on the GFI-site segment 'Ned-H3 hardy fuchsias', is shown the information that for the greater part agrees with the information given in the earlier mentioned book. It is possible to view the information using the content guidelines, described below under 'Contents'. The data is given in a series of questions and answers. Supplementary information is available, via a number of links under 'Supplementary information'.

'Gelderse Fuchsia Info-site' - November 2008

1. The properties of 'winter hard' for fuchsias

2. Existing classifications of winter hardy fuchsias

3. History improvements to winter hardy fuchsias

4. The design and the conduct of the tests at Velp

5. Standard for testing of winter hardiness for fuchsias

6. Advise on how to plant and care for winter hardy fuchsias

7. Summary and conclusions

Reference Standard - Graphics Quality Winter A and B

Difference in growth between a fuchsia to winter outside and one left in a glasshouse

Plant cells of sensitive to cold fuchsias and winter hardy fuchsias

A good technique to keep your fuchsias identified

The 'Frostnumber' is in part dependent on the quality of the winter

How to prevent damage to your winter hardies during a night frost

Flea beetle  is a troublesome perforator of leaves

A number of planting methods for Ned-H3 fuchsias

Modelgarden with Ned-H3's in The Netherlands opened