Russian Vine

Boris started life in my garden in a large pot by the kitchen door. He grew up a trellis. When he reached the kitchen roof and entwined the guttering, I moved him to the side fence. Manageable? Of course he is, I have some very good shears. He covers my fence and gives me a lovely display of flowers in late Summer. Just keep pruning and your Russian Vine will reward you. I prune Boris hard each Spring and he doesn't bear any grudges. Not for the faint-hearted but the flowers are a ...  Read the complete review

I've had a Russian vine, in a large plastic pot, for 2 years now. I grows over a trellis around our back door. This plant survives on neglect - it gets the odd bannana peel [all plants like them] & some water whenever I remember but it still lives. I would not plant it out however as I like my small garden as it is. I only planted it as it was an [ill thought prezzie] from my wife. Don't touch it unless you really like heavy work! ...  Read the complete review

Its not that I don't like children. I do...got two of my own. We had these neighbours though, and they had two of their own as well. Their nosiness knew no bounds....I swear they had elasticated necks that could crane round corners! All that separated us was flimsey chain-link fence and since the house was a naval married quarter we were unable to replace the fence with a nice 6' wooden one. We were, however, allowed to plant what we liked. So, in thinking about a solution to unwanted, nosey neighbours from hell we ploughed through gardening books and catalogues to find something that grew fast and vigoursly to ...  Read the complete review

When I was younger I used to "help" my grandfather with his garden and I can remember him planting a climbing plant which he called mile a minute. He loved this plant and I can still see him feeding and watering it lovingly.I used to think that if I stood still I would see it growing,it was so fast.Within a year it had completely covered his shed and was making fast inroads on the dog's run,but he still loved it.He was heartbroken when he had to move into a flat and leave it behind but,he was the only one as the new tenants chopped it down immediately. When I first moved into my present house I needed a climber to cover a shed and fence but ...  Read the complete review

My dad bought one as he has a thing about walls, he doesn’t like to see them. I told him they were good, hardy little (well big) plants and had good coverage. They are and they do, but my dad still doesn’t think so. They have little white flowers on them in summer, which attract the bees and wasps, and they grow at a fast rate. It is possible to see how much they have grown in one day! Therefore, they tend to take over a little if not kept in check! Ours looks a bit sparse at the minute, but hey, its winter, give it a chance. I have seen them everywhere and they do get chunky and thick! It just takes a few days first!! ...  Read the complete review