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Would it be possible to somehow grow a climber up my porch?

gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
in Garden design
In my dreams I own a beautiful country cottage or farmhouse, but in reality it's a 1950s ex local authority semi detached, which was refurbished by the previous owners in a very modern looking style. I am trying to slowly "countrify" everything up a bit, and I've been thinking for a couple of years that I would love to grow some sort of climber (ideally a rose) around the porch extension that the previous owners built

The challenges are:

- I can't see where in the ground a hole could be made due to the concrete steps and driveway (but I'd be open to creating one if it would work)

- Would anything grown in a very large pot get large enough to cover a lot of the porch (the front, and also the side but that's not mandatory)

- The house is North / North East facing although does get some sun in the summer, in the winter it is very cold out there.

Does anyone have any great ideas, or should I accept defeat on this one?






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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I know that @Busy-Lizzie has successfully grown a climbing rose in a large container … hopefully she’ll see this query when she next pops in. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Could you cheat and plant it in the gravel area with an arch bringing it onto the porch? 
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    I did think about that, but the annoying thing is that in that gap between the side of the house and the fence, there is a drain covered over by the gravel. I could have a proper look to see if there might be room somewhere close though - the good thing about that idea would be that it would be growing in the direction of the side of the house where the sun comes round, so easier to train on a trellis in the right direction...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I grew a rose, The Pilgrim, in a pot on the north east wall of my last house. It will need more feeding and watering than a rose in the ground and a big pot, 60cms at least. It was fine. I also grew a large clematis, think it was called John Paul II. There are other clematis and roses that should work.

    Use some soil and rotted manure in the pot mixed with the compost or mix in some John Innes 3.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    Thank you @Busy-Lizzie this is super helpful! Yes I was thinking of getting the biggest pot I can buy (which I know will be expensive) and realise it will need plenty of food and water. The Pilgrim is a beautiful rose, although I think against the white I would want something that perhaps stood out a bit more. I've dropped David Austin an email to see if there's anything they recommend!
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    I have grown Jasminum officianale (evergreen or semi evergreen) in a pot smaller than 45cm, and it quickly covered the area (an arch). The pot was under the semi open porch, so it relied on me for watering. The scent in May and June was delicious. The greenery covered a stark area and softened everything up. Maybe you could have a few different plants. Roses and climbers can look so romantic.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    Thank you very much @clematisdorset - I think that's a great idea, especially with it being evergreen. Maybe I should focus on a mixture of plants as you suggest rather than one big one - it takes the pressure off one plant needing to grow to a really big size. Perhaps a rose, a jasmine and a clematis? It would need to be something that could cope with North facing conditions and cold in the winter though!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I'm not sure about jasmine for those conditions. I have a yellow-leaved form, J. officinale "Fiona Sunrise" on a fence that faces north-east, but it only really grows well where it reaches above the fence and gets sun from the other (s-w facing) side. And it looks a bit ropy in winter and early spring because the frost gets it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    It would look less one dimensional, @gilla.walmsley , to grow a few different plants.  I think Jasminum Officianale is quite a bit more hardy than the Fiona Sunrise cultivar and Clotted Cream. I still grow Clotted Cream as well as Officianale and the difference in hardiness is quite apparent in my garden where the Officianale stays evergreen and green looking. It sometimes gets a bit tatty during winter storms, but I find it grows so quickly, that anything really offensive can be trimmed off. 

    I think growing clematis in a pot might be more difficult, but there probably are varieties suitable for pots, but I have not tried any.

    I have grown honeysuckle in the same pot as the Jasminum Officianale - I regularly watered the pot; daily between May and October and then every few days during late autumn and winter (southern England). I did have the pots under an open porch, with the twines exposed to the wind and rain etc, once they ventured beyond the porch, the honeysuckle scent was also intoxicating when in flower!
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    That sounds promising on hardiness @clematisdorset - I also discovered a cultivar while googling that's called 'frostproof' so that might be one to give a try  :)

    Ah I wasn't aware Clematis in pots can be tricky. A honeysuckle sounds like it could be a good idea! 

    Can't wait to show photos here in a couple of years of the progress  :)
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