When planting fuchsias in the garden, use well grown plants, preferably in 5" or 6" pots, and plants which are at least one year old. Current year growth cuttings have little chance of survival - they have no chance of becoming established before the onslaught of winter weather. The ideal time for planting out your fuchsias is early June, particularly in the northern half of the country.
Soil preparation is important. A moisture retentive soil must be provided, so a good supply of well rotted manure, peat or compost should be dug into the soil.
When planting, make a hole about 3" deeper than the pot depth. For example, if the plant is in a 5" pot, then the hole should be 8" deep, a 6" pot 9" deep. After knocking the plant out of its pot, tease the roots to open them out. Place the plant in the bottom of the hole and then back fill until level with the compost of the plant. This should leave, in the case of using a 5" plant around 3" still to fill in, which should be done over the next six to seven weeks, by occasionally scraping some soil into the hole and between the branches. When the depression is filled, the planting is complete. Do not forget to water and feed the plant throughout the summer. Give a weekly spray of insecticide to keep pests at bay.
As the plant loses its leaves, do not be tempted to cut the branches back. Leave until April when new shoots should be emerging.
Remember the plant was buried 3" below soil level. This is to give protection against the frost which would kill at soil level. All new growth comes from below soil level so when you cut the old wood off in April, do so right down to ground level. This will give you the foundation for a healthy plant for the summer months.
Some fuchsias which are not even classed as hardies, can come through the winter months quite safely, particularly if we have a mild winter. You can try to give extra protection by covering the root area with peat, leaves, straw or anything to keep the frost away from the roots.

Some fuchsias which have proved hardy in the north are, Chillerton Beauty, Dollar Princess, Mrs. Popple, Son of Thumb, Lady Thumb, Genii,  Margaret, Blue Bush, Empress of Prussia, Prosperity, F. magellanica gracillis variegata, Abbé Farges.   Why not try a few in your garden? They will give a mass of bloom right up to the first frosts, long after the majority of other flowers in the garden have gone

Joan Goy, the popular stalwart of the West Yorkshire Fuchsias Society for so many years now, has a rather beautiful fuchsia named after her?  The upright growing white and lilac pink single, with Estelle Marie and Linda Goulding in the parentage line is a truly prolific flowerer with erect held blooms contrasting nicely with the light green foliage.
It has a Scarborough connection too, as it was first shown at the Scarborough Fuchsia Extravaganza in 1988 to commemorate the B.F.S. Golden Anniversary. It was raised in our vicinity too, in Willerby near Hull by Peter Webb. At the same time and venue, Pink Fantasia was introduced. Then still unnamed it was kindly donated for the event and a competition was organised to find a suitable name. Both plants created a tremendous impression, and of course we all know how well Pink Fantasia has done since, becoming such a show bench banker.  Joan Goy unfortunately did not become as popular, but it is a delightful cultivar and certainly deserves to be grown much more widely.

If you happen to be 'Up North' during the next couple of months, it might well be worth your while to make a little detour and call in at Arcadia Nurseries, Brass Castle Lane, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, just off the A19.  Annually during July, August and into September they have hundreds of fuchsias in full flower on display in their large Fuchsia House and outside. A great opportunity to see some of the wonderful large doubles that never make to our own shows!  The Fuchsia House is part of the big Garden Centre that Arcadia has grown into. There is ample parking and entry to the Fuchsia Exhibition is free.