Hanging Baskets

ageandjo

I want to plant 2 hanging baskets with cascading pretty pink and white flowers so the basket looks like a ball of flowers but I have no idea where to start can anyone help me?

tryingtobegood

The cheap way would be to find some seeds which you like...I'm thinking Impatiens (Bizzy Lizzies) and get them planted indoors pronto! Adli/lidl have some gardening offers coming up so you could check out their websites.
I've used yogurt pots for planting seeds but remember to punch some drainage holes in the bottom.
Alternatively, B+Q have 20%off all plants this weekend. If there's one nearby you could have a look and see if any plants take your fancy.
For a full looking basket make sure that you put plants round the side of the basket as well as in the top. I would allow for around 10 plants in each basket.
Hope this helps !

chickadee

Try trailing lobelia too. Easy to grow, available in many colours, including pink and white, and they have a cascading (trailing) habit so they will fall prettily over the edges of the basket.

For any plant in baskets or containers, remember to water daily, twice daily in hot weather, and feed weekly. The basket will conatin a relatively small amount of nutrients for the large number of plants it will contain. One expert gardener I know reckoned that the compost nutrients are used up within two weeks of planting a basket - after that the plants rely on added feed.

ageandjo

When do I plant these?

nuttyrockeress

Million bells are lovely and trail nice too.

Try ebay, you can get some real cheap plug plants from there - if you have a green house, no harm in getting these and planting straightaway

ageandjo

What is a plug plant? I am a complete novice to this sorry! I have found a few plants on ebay that look lovely but they mention plug plants too I have no idea what that means

nuttyrockeress

Plug plants are small seedlings - well a little more advanced than seedlings I supopose that are kept individual and can be sent throught the post

Look like this

ageandjo

Oh I see thanks, how long will they take to grow from a plug if I planted now?

MrsMW

If you get the plug plants now you will need to keep them in a greenhouse or indoors until late May or so, depends where you live. Although I do grow a lot of my own plants it is often just as economical to buy them from somewhere like B&Q. Buy them in May and you can usually get a pack of 30 or so for about £4. They can then be planted out straight away. I always keep my baskets in a sheltered place for a couple of weeks after planting, gives them a chance to settle in.

ageandjo

Thank you.
I have chosen the trailing plants I want but what ones would you suggest for the top of the basket?

Strepsy

tryingtobegood wrote:

Alternatively, B+Q have 20%off all plants this weekend. If there's one nearby you could have a look and see if any plants take your fancy.

The offer finished on Thursday for plants. I went yesterday hoping for a bargain but too late. :sad: They still have 20% off other things like bathroom furniture and laminates though.