Hanging Baskets

arkonite_babe

Don't forget to check local garden centres and nurseries for a bargain. I have bought a wooden pot filled with summer bedding plants, Ivy and another grass thing (can't remember the name) for £30. It is quite a big pot and will look great. The same centre is selling filled hanging baskets for £6

chickadee

ageandjo wrote:

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

For the top of the basket you really need plants that will be visible from the side and below so they need to grow upright. Old favourites are pellargonium (known as geranium but not botanically correct!), fuchsia and other bedding plants such as bizzie lizzies (impatiens), upright lobelia, allysum, etc. Have a look round at the garden centre. Don't be afraid to ask their advice, they will be happy to help you out!

Good luck!

Mr_Meanie

The only thing I know about hanging baskets is that they can dry out really quickly in hot weather because of the relatively small amount of potting compost to the large number of plants in the basket, and if they do dry out all your flowers fall off!
I had this problem last year with my strawberry tubs.
Just by chance today in Wilkinsons I came across a box (£2.49 for 100 grams but they do sell smaller packets) of ‘water gel crystals’ they hold over a 100 times their own weight in water.
I’ve just put two measures (10 grams) in a bucket and they’ve soaked up about 2 litres of water!
I feel a bumper crop of strawberries coming along this year, says on the box ideal for hanging baskets.

ageandjo

Just a few more questions, how many plants will I need for a 16" basket? Will the basket be ok if I plant it up tomorrow and leave it in a covered porch outside intil the last frost?

ageandjo

Anyone? Thanks you

nuttyrockeress

Regarding the 2nd part of your question ageandjo - yes it wil lbe fine to store in the posrch - does it get much daylight?

The first part, I just normally gage them, haven't really counted mine.

Last year, I added a trailing ivy, 2 trailing fushia's, 2 million bells, 2 trailing petunias. I don't usually add anything in the middle as I find I have enought with the trailing plants around the side, plus as my front porch/awning type thing is very high up you can't see the middles anyway!

ageandjo

The porch is just a semi covered place outside the back door, they wont get rained on but will get the sun wind and cold

hinchy

If you are doing it yourself try the new moisture retentive compost , from miraclegro I think.

Strepsy

ageandjo wrote:

The porch is just a semi covered place outside the back door, they wont get rained on but will get the sun wind and cold

I'd probably find somewhere a bit more sheltered then, as you might just find a basket full of slime after a frost. May depend where you are in the country though. The further north the bigger chance of frost I believe.

ageandjo

I think I have been a little early in planting my hanging baskets but hey ho I am new to gardening, I want to plant some pretty white and pink flowery plants in my border but I don't know what to plant now that will flower eventually in the spring/summer?
I love hot pinks and daisey like whites but I dont want to plant any and kill them off