Hang a cut-and-come-again colander

Vintage enamel colanders make attractive hanging baskets for backdoor herbs and salads

Vintage enamel colanders make attractive hanging baskets for backdoor herbs and salads

Enamel colanders, suspended on lengths of rope, make eyecatching rustic hanging baskets. Fill them with sun-loving salads, herbs and tomatoes for a high-rise mini vegetable garden that’s out of the reach of all but the most intrepid slugs and snails – and position them by the back door for easy access.

Assemble your ingredients. Choose a good multipurpose compost and add water-retaining gel to conserve moisture. Suitable plants include herbs and leaf salads, or you could simply sow mixed salad seeds direct into the compost. Hang the colanders. Fix them to a secure wall-mounted bracket by the back door for easy access. Make sure each colander is level to reduce run off and loss of compost when watering. Carefully fill the colanders. Use a plastic liner if preferred to reduce water run off. If you’re simply filling with compost, choose a coarser mix that’s less likely to fall out of the holes. Then plant in the usual way. Secure the rope. Cut the rope into two 2m (6½ft) lengths. Taking each in turn, feed the rope through the colander handles on one side only, securing with a tight figure of eight loop (or knot) to prevent slippage. Keep watering. For a steady supply of salad and herb leaves make sure the plants don’t go thirsty. Harvest individual leaves using scissors for a cut-and-come-again approach.