Get ready for baskets of colour
Plant your own hanging container for a summer of bright blooms
Hanging baskets are a great way to add seasonal colour to your garden through the summer and there’s a really good choice of plants to choose from.
The majority of container and basket plants are tender and can easily be grown from cuttings taken in the greenhouse or by buying as plug plants to grow on in frostfree conditions. Being tender, it’s important your planted baskets are not placed outside while there’s a still a danger of frost, so it pays to be patient and wait until it’s safe.
Having a greenhouse or polytunnel does, however, allow you to make an early start so the plants have a few weeks to settle in and establish before you hang your beautiful basket outside.
When in full flower and growth, hanging baskets look great, but many fail half way through the summer due to lack of food, water or both. By planting your own you can do several things to help the compost retain moisture and nutrients to keep the plants healthy and growing right until the end of summer.
If using a basket liner or moss, before adding the compost place a piece of polythene in the base of the basket to create a shallow dish shape to help retain some water. Use good quality compost and, before planting, mix in some slow-release fertiliser and water-storing granules. These really make a difference by reducing the speed at which compost dries out on hot days and by providing plants with a steady supply of essential nutrients for six months. Once you’ve planted the basket with a selection of small plants, water thoroughly and stand or hang the basket in a light, frost- free place, such as a cold greenhouse
or polytunnel. In a few weeks’ time, when the tops have filled out and the plants have established, the basket can go outside for summer for you to enjoy.