The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: manian on January 11, 2012, 06:58:42 am

Title: hanging basket advice
Post by: manian on January 11, 2012, 06:58:42 am
morning all,
just started to order flowers for hanging baskets.
what is everyones favorite plants for baskets?
TFH in advance
Mx
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: Bionic on January 11, 2012, 08:07:18 am
I like a nice double begonia in the middle. It sets off the other flowers a treat. Geranimums and petunias are a must too as they are long lasting.  Sometimes I go for baskets with mixed colours and at others have something more uniform.  Both are very nice.
Sally
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: bloomer on January 11, 2012, 10:04:23 am
the small surfina million bells in single coloured baskets can be stunning.

but my personal favourite in mixed baskets are the large flowered trailing fuschias...
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: ellisr on January 11, 2012, 10:28:04 am
I like a good mixture in my baskets normally and use a geranium or fushia for the centre piece. Surfinia is always good for colour as mention but you can get others to mix in maybe just some green leave plants that trail to enhance the colours of any flowers. I do some basket solely with fushias as well as they are just amazing to look at and the range of colours and types now is amazing
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: Fleecewife on January 11, 2012, 11:39:18 am
Tumbling tomatoes  ::) :D :yum:
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: ellisr on January 11, 2012, 12:42:42 pm
or strawberries and basil
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: colliewoman on January 23, 2012, 11:24:21 pm
I'm going to sound really weird now but......
Blanketweed from the pond ;D ;D
No i don't try and grow it in the baskets but flip a basket upside down and lay layers of blanket weed straight out of the pond on it, let it dry for a week and you have the worlds best liner for your baskets ;D
I only plant hanging baskets for the fun of playing with slimy weed ;D
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: Mel on February 09, 2012, 06:10:38 pm
 :wave:

Like Manian,I love Begonias-the trailing variety with a large double in the top,aroud the back I had surfina in some along with Dwarf Convolvulus-Royal Ensign. ;D
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: Plantoid on February 20, 2012, 12:53:44 am
Whilst i was on holdiay in germany last year i picked up two packets of hanging basket mixed seeds .. enough to do six baskets.
 
I managed to buy six hanging basket set up's as end of line pre christmas clearances from Tesco  . I have a coir type lining which appear to feel rubberized ..as it's sort of sticky to touch .

 I've never  done hanging baskets  before .. do any of you line the actual basket on the metal frame with a liner before putting in the basket of coir etc.

I have several mtrs of scrap buytl ponf d liner that i can shape up like big flower petals to do the lining it it's  a sound thing to do .

All comments welcome on this one.

 To add to the prepacked mixes I'm going to insert sweet peas , runner bean , french marigolds and nastrutiums as well as some continental trailing geraniums.
 
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: manian on February 20, 2012, 09:51:46 am

 I've never  done hanging baskets  before .. do any of you line the actual basket on the metal frame with a liner before putting in the basket of coir etc.

 
you just put the coir in the metal frame. that way the water soaks through and then not overfill with water.
i cut crosses in the matting and put flowers etc to cover it up
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: Possum on February 22, 2012, 11:11:54 am
Fuschias or zonal pelargoniums(geraniums) in the middle, lots of bizzie lizzies, then trailing lobelia around the edges.All of them come in a variety of colours so you won't be stuck for a colour scheme. Bizzie lizzies tolerate shade well. The only problem that I have found with petunias is that they have to be continually deadheaded in order to keep them flowering. I just haven't get the time to do that!
Title: Re: hanging basket advice
Post by: Brucklay on March 01, 2012, 08:53:36 pm
Used to love my hanging baskets in Perthshire but here they just don't work - but loved double begonia and can be used again and again - used to do colour match one and a mix - should be worth a picture show later in the year