The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: Faye.Lear on April 13, 2016, 08:37:02 am

Title: Hanging Baskets
Post by: Faye.Lear on April 13, 2016, 08:37:02 am
I'm wanting to sell some hanging baskets from the garden gate this year to boost income, but not sure what to put in them, any suggestions welcome.

Also want to source an ample supply of baskets at not too big a price if anyone knows of a good place to purchase.
 :)
Title: Re: Hanging Baskets
Post by: DavidandCollette on April 13, 2016, 09:28:55 am
This is something I have been thinking about doing. I would use simple things like trailing lobelia geraniums and tagatese. There is also a green leaf trailing plant that grows well in baskets . Sorry don't know it's name. I also thought about trailing tomatoes. Keep us informed :)
Title: Re: Hanging Baskets
Post by: muddypuddle on April 13, 2016, 09:59:09 am
I have made my own up the last few years and use things like lobelia, petunia/ million bells, begonia, fuchsia and the variegated leaf nepeta?! with a mix of trailing or up right. Last year I left it a bit late and bought in the plants which were a bit big to go through the holes in the baskets but they were ok. In the past I have bought in small plug plants and potted them on, more work but cheaper for the plants.
For baskets I'm not sure but even the supermarkets have them in fairly cheap or you could try car boot sales?!
Title: Re: Hanging Baskets
Post by: Fleecewife on April 13, 2016, 01:11:35 pm
Try LBS Horticulture for baskets.  How about a recycling system for the baskets, where if your customers return the basket once it's finished, they will get the price of it off the next one they buy  :thumbsup:

I like the idea of something unusual such as the trailing tomatoes mentioned, but also herbs look good and a hanging basket can put them right near the house where they can easily be picked.  Something like that would be an extra draw for people to buy from you, rather than from the next place.   At the other end of the year you could have winter baskets with violas, pansies, trailing ivy, small heathers, etc, with early crocus ready for spring.

If you are good at propagation and live in a warm area, the cheapest option for plants is to grow your own, and you get more variety, but it is quite fiddly and weather reliant.

For what to plant, as well as those things mentioned, there are petunias (I don't like them but most people do), bidens and various single colours such as the new trailing, small flowered red begonia.  Have a look through the plant plug catalogues to see what's available.
Title: Re: Hanging Baskets
Post by: Faye.Lear on April 13, 2016, 02:21:29 pm
You are all so wonderfully helpful, and have some great ideas!
 :)

Hoping to start growing lots when my polytunnel is up, but for this year, as you said I may need to look at plug catologues, so my next question is.. any recommendations for particular nurseries?
Title: Re: Hanging Baskets
Post by: devonlady on April 13, 2016, 06:36:39 pm
Sutton Seeds do a lovely trailing sweet pea.
Title: Re: Hanging Baskets
Post by: DavidandCollette on April 13, 2016, 07:05:38 pm
Jersey plants.  They always send more than you have ordered
Title: Re: Hanging Baskets
Post by: pgkevet on April 14, 2016, 07:01:28 am
(You might attract more custom with a few gibbet cages..installed with gypsies, bankers, politicians.....)

There's no rule saying you can't mix things like strawberries with flowering stuff.

For myself i stick to simple...geraniums so it's still flowering when you forget to water....petunia and lobelia But lots of variations possible with baskets.. a small central conifer, a surround of colour and some trails of colour with ivy can work too....It's a matter of imagination and size. balcon or trailing geraniums too. Fuschia. Heck you could probably go nuts and stick a gherkin in there......or a cucamelon