Small space I Big ideas
Follow Chris’s tips for mixing up veg and flowers in a hanging basket
The perfect way to learn to garden is to start in miniature. The hanging basket takes the same discipline as large-scale gardening with attention to watering, feeding and plant health; but … they can be hung on balcony railings and walls, so they’re a brilliant way to make further use of vertical space.
I like to grow what I call ‘potager baskets’. These are based on the old French idea of a potager garden, which is all about food, but with a little twist. I like to mix up edibles by throwing in some flowers too, which means you get beautiful baskets that are productive and pretty but also great for pollinators.
First, choose a central plant for your basket and then add trailing veg or flowers around the edges. My favourite combos include verbena, tomatoes and chives; strawberry (with their parachuting runners), lobelia and basil; rainbow chard, ivy-leaved pelargonium and tomatoes.
Choose a wire basket or trough that’s at least 25cm deep. Add sustainably sourced moss or sisal liner to hold the compost in place and provide a moist, water-absorbing base. Plant your trailing plants through the sides of the basket in a triangular formation with moss and peat-free compost to ensure the whole basket fills out. Finally, plant into the top of the basket.
Hanging basket success is not possible without some daily TLC. Pick over dead leaves and flowerheads, and thin as needed. If you’re growing edibles, you can add any thinnings to your plate!
