Topic: winter hanging baskets....

[stevefarr440]

hey guys!

right then i've just about got to the bottom of the veg growing game! next up flowers! something that i have no clue whatsoever about!

quick question really (i hope)

i'm wanting to decorate the front of my house with hanging baskets grown from seed, are there any plants that enjoy winter living? and when is the right time to plant them? i understand i may be compleatly too late! i dont have a clue what i'm doing, but i'll get there i'm sure! :)

[star]

Hi Steve,

Well there's winter pansies and ivy which go well together. I daresay you could sow seeds now of the pansy but they will be late to flower. Or you can buy the plants soon from garden centres, you would need to buy the ivy too Im afraid.

I dont do winter baskets myself so my knowledge is limited to what else you could grow. But Im sure someone else will help shortly :D

[Tulipa]

Hi Steve, it may be a little too late for winter pansy seeds now, but Wilkinsons had plug plants of pansy and primulas this morning which you could grow on a bit.

Or there are some here that you could order and grow on, would work out cheaper than garden centre prices.

http://www.organicplants.co.uk/acatalog/Catalogue____Pick_and_Mix_50.html

I have just had some very healthy broccoli plants from them and I know other people on here use them.

You can also pop in crocus and small daffs, say Tete-a-Tete, to pop up in the early spring. 

Our Homebase already has winter hanging baskets for sale so if you have one locally you could look in there for ideas.

Winter flowering heathers look good, and cyclamen too.  Last year our B&Q had very small shrubs in a pack of 4 which added a bit of height in a hanging basket and I have grown them on it pots to plant out this autumn. At least you are getting more use of the plants that way.  A small Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' can look good with cyclamen and heather or say white pansies or violas.

I am sure others will be along with suggestions too.

Good luck

T.

[Tulipa]

I am still thinking on this one...

If you are doing lots of hanging baskets/containers these might be ok:

http://www.dobies.co.uk/pd_479433_Pansy_Paradise_Mixed_(Garden_Ready_Plants).htm

Here is an idea but I know nothing about the company...

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/plant/70950?er=googlevm;term=winter+hanging+basket&gclid=COfq-Z3qupUCFQtNtAodclp2Yw

You could plant sedums and grasses:

http://blog.shirlsgardenwatch.co.uk/2007/08/hanging-basket-make-over.html

Small Hebes or Eunymous give a good focal point to a hanging basket - there are some good examples in this link, the baskets down as far as the pub photo are all winter baskets:

http://www.sunnyfields-baskets.com/index.php?f=data_home&a=4

There is a video on here about planting one up (you have to watch an advert first!).

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-a-winter-hanging-basket

Better get out and sort mine out instead of sitting here dreaming.... ;)

T.

[lorna]

Thanks for those links Tulipa, I have bookmarked them.

[twinkletoes]

My OH does the baskets - he did winter pansies last year and they lasted right through 'til spring - when he ditched them to make up the summer ones.
twinkletoes

[Bean_Queen]

you needed to sow your seeds a few months ago. Better organised next year!
I have just bought winter pansies from the market (£1.50 for six) and I root my own ivy from cuttings, in water.  Just pinch a bit from any nice small ivies you happen to walk past :)

[stevefarr440]

THANKS MILLIONS

You guys are great! and so are my hanging baskets :0) ended up plumeting for a few packs of 12 winter pansies from B&Q and some bumper packs of ivy too! wilkinsons also had the actual baskets reduced down to £1.50 too! what a bargain! i maneged to make up 6 baskets for 20 quid ish

I have now sucsessfully decorated the front of mine and my neighbours houses! Next year i will be much more organised! i had great fun putting thenm together, must be even more rewarding growing from seed! i can see myself doing the whole street! lol  ;D

just for plannings sake, when should i start shopping for summer seeds? i'm guessing it will be around the same time that my windowsills become flooded with sprouting veg, i need more windows!

[lolabelle]

last year I did a floerless one ,looked fab with variegated thymes rosemary curry leaf nice and silver ,variegated ivy. will do similar this year but may add cyclemen or mini bulbs  :) :) :) :)