Herbs & Vegetables to Plant in Hanging Baskets
Just over a year ago I downsized to a complex. A smaller house is one thing, but a small garden is quite another!
Vertical gardening is a must and, after a fair amount of trial and error, I seem to have figured out hanging baskets.
Before I get to the plants that grow well in baskets, here are some lessons I have learnt.
Coir liners look pretty, but are useless. After 2 – 3 months they fall apart and the soil starts falling out. They are also very expensive. Shopping bags are an excellent replacement, and the Woolies’ bags are black so you don’t even notice them.
Perlite or vermiculite are essential. Baskets dry out very quickly and these two products help retain moisture
Water frequently. In the heat of Summer it is at least once a day, sometimes twice.
Make sure the bracket is attached firmly to the wall. Use extra long nails and rawlplugs. Baskets are heavy when they contain soil and plants!
Fertilize regularly. I use worm tea once a week and add mulch when the soil drops.
Choose the right plants. Some plants are happier in the ground and squash are a perfect example. I assumed baby squash would be happy in a basket and expected pretty hanging fruit. Nope – they need regular feeding and a lot of water. I had spindly plants and 2 measly looking squash.
Suitable Plants
There are lots of plants which can be grown in baskets, but I found some are much better than others. These are the ones I was happy with.
Strawberries – Very easy to grow and I had an excellent crop. There were no pests and even the birds were reluctant to balance on the baskets.
However, this year I have them in stacked crates so I can get a bigger harvest.
I find a basket can only take 3 plants for a good crop
Beans – Bush beans are great in a hanging basket. Feed them once a month and keep an eye on the soil levels which drop quickly
Runner beans get too long so are better climbing up a wall or on a trellis
Peas – A Winter crop that grows well
Tomatoes – Another vegetable that is happy in a basket. Choose the smaller cocktail ones or the fruit gets too heavy and breaks the stems. There are specific hanging varieties like Tumbling Tom, but any small fruit ones work.
Lettuce and salad greens – A bonus is no slugs and snails
Asian greens – Plant a mix, it will look pretty and you can pick a handful for a stir fry
Spinach – Grows well on its own, or combine it with herbs
Swiss chard – Fine as a short term plant. The growing period is longer if it is planted in the ground
Parsley – I put this with strawberries as a companion plant
Lemon balm – Lovely and grown near a seating area provides a great scent
Oregano – Another herb that can take over in the garden and grows well in a basket
Chives – I used this as a companion plant with tomatoes
Thyme – Another herb which is a great companion plant.
Mint – Perfect as it is contained. Trim off any straggly bits and make sure it gets enough water
Soapwort – Very pretty and a basket stops it invading the garden beds
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