Hanging baskets

Ive got room in my greenhouse for my hanging baskets so is it a good idea to plant seed directly in the baskets to save potting on later?

 

I've never sown directly into a hanging basket, I usually buy some plug plants & then grow a few seeds in trays, I guess you could try it, my only concern would be if the seeds don't germinate, you will end up with gaps!?

 

You never know what germination rate you will get . For baskets its always best to grow seeds as normal then prick out into small pots , and then plant up your basket with good sized plugs.

 

I've planted up an easy fill basket today with a strawberry plant and 9 nasturtium seeds in the top, and 3 new guinea impatiens plugs in the sides. If the nasturtiums don't germinate they are easy to replace as they are round the sides. I've run out of space for seed trays so though it was worth a try.

 

What an interesting idea - I'd never thought of sowing seeds into a hanging basket. Hope it is successful for you. One question occurs to me though - could it have drawbacks from a waterwise-gardening perspective? Does water tend to drip quite quickly though the bottom of a hanging basket, while seedlings require quite consistent and often considerable levels of watering while they are in the early stages?

 

My nasturtiums have germinated and are doing well. The strawberry plant has several flowers and the New Guinea impatiens are bulking up and starting to flower.
I think it's ok with nasturtuims as they are quite big, sturdy seedlings. Probably wouldn't work with trickier seeds.

 

Watering wise I have included water retaining gel and the basket contains a resevoir in the bottom.

 

I have a strawberry hanging basket bought on Special from homebase that is seed ... Hopefully it works!

 

Ive just been admiring mine which I put out a week or so ago - dont seem to mind the cold (we have had a couple of frosty mornings this week) & are starting to fill out nicely - I grew everything from seed inside & then planted them up in the greenhouse & let them get established in there for a couple of weeks before moving them outside

--
Actually thats not quite true - I had to buy the trailing toms 'cos although I bought the seed I couldnt remember where I put it... and still havent found it ... but everything else came from seed..

--

--
I just wish I had written down what I had planted!