More than 80% of us have a hanging basket habit, according to new research into our favourite choices for summer bedding displays.
The survey, by seed merchants Thompson & Morgan, found red was the most popular colour for basket bedding, with nearly a quarter of hanging basket lovers using it in their display. Purple was next, with pink the third choice. Least popular were white-flowered plants. Most gardeners use two or three colours in each basket, with only 9% sticking to one colour. A quarter, though, go for broke with a riot of mixed colours in all shades.
Begonias, fuchsias and petunias came out top as the nation’s favourite hanging basket plants, but most gardeners – 60% – plan to include a new, just-released variety in their baskets. Just over a third try edible plants in their hanging baskets, with strawberries, tomatoes and herbs the most common choices. The average number of hanging baskets is 5 per garden – though some plant up as many as 28!
