Plant up edible hanging baskets for decorations that are as productive as they are pretty. Alongside the usual begonias and busy lizzies, make space for baskets crammed with tumbling tomatoes and herbs, alpine strawberries or even brilliantly-coloured chillies, for a delicious harvest just outside your door.
You'll find dozens of ready-grown plug plants in your favourite garden centre to start you off, as well as hanging baskets, felted liners and compost. Then follow our step-by-step instructions for a display that's as fragrant and colourful as bedding – and much more tasty!
1) Ten plants fill a 35cm (14”) basket: choose varieties which will be happy in containers, like Tomato 'Tumbling Tom' or the strawberry 'Mara des Bois'.
2) Prop up your basket on a bucket and line with a liner to hold the compost and retain water. Then mix a handful each of slow-release fertiliser and water-retaining gel into the compost before you start.
3) To plant through the sides as well as on top, cut slits through the liner. Fill the bottom of the basket with compost, then poke the rootballs of your plants through the slits from the outside, back-filling with compost
