whats a good idea to plant in pots on a patio

[evedawn]

I am notoriously unlucky with plants but this year I am gonna succeed...with YOUR help :-)

My patio garden gets sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.


I have a collection of medium sized pots that i would like to plant some colourful seedlings in. Ideally the flowers i plant would flower and bud throughout the spring

Any ideas?


PS _ I'd like to start planting in a week or two(ie Fairly soon) so that i have a nice patio for spring and summer.

[Matheous]

Not an expert- but begonias are one of my favs as they are so easy to maintain-disease free and you get flowers from June to October-November. All you have to do is water & feed.
AND when the season is finished -you can remove them from their pots-wrap them in newspaper & store in a cupboard or shed - and in Spring cut the bigger tubers in two and get more plants out them. I think their terrific! (come in all colours as well)

[shylock73]

Try Fuchias, you can get a vast selection of them and easy to look after. Just pinch out the tops of each stem when in active growth to produce more flower stems,and also geraniums are easy and they don`t require much water in the summer and are easy to propagate, just remember to let the cuttings of geraniums dry for at least two days to form a crusty end before inserting them into pots. Don`t cover with anything like you could with Fuchias. 2-3inches for Geraniums. 1"-2" Fuchias. HTH

[hammerman]

Evedawn...there's lots of nice stuff in garden centres, nurseries and even green grocers at the moment. Daffodills, crocus and tulips, pansies, polyanthus and primroses, mini cyclamen etc etc.

However, these will have to be removed by the end of may and then you can plant up with summer bedding plants such as salvias, lobelia, geraniums, begonias, fuchsia, petunias, marigolds and antirrhinum.

With the above answers, don't put begonias or fuchsias (except the hardy types) out yet as we're still getting frost and even snow. Wait until the end of may.

[evedawn]

Thanks for all your ideas.. sorry if i didn't say ta earlier - aint been on AB for a few days.

I particularly like the ideas of fuschias(shylock) cos i THOUGHT they were really difficult to grow (cos they look delicate) and as for begonnias AMttheous...i still remember the fresh smell they make if you crush a flower (a little) between your fingers (as a child. thanks again

and to hammerman - thanks for both you answers this post and on the other.