Here's the best of both worlds - the recipe for the best baskets - a collection of 5 ivy-leaf geraniums and 5 basket fuchsias. Get your baskets off to a flying start and save yourself money on shop bought plants!

 

Full growing instructions included, colours may vary to those shown.

 

Position: Most plants will thrive in full sun - particularly geraniums as they originate from South Africa where the summers are hot and sunny. However they will do just as well in a partially shaded area. Fushias prefer to be out of the blazing sun so a mixed basket is best in a partially shaded area.

They will be happy to go outside from late May onwards - once all chances of frost have passed. They will generally be fine outside until late September.

Any type of hanging container can be used. If you have a plastic lined basket, slit some holes half way up inside the basket so that excess water can drain off and the plant doesn't sit in puddles, like us plants need oxygen to breathe. Pack baskets with plenty of plants for a full display which will look beautiful cascading and tumbling down. As a general guide we'd say 5-8 plants in a 12" basket, but 10-12 would be even fuller.

Plants need to be kept just moist at all times - don't leave them sitting in puddles of water or let them become bone dry either. Feeding can be done once a week, simply add one spoonful of feed to the watering can and you will be rewarded with better growth and many more flowers!