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IrfllliLSpfl’lg_ Hangin Basket ardenng Hanging basket gardens allow you to grow attractive plants in the most unlikely places. A basket or suspend- ed planter can add a vining tomato, cucumber or flowering annual to your porch or balcony without real- ly taking tip any space. Hanging baskets display the most colorful blooms at eye level and can disguise a plain or unsightly view. Numerous types of containers are available for hanging gardens. Any of these. whether plastic. wood or a wire basket lined with peat moss, will work fine. Containers should be lightweight and allow drainage. Baskets hanging outdoors will require watering at least once a day, so check them frequently. Larger containers, such as lO-IZ” pots, will need less frequent watering than the smaller ones. in addition to watering. fertilize your plants following the manufac- turer‘s instructions. Be sure the baskets are attached securely with strong hooks; a basket plus plants and moist soil can be quite heavy. Varieties have been developed specifically for hanging baskets and can be found at any garden center. Most bedding plant annuals make at- tractive, instant baskets. Purchase the plants and design your own baskets, or buy them preplanted. [f you decide 22 to plant your own basket, choose one color, add one type of flower per basket for a bright, showy splash of color or design a mixed planting. When mixing different plants in one basket, start with more upright plants at the center, such as marigolds. ageratum or coleus; then add trailing plants around the edge of the pot. Some suggestions for Vining plants are fuchsia, vinca, alyssum, or black-eyed Susan vine. You might also want to add some variegated foliage such as English ivy. Be sure the plants in combination baskets have similar sun requirements. For example, in a shady looation a good combination might include fibrous begonias with English ivy, coleus or impatiens. In a semi-shady to sunny spot, try browallia, alyssum, fuchsia, tuberous begonia. lobelia or pansyt Good sun loving companions include ivy, geraniums. petunias, spider plants. alyssum, dusty miller, lan- tana, nasturtium. and blackâ€"eyed Susan vine. Fibrous begonias can be used in shade. semi-shade or sunny locations. Place your small purchased plants into a porous planting mix rather than garden soil. Commercial potting soil is sufficiently porous to allow good drainage, whereas garden soil may be too heavy to drain prop and may contain insects, weeds ;. disease. Plant the plants as soon possible after purchasing and k. them well watered and out of dll sunlight for a couple of days. Fe spectacular, full basket, plant t nuals rather close together allots. a little extra space for continued rt growth. Of course, basket gardening is just limited to flowers. Vegetar- Can be attractive in baskets and p vide homegrown food, too. N varieties are being developed espeo ly for basket or container cultu Ask for them at your local beddi plant outlet. Vegetables such cherry tomatoes. lettuce, radishes a dwarf cucumbers make fine, prod! tive baskets. Herbs like parslt Chives, rosemary and thyme are Vk attractive in baskets and mix u with flowering annuals. Don't crowd vegetables in p0: They need plenty of surroundit space so that each plant and its prx duce can develop proper]: Tomatoes, especially, require plent of space so that the sun can reach th developing fruit. This spring is a good time to 5pm up your home with a few baskets 0 flowers and vegetables,