GROWING GRAPES IN KENYA

Grapes--where do they grow them in Kenya? Most Kenyans have no idea where the grapes in their wine or juice come from? This is surprising considering that Kenya is known for its quality agricultural produce, but in of grape production, we are a far way off.

Very few Kenyans know where grapes are grown. It has been established that the plant grows well in Naivasha, Mandera, Mombasa, and Kibwezi.

Grape is not very exacting about temperature. Consequently, it can be the grown practically everywhere in the world making it the fruit with the broadest geographical distribution.

Kenya has a high potential to be a leading producer of the grapes if its cultivation is taken seriously. We can save a lot of foreign exchange as over 90% of the fruit used in wine and juice making is imported from South Africa and other countries.

I am saying this because other farmers are doing it--right here in Kenya. If you don't believe me, just watch this two-minute video

The existing varieties can be classified into two distinct groups according to their functions

1. Table grapes- this group of grapes is used in making various meals for example as sweeteners in cakes.

2. Wine grapes-used specifically in the production of wine.

Grape Botany

The crop is a woody perennial vine having the ability, to live beyond 500 years.

There are some grape varieties; they include, French grapes also known as Vitis vinifera, American grapes- vitis labrusa and Mediterranean/ Muscatine grapes.

The most widespread grapes species is Vitis vinifera; a native of Europe grown on the world’s most land acreage.

Environmental conditions for grapes.

The crop prefers warm to hot temperatures; during fruiting, the weather must be sunny and dry.

Warm environmental temperatures during fruit ripening are vital in increasing the sugar content of berries while reducing their acidity.

This explains why grapes grown under irrigation in hot deserts or semi-deserts are sweeter than those from cold, humid areas.

The crop can grow in any soil, from sandy to heavy clays but the land should be deep and well drained.

Where the rainfall is scant, supplement it with irrigation of 500 mm of water during the cropping season. In Kenya, the cropping season is September to March.

Irrigation should be withheld after the long rains to force the crop to go dormant.

In August to September, fruit buds form thus it is essential to keep the plant healthy and well manured.

Suitable Grape scions for Kenya are as follows

Table grapes: Dodrilabi, Black rose, Italia, Muscat of Hamburg, Alphonse, LaSalle, Muscat of Alexandria, Perletta, Cardinal, Dalbiki.

Wine grapes: French colombard, Sauzao, Saungnok blank, Cabaret, Alicarte, Grenard, Semillon

Suitable Grape Rootstocks for Kenya

Most grape rootstocks are adapted to many soil conditions. The selection of a suitable rootstock is based on the following criteria;

1. Resistance to Phytophthora root rot

2. Tolerance to drought and other soil conditions like low PH

3. Adaptation to soil depth and texture

4. Resistance to crown gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This bacterium weakens vines by encouraging the production of large amounts of cytokinins and auxins that induce excessive cell division and elongation.

5. Adaptation to different PH which affects availability or uptake of nutrients. The scion should be adapted to high PH soils to facilitate absorption of Fe²⁺ Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺ should be adjusted to low PH to take in Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and K⁺

6. Phylloxera (grape louse) and nematode resistance. Nematodes are vectors of grape fanleaf virus.

7. Vigor control- in cold regions vines exhibit indeterminate growth. Such growth results in the diversion of food reserves to vegetative growth at the expense of the fruit development.

Related content: 
1. How to establish a grape orchard

2. How to Earn millions From Passionfruit.

TERRARIUM: AN IDEA FOR BEAUTIFYING YOUR HOME

The purpose of filling vases with flowers is to bring the beauty of nature to our living rooms, offices bedrooms or play areas.

Other people put hanging baskets in their patios or corridors among other places thus creating a hospitable environment for themselves and their visitors.

Acquiring suitable plants for example cut flowers for our homes is expensive as they have to be imported or transported from far away if they are locally produced.

Despite the huge expense incurred, the beauty especially of cut flowers lasts for a maximum of two weeks, thereafter the blooms wilt.

God in his wisdom created different plants suited for different niches and whose foliage is of different colors.

It is possible to find aesthetic beauty in plants, each unique in its own way without incurring a recurring expense for cut flowers.

There are numerous ways of filling our homes with plants and for this instance I will discuss about terrariums.

Thank you and I hope you will enjoy. As you read this article, be free to contribute your opinions

Terrarium/ bottle gardens

A terrarium is a transparent glass or container retaining high humidity used in displaying growing plants in the indoors.

When properly planted with a suitable plant species, these miniature gardens may remain healthy and beautiful for several years.

Terrarium means growing plants in bottles. It is also known as indoor plants growth unit.

Terrarium is derived from two Greek words; ‘Terra’, which means the earth, while arium means, of the home.

Principles of growing plants in a terrarium

1. When plants are given proper light, moisture, humidity and temperature, they can be maintained in a sealed container for many years without additional water or air from the outside environment.

2. Terrarium is just like a mini jungle floor where plants receive fitted light and air and the soils are saturated with moisture.

Moisture in the jungle evaporates and then produces clouds which then produce rain.

Similarly in a Terrarium, the moisture evaporates then condenses on the glass and runs back to the soil. This cycle is repeated indefinitely.

3. A Terrarium can be likened to a sealed glasshouse where light enters and provides heat energy to the plants.

4. Carbon dioxide produced during respiration by plants is used for photosynthesis.

5. In a Terrarium, carbon dioxide and oxygen are constantly recycled within its confines.

Containers for terrariums

For a container to be suitable for use in a Terrarium, it must possess the following qualities;

1. It should admit light through it (transparent glass or plastic)

2. It should hold a suitable amount of soil to sustain plant growth.

3. It should be large enough to allow some growth of the plants.

4. It should be able to provide adequate air volume when planted.

5. It should be covered easily to hold moisture within it.

A true Terrarium is a sealed container, which is only opened for maintenance purposes.

However, open Terrarium have been developed and are placed in lighted areas, on the other hand, sealed Terrariums do not tolerate sunlight; they are placed in areas with diffused light.

Characteristics of plants suitable for a terrarium

They should be able to tolerate high humidity, moist soil, constant temperature, low light intensity and are shade tolerant.

They should be slow growing plants

A variety of sizes, colors of foliage will be desirable to make a terrarium unique.

A typical planting will consist of some plants that will be tall, low growing and some that will provide ground cover.

The best plants to choose from are those which like moisture and warmth and grow fairly slowly. Flowering plants are vulnerable to mould in the humid atmosphere thus encourage disease.

Placement of the Terrarium

Avoid placing next to windows; terrariums do not tolerate too much light.

Maintenance of Terrarium

Once they are established, they will go for months without watering. One may need to water only if the container feels light in weight or if the compost starts to turn grayish in color.

If, there are soil particles or mud splashes on the inside of the jar, clean them with a piece of sponge or dump cloth attached to the wire.

Condensation can be a problem when the bottle is first closed but this clears within a day or two; if the mistiness persists, remove the lead for a few hours to let the compost to dry.

Once a week, look at your bottle garden to check if it needs any attention which may be;

Trim the plants with a razor blade if they are growing vigorously.

Prune carefully any dead leaves, remove decaying matter or discolored leaves.

Spray a little insecticide into the terrarium if any diseases or pests have gained entry.

Fertilize the soil with liquid fertilizers or preferably slow release fertilizers.

List of plants suitable for terrariums

1. Aglaenema commutatum

2. Adiantum sp

3. Fittonia sp

4. Calathea sp

5. Peperomia sp

6. Begonia sp

7. Saxifraga sp

8. Zebrina pendula

9. Pilea cadieri sp

10. Dracaena sp

11. Marantha sp

AGAPANTHUS

All of us get excited when we visit a well maintained flower garden. Some people have made creation and maintenance of gardens a favorable past time activity.

This is a tough job considering the hundreds of thousands that a gardener is to choose from. He has to consider the characteristics of every plant to be grown in the garden.

Some of the characteristics to consider are; the form of the plant: is it upright, trailing, what the maximum height it can attain?

Secondly he has to consider if the plant is a flowering plant. If so, what is the color of the flowers?

Thirdly he has to establish whether the plant is an evergreen or deciduous.

Finally he has to consider the impact of these plants to the environment. For example are the plants invasive in nature, what is the effect of the plants to buildings, the soil and to animals

In this article I will discuss about Agapanthus. There are thousands of flowering plants that can be used to give color to a flower garden- agapanthus is one of them.

For those growers who may wish to put a touch of blue in their gardens, consider planting Agapanthus at your home.

This plant produces elegant blue or white umbellate flowers on tall flower stalks, thus providing a burst blue color throughout the year.

For those in temperate regions, you can still enjoy the blue color during warm summer days.

I recommend this flowering plant as it is fast growing, disease resistant, easy to maintaining and propagating and is drought tolerant.

The plant is also tolerant to sandy soil and clay soils. The most popular and widely grown are the evergreen Agapanthus praecox species and its numerous cultivars.

During flowering, capsules are produced and when mature, they explode and release black flat seeds that are wind dispersed.

This plant can be propagated from seed or division of the rhizomes. New plants generated from seeds take longer to flower compared to those raised from the rhizomes.

The height of agapanthus ranges from 10 cm tall miniatures to 2 meters tall giants and their colors vary from shades of blue to pure white.

RECOMMENDED SPECIES

1. Cape Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus subs africanas) has spreading, deep blue open flowers on rounded umbels reaching 30 cm across. This species is endemic to the Fynbos region of the Western Cape.

This is the most widespread variety in Kenya.

2. Fynbos Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus subs. walshii) has longer drooping flowers and shorter leaves. It occurs naturally in the Granbouw district in south Africa.

3. Eastern cape Agapanthus (Agapanthus praecox) most popular and widespread species ranging from the western cape to Kwazulu natal with many local forms and cultivars.

Its leaves reach 60 cm and its umbels are borne on flower stalks 80-100 cm tall the blue (or rarely white) flowers and more than 5 cm long. Agapanthus praecox subspecies orientalis is the most popular-Mt Thomas has deep blue flowers.

4. Knysa Agapanthus– Agapanthus praecox subs minimus syn. Agapanthus comptonii) is smaller and lacking in growth of the former. Its inflorescence may grow up to 60 cm tall and the pale flowers reach 4.5 cm long.

It is confined to the eastern margin of the Western Cape and southern coastal region of the Eastern Cape. Recommended cultivars are Alelaide and Storms River.

5. Highveld Agapanthus (Agapanthus campunulatus) has 50 cm tall, slightly grey green leaves. The umbels reach 20 cm in diameter on stalks 70 cm tall with pale to blue spreading flowers.

It naturally occurs in grassland in the Drankensberg (Kwa zulu natal) and eastern free state to near Johannesburg (Gauteng) in the north. Recommended cultivars have white stripped leaves.

6. Drankensberg Agapanthus (Agapanthus caulescens syn Agapanthus nutans has 60 cm tall, glossy bright-green leaves in clusters. The umbels reach 20 cm in diameter, on stalks 60-130 cm tall with deep blue to violet (rarely white) spreading flowers.

It occurs among grassland along the northern Drankensberg of Mpumalanga and Northern Province.

7. Graskop Agapanthus (Agapanthus inapertus subsp pendulus) differs by its smaller heads of drooping flowers. This beautiful and popular plant occurs in the Sabie/Graskop district of Mpumalanga.

Other subspecies include Agapanthus inapertus subsp hollandii and Agapanthus inapertus subsp intermedius.

SUNFLOWERS AS CUT FLOWERS

Sunflowers are meant for oil production; however because of their large showy flowers, some florists have used them in floral arrangements with a great level of success.

Landscapists have used them in gardens by accurately planning their display in the landscape; tall varieties are planted at the back of a bed for a striking effect, those of medium height in the middle while short growing sunflower hybrids, at the front.

Different varieties of sunflowers often grow to different heights. This makes the planning of a floral display quite difficult, however plant breeders have been able to develop varieties that are; either tall, medium or dwarf.

Most Sunflowers varieties are single stemmed; but some are multi-stemmed, meaning that, they produce many flowers off the main stem. Combining these two varieties ensures an interesting balance is struck.

Balance is an attribute in floral or landscape design indicating a feeling of rest, security or stability. For example, a floral arrangement should not fall over or appear as if it will fall over; the same applies in a landscape where different plants are placed differently to achieve visual balance.

Not all sunflowers are of the same color; some are yellow, others are yellow containing a mixture an exciting terracotta lemon color, , others have an interesting yellow, with a red tinge on the inside of the petal.

Sunflowers are simple to grow, never plant the seeds deeper than twice their width, firm the soil down after planting. Some plants will flower within 50 days while others take longer; about 120 days.

STATUS OF WEED CONTROL AND HERBICIDE USE BY SMALL COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE GROWERS IN KENYA

Reports from the government and other development partners on the status of agricultural production indicate that small scale farmers are major actors in agricultural productivity.

It has been established that over seventy percent of the country’s agricultural production occurs in small farms; from tea, coffee, vegetables and fruits among others.

At the moment, farmer’s fortunes are being changed by the increased demand for vegetables for the local and export market caused by a ballooning population in urban areas and shortages due to extreme environmental changes.

Unfortunately small vegetable farmers lack technical information on the use of herbicides and other technological innovations that are available to large scale farmers.

Many small farmers rely on manual methods of weeding like; the use of hoes or ox-driven ploughs, therefore they can’t effectively control weeds when they increase the area dedicated to vegetables.

This backbreaking custom of using Iron Age implements, limits the productivity of small vegetable farmers. Farmers are unable to control weeds during the critical first 3-4 weeks [when there is rapid weed growth] during the rainy season.

As vegetable production areas have continued to increase, labor supply has decreased due to urban migration of the educated youth. The youth move to urban centers for better paying jobs or to do small trading rather than work in the fields where the pay is meager.

This has led to inadequate supply of labor for weed control and increased labor costs during the peak labor requirement period when some farmers are still sowing and weeding their first crop.

Small commercial vegetable farmers have realized, vegetables are a high value crops; they are considering other methods of weed control rather than limit the area planted to vegetables.

Some are now using herbicides to control weeds in vegetables with varying levels of success. A study was conducted in three divisions in central province; known for vegetable production.

The survey was conducted in; Kabete, Lari and Kinangop divisions because intensive commercial vegetable growing is practiced. All farmers in the areas owned 1.5 to 2.5 hectares.

During the study, the following herbicides were used by farmers

1. Afalon –used to control weeds in coriander, onions, carrots

2. Sencor-used to control weeds in tomato

3. Stomp-used to control weeds in cabbages

4. Gramoxone-used in fallow land

Farmers said that herbicides helped them expand the area planted to under vegetables. Farmers said they often weeded 3-4 times before each crop matured and was ready for harvest thus they would not be able to afford labor for hand weeding.

When asked how they came to know how the herbicides are used, most of them said they were taught by other farmers. Some of them said they were taught on herbicide usage by the vendors of the product.

This finding indicates that there is a need for extension officers to educate farmers in the areas. Unfortunately this may not be realized because the government rarely employs extension officers.

There is a need for farmers to organize themselves in community based organizations to take advantage of the few extension officers available. The NGOs involved in rural role need also to take a proactive role in assisting farmers.

Physiology, fruit initiation, environmental conditions and yield of strawberry.

It has been noted; the physiology of strawberry plant,the environmental conditions where strawberry is grown, how strawberry is established in the field, the use of plastic mulch on strawberry, thinning of strawberry runners determine the yield per acre of strawberry plants.

My focus is to give a brief explanation on how the aforesaid conditions interact to determine the yield of strawberry and the practices a farmer can follow to maximize the yields of strawberry plants.

Physiology of strawberry plant

Strawberry is a compressed woody herbaceous perennial plant that produces stolons from auxiliary buds on the second node.

This means that the plant can survive for more than one season and the plant is propagated vegetatively.

Branches may form at auxiliary buds; at times, the bud produces an inflorescence or remains dormant depending on environmental conditions.

It has been observed that the roots produced by the plant don’t go deep in the soil; 50-90% of them are found in the top 15 cm of the soil.

New roots grow above old roots, this makes it necessary to cover the plant roots with more soil after harvesting otherwise they will  dry and the consequence will be poor subsequent harvests.

The fruit  produced heart shaped and appears to be tri-lobbed symbolizing trinity. The shape of fruits varies; some are oblate or globular, but the common fruits are heart shaped.

conditions favoring FRUIT INITIATION OF STRAWBERRY

Short days and temperatures of 20-24⁰ C are some of the conditions that induce flower initiation.

If weather is warm throughout the year, blooming is continuous. Too cold or too hot temperatures inhibit flowering.

It has been discovered that growing conditions experienced by the plant during flower initiation and pollination determine the size and quality of the berries.

Any thinning or frost damage after flower initiation does not change ultimate size of berries. This is because the cells in the fruit have divided and their number fixed.

Fruit development starts when  fruit-lets develop on the surface of the receptacle after the terminal buds produce an inflorescence.

Achenes are present in the receptacle; their purpose is to produce auxins [a hormone]  responsible for fruit expansion; some auxins e.g. 2-4-D over-stimulate fruit expansion.

First flowers to be produced by the plant give larger fruits; such flowers are known as king flowers.

 

STRAWBERRY ESTABLISHMENT

Each plant produces 15 stolons that survive up to 3 weeks before they die. Stolon production is very important for crop multiplication.

Once the stolons are produced, they are cut off and used to produce new plants.

Spacing between plants and rows varies but one that is used is 60 cm between rows and 40 cm between plants.

The beds are raised above the ground to reduce the splashing of rain or irrigation water on the plants that encourages foliar diseases.

 

PLANTING of strawberries

The land should be prepared thoroughly to a fine tilth.

Mix compost or well decomposed farmyard manure with the top soil in the planting bed.

Mix 200 kg of Double Super Phosphate (DSP) fertilizer per hectare if the beds have the dimensions of 1 Meter by 40 Meters.

The beds should be raised so as to improve soil drainage and control root rot diseases.

Plants should be soaked in water for at least 10 minutes before planting and should be planted as soon as possible.

The roots should be spaced out so that they establish easily in the soil and ensure the soil is at the crown level to avoid rotting.

If you plant the crop shallowly; roots will be exposed and dry easily. The plants should be firmed well daily, until they are well established.

 

USING PLASTIC MULCH ON STRAWBERRY

Runners can also be planted through plastic mulch however, this increases production cost. Make holes on mulch and let the runners touch the mulch.

If watering is done under mulch, black mulch warms the soil resulting in early flowering and suppression of weeds.

Clear plastic mulch allows light to reach the beds, thus weeds continue growing but it has the advantage of preventing frost. If you are using plant covers, they should be removed when flowering starts.

Straw mulch protects the plants against cold injury. They should be placed on top of the plant late in the season as the plants go dormant. Straw mulch is removed early in the next growing season. Strawberry can be grown hydroponically.

 

THINNING OF RUNNERS IN STRAWBERRY

After planting, runners should be trimmed off so that they channel energy into vegetative growth first. The flowers should be removed for the first 4-6 months to allow adequate runners to develop first.

Once flowering starts, you need one to two rooted plants for the next planting.

Strawberries produce few runners so spacing is close. The beds should be replanted every 2-3 years using disease free runners. The lifespan of strawberries is 3 years.

Weeding should be done by cultivating shallowly in between the rows. Other types of mulch e.g. straw that will smoother the weeds, other alternatives are using of herbicides.

 

HARVESTING AND YIELDS

Harvesting is done regularly three to four weeks after flowering; start targeting green to light brown/red fruits. Handle the fruits carefully to avoid bruising them.

You can harvest 12-15 tones of strawberry per hectare if the crop is managed well. After harvesting, old leaves are cut off after duration of 3 months.

Cutting off old leaves helps in controlling diseases and results in new clean growth. Irrigate and apply a nitrogenous fertilizer at a rate of 200 kg of DSP after harvesting.

HANGING BASKETS

Hanging baskets or flower pots are movable gardens floating in the air above the eye level, showing off the best plants by spilling the trailing branches in all directions.

The most effective display technique of hanging baskets is that of drooping, trailing and spreading plants and using the upright plants to show off the plants at their best.

Hanging baskets should appear pleasing to the eye from a short distance, from all angles.

You can add a new dimension in indoors or outdoors living decorations by arranging flowerpots containing beautiful plants at the ground level to enhance the visual appeal of the hanging baskets.

Plants supported from the ceilings, patio, trees or shrubs create a means of adding interest in undecorated areas. The hanging baskets should be viewed from all sides above at the level.

Hanging baskets on patios add a cheerful note to outdoor entertaining, while a burst of color at the front door provides a warm welcome.

The secret to great looking containers is to keep them well stocked, overflowing and abundant with flowers.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS SUITABLE FOR HANGING BASKETS

They should be trailing, creeping and have excess branching.

For example:

A. Maiden hair fern- epipremnum aureum

B. Money plant- Adianthum sp

C. Nerve plant- Fittonia sp.

D. English ivy- Hedera helix

E. Vine philodendrons- Philodendron sp

F. Pilea muscosa

G. Wax plant hoya cannosa

H. Mother of thousands-saxifrasa sp.

I. Sedum morgarianum

J. Swedish ivy-Plectanthus australis

PLANTING

It is advisable to use a thin layer of moss plants on the inside the flower pots. This layer of moss plants and plastic sheeting should be pierced so as to allow water to percolate to the soil.

Small tray or saucers should be kept at base of baskets as this prevents water from dripping from the pot to the surrounding walls or ground thus mud streak marks don’t appear on the walls.

There is no special purpose soil or compost for use in hanging baskets; any potted soil mixture is suitable with the exception of heavy clays.

METHOD OF PLANTING

Select plants to be grown in the baskets bearing in mind, the location of the basket; whether, in the shade or in the sun

Always use strong and healthy plants, free of pests and diseases. Aphids can spread very fast in the baskets.

Besides trailing ivies and perennial vines, some annuals and flowering plants can be grown effectively in baskets for example;

A. Verberna hybridus

B. Petunia hybridus

C. Phylox drammendi

D. Allysum maritinum

Plant large plants at the centre of the hanging baskets and place the smaller ones and trailing ones around the basket.

After putting the plants in position; firm the soil around the plants, adding more soil if necessary.

Level the surface to slope slightly inwards towards the centre of the pot to prevent water from overflowing.

After potting, soak the basket in a large bowl of water for about half an hour after which the basket is ready for hanging out.

LOCATING A HANGING BASKET

The location of a hanging basket is determined by the plants tolerance to shade or full sunlight.

For example, flowering plants and non shade tolerant plants will need to be placed near bright window in outdoor living areas e.g. verandas and patio.

Foliage plants which are shade tolerant may be placed in cooler areas of the house e.g. staircase or near the corners of house to soften the architectural lines.

Locate hanging baskets in areas where, they will not restrict traffic movement in the house or where the pots may be viewed to the greatest advantage i.e. at eye level and should be grouped according to light and temperature in a room.

Many house plants grow rapidly in a trailing manner. This means they don’t grow inwards or fill the centre of the pot.

It is therefore important, to have a mixture of climbing plants and upright flowering plants in the same hanging basket; upright plants placed at the centre create interest to the hanging baskets.

Soil media should be light in weight so that can be supported by hanging basket.

MAINTENANCE

Hanging baskets need frequent watering and even daily airing. They should be never put in a drought free area, they need lots of air!

Do not put hanging baskets in dark corners of a room; the plants will sulk, become dark and grow slowly.

To keep the plants in a good shape always, cut the dead ends and remove dead leaves. If they grow too long, trim and pinch the growing tips.

Fertilize the soil once in three weeks with bio liquid fertilizer to enable the plants grow better and healthy. Check regularly for any disease or pest attack; if any symptoms are observed, spray in timely manner.

Rotate the position of the basket every month to enable a uniform growth on all sides of the basket.

RECIPE FOR RED HOT HUES

These plants require morning sun to full sun

1. New Guinea fanfare, impatiens orange

2. Asparagus fern

3. Petunia million bells terracotta

4. Snapdragon Luninae

5. Yellow verberna

RECIPE FOR PASTEL SHADES

These plants require Semi-shade conditions or the morning sun

1. Plectranthus ‘muna lavender’

2. Alternathera ‘purple knight’

3. Verbarna ‘aztec white’

4. Pink nemesia

RECIPE FOR A TOUCH OF CLASS

These plants grow best in full shade

1. Impatiens fiesta ‘ole peppermint’

2. Impatiens super elfin ‘lipstick’

MORE PLANT IDEAS

Most plants prefer the morning sun and afternoon shade, but some will tolerate hot sunny conditions.

A fair number will grow in partial or filtered shade while only a few [select] will thrive in shady conditions.

Once you choose location for containers make sure you choose the right plant.

Plants that thrive in full sun: alussum, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, marigold, narsturtium, petunia, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, zinnia, rudbeckia, verberna, arctotis, coreopsis, Felicia, Gaura, Gazania, lavender, Pelargonium.

Those that thrive in the morning sun: abutilon, aquilegia, fuschcia, lobelia, nicotiana, schizanthus, torenia.

Those that thrive in Shade conditions: Begonia, Coleus, Impatiens.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Line hanging baskets with coir mats to conserve moisture.

2. Fill or top-up your pots with good quality potting soil. In hanging baskets, use indoor planting soil as it retains moisture well.

3. Add water retaining gel to the soil.

4. Take into account whether the container will be in sunny or shady positions and choose your plants accordingly.

5. Hanging baskets perform better when placed in partially shaded to shady positions.

6. For best effects limit the number of colours used to a maximum of three.

7. Choose shades that harmonise or contrast with each other.

8. Choose plants that suit the container. A low container will focus on the plants, while a decorative pot can be as much part of the display as the plants it holds.

9. While a decorative pot can be as much as much part of the display as the plants it holds. Trailing plants suit a large container and hanging baskets.

10. Plant taller plants in the centre of the container and lower growing ones around the edges.

11. Remove flowers that have finished blooming regularly in order to prolong the flowering season.

12. If you buy an already made up basket, it is best keep it in semi-shade because full sun will be too harsh.

13. Groom your baskets and containers regularly if the baskets starts to look a little ragged don’t be afraid to cut the plants or replace them.