'Courtyard Garden'

[sparklingchampagne]

Our teeny tiny terrace is blessed with what's called round 'ere a courtyard garden although where I'm from it's not even a backyard!
It is entirely concreted, and so everything needs to be grown from tubs.
Does anyone have any suggestions for good climbing plants/plants that grow well in pots - I'd love to cover the walls in flowers just to get a 'hideaway' feel.
So far we have clematis and honeysuckle which seem to be doing well, as well as fuschias in wall pots.
I'd love one of those 'courtyard gardens' I keep seeing in magazines but the gardens are always so much bigger than my (half) backyard!!
x

[Pannacotta]

French beans and Sweet peas both do well in pots and have nice flowers.

Any chance you could creat a few planting holes in the concrete as this would make it much easier for you to green up the space.

I have bashed through concrete with a pick axe before so I could get a climber in and it worked really well, I planted a white Solanum which is more or less evergreen and flowers from spring to November.

www.gardenseeker.com/best_ten/best_climbing_plants/solanum_jasminoides_album.htm

[Katymac]

My dad used breeze blocks to build raised beds (back in the 70's) they were only a foot or so wide so took up little space & they were filled with climbers

[Pannacotta]

Raised beds is a very good idea, can be made with anything really, planks of wood wood/sleepers/breeze blocks/brick etc...

[sparklingchampagne]

I think we might have to go for raised beds - good idea I spoke to my neighbour about bashing through the concrete but he says it's solid rock underneath so might give that a miss! Love the idea of sweet peas and French beans as well, so will give these a try.
Thank you all
x

[Chatelaine]

If it is possible, grow trailing nasturtians from something fixed higher up onto the wall, a half hanging basket arrangement. So grow down rather than up. It wil save your floor space. They are so easy to grow, low maintenance as long as you get enough light, are cheerful, prolific, last for ages and can look quite exotic with great foliage and flowers. There are lots of varieties, go to a garden centre where they offer the choice of seed (it's not too late)they germinate quickly or try to get plants. The trailing one's would be ideal but a mixture would also be great.

[e3chick]

I was going to say go for the hanging basket plan too.
But also for growing up, I have a thriving, super easy, beautiful and fragrant jasmin that is in a raised bed. I hacked it down a couple of years ago, but now without any tending from me it is massive. It fills the house with its lovely smell too.

You'll need to think about the light levels if you are in a small urban space.

[sparklingchampagne]

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I have been looking at wall containers to grow down, and I love nasturtiums so am looking forward to a trip to the garden centre this weekend.
We are quite lucky with the light - although the backyard is tiny, there's a back lane behind us so we're not overshadowed at all
Have a lovely day all xx