What to plant in planters please

[verygentlydoesit]

I love plants and flowers but unfortunately have a lot to learn.

I had some pots, planters and a window box with violas in over the winter. They looked lovely but eventually became very 'leggy' and quite sticky, so I've had to throw them away.

I would love some ideas of plants to replace them with. I love flowers, particularly wild looking ones but anything pretty that's fairly easy to look after would be great.

Or, could I replace them with violas again, or are they more winter than summer plants?

strawberries,Marigold ,Nasturtium,chives(Allium schoenoprasum, Allium tuberosum),Pisum sativum,Raphanus sativus,Perilla frutescens,Centaurea cyanus,Impatiens walleriana,

apart from the strawberry, all have edible flowers, it's a pimms planter, they look great. I do them as presents, always popular.

here

For sun or shade?
If shade then begonia would thrive

Sun a some crazy daisy, pinks, million bells, chocolate cosmos or Bergamot all are easy to grow and have the natural wild look.

I would start by replacing the soil as the old plants will have drained all the nutrients from it. Replace with a mix of 3 parts compost to one part peralite and add in a hand full of slow release plant food pellets.

The garden centres are overflowing with plants this weekend, go and have a browse. Be prepared to water regularly even if it's raining. If you like salad I'd do at least one with salady stuff and maybe a little tumbler tomato. While you are there get some sticky copper tape, use this round the edges of your planters to stop slugs and snails climbing up and eating your veg.