Hanging basket tips

[MrsBertBibby]

I am putting one together to have tomatoes in. I've got a coconut liner, but should I put a pierced plastic layer inside that before compost?

A plastic liner would help water retention. We grew a Tumbling Tom in a basket last year, it did well.
In hanging baskets, I’ve sometimes put a shallow plastic tray ( the sort you get tomatoes in) at the bottom as a little water reserve.

Don't punch tons of hole in the plastic or you'll be having to water more than you think, tomatoes need a great deal of food and water, good luck

I stopped doing hanging baskets years ago because they require too much care.

I rake moss from the garden, soak it and squash that down to use as a liner. I find plasticky ones a bit hit and miss. First year I've done it this year and they're doing really well so far.

I don’t put plastic liners in as well, but I do use a few gel granules in the compost. I’ve found toms do best in as large a container as possible to keep moisture and temp more stable

I've heard that old woollen jumpers - should you have any to hand - make good basket liners .