Recommendations for the best plants for pots

[GrouchyKiwi]

We've got a large patio area where I want to grow lots of things in pots, but I don't know what will be successful. I'd like it to be a mix of food and pretty things. I have a separate patch for herbs.

We're in central-belt Scotland, and the patio gets a decent amount of sun all year round.

Thanks!

Tomatos

There'll definitely be tomatoes. :) I just need to remember which ones are bush instead of cordon. I do better with bush tomatoes.

As it's coming up to autumn time, I would start with 'bulb lasagne ' . Around September/October, in pots plant tulips, daffodils and crocus, then plant some plants on top for winter colour eg pansies, violas, cyclamen.

In my pots I have climbing lazy susans ( couple in different colours) and I use a metal obelisk for them to climb, a ruby buddleia, strawberries, a fuschia, geraniums with coleus, mint.

Sorry black eyed susan not lazy!

I planted nemesia for the first time this year and I've been really impressed. Lots of flowers, the slugs don't seem to be interested and a lovely scent. I also planted a tall narrow pot with just heuchera. I've got a mound of glossy dark leave with sprays of the paler flowers growing over them. I think paler heuchera prefer shade though. Finally, regal pelargonium, which I love, from a local market. I've been dead heading them to keep them flowering and the bees love them.

Bay is good in a pot - makes a nice good sized stately evergreen plant and provides bay leaves of course, and you can trim it to size/shape. If you put them in the ground they get massive. I have a green corner on my patio with pots with hostas, a tetraplanax, mint, various houseplants on their summer holidays. Elsewhere I have mixed very colourful pots - Sarah Raven is great for inspiration.

Thank you, lots of great ideas for pretty pots.

LadyGardener Somehow I managed to mix up bay and olive yesterday when I was telling DH my plans; even as I was saying it my brain was going "Noooo, that's not the right word".

Purple French beans (perhaps climbing) against lime green lettuce. Or vice versa.

Lablab beans are edible but usually grown as an ornamental.

Asparagus pea are fiddly to pick but have attractive bright red flowers.

A cardoon or globe thistle would be stunning in a big tub, surrounded by other pots.

I'm so loving the idea of climbing lazy Susans.

I love the idea of purple beans with lettuce.

I've ordered a patio rose and some patio raspberries, so that's exciting.

trailing nepeta always looks nice at the edge of a pot. And bacopa.