Vertical planters 'will kill off hanging baskets' claim inventors

Two high fliers from the world of aviation are confident their funky new vertical planters will take off – and could even kill off the much-loved hanging basket.

Nick Porter, an airline captain and David Ash, an aircraft technician, came up with the idea of wall-mounted planters “over a pint of Stella” while chatting about “dreary soil-filled hanging baskets” at their local pub in December 2008.

Now, the duo have engaged full throttle, launched their business and named their gizmo the Polanter. It’s being sold over the internet and is being introduced at garden centres, too.

Floral colour

Nick said: “We knew we were on to something, the moment we realised the hanging basket needed reinventing. We were looking out at houses in a winter street and it was a typically grey British day. We remembered how the same street was a contrasting picture of floral colour for so many of the summer months.

“We commented that the hanging basket had been around for years without changing. It’s a classic solution, but the time was right to devise an updated, better solution,” Nick added.

Polanters, which feature an integrated watering system, can be mounted on walls or posts. They’re designed for year-round use and will grow summer and winter bedding, herbs, selected vegetables, salad plants and alpines. The systems can be used on balconies or patios, too.

Kits range from 0.5m (21in) to 1.85m (6ft) and come in eight colours including blue, lime-green, lavender, black, white, terracotta and dark-green. Prices range from £21.99 to £45.99.

Visit 8 polanter.co.uk to find out more.