Hot afternoon sun. Pick something tough that can take the heat. Succulents make good easy plants for baskets.

Have you thought about a cherry tomato?
This site has lots of tomatoes
http://www.tomatoseeds.net/tomato-seeds/red-tomato-seeds/red-tomatoes.html check out the Dwarf Grape Tomato .... it is determinant, so will stay small.
Ditto for the Tiny Tim.

For flower baskets ... Lobelia seem to combine well with anything ... look lovely draping over the edge

I love ivy cascading down a wall like yours. There are some very pretty variegated and needle leaved varieties that would look lush. You can plant pansies in between the ivies for color, and later in the season, you could plant trailing petunias.

You may also want to try ivy geraniums. They flower for most of the year, and drape down beautifully.

You can also try nasturtiums from seed- be sure to buy the trailing varieties. Nasturtiums will not last through the summer, though.

Have fun with your new planters, and let us know what you decide to plant.

Renee

@ borderbarb: yes even i was thinking about Lobelia but is it too late to grow them from seeds? i live in Sacramento..i have heard Lobelia take a long time to grow from seeds to time they r ready for transplant...like 2 months? Cherry tomato will look lovely.
@ hosenemesis: Definitely plan on ivy & petunia... could you tell me the variety of petunia ..i have heard Laura Bush Petunia grows really fast. What about Million Bells?

This is what i am thinking:
1st basket: Lobelia + ivy ( i saw a picture -check this link for picture: http://www.wintergreenhouse.com/images/photo-gallery/combination-plantings/ivy-geraniums-big.jpg

2nd Basket: Petunia/million bells with few colors like pansy, calendula etc....or should i leave this basket with just petunia/or just million bell

3rd basket: this is my veggi basket which will not show from the front of building ...this will hang on the side & will get more sun: cherry tomatoes, cilantro, basil + few other herbs

how does it sound.... do suggest if u have something better in mind! Also could u recommend some good place (online) to buy seeds..thanks!

For Sacramento, with it's 100 degree days, those baskets are too small, and the fibrous lining will not keep in the moisture. You will have to water them daily, sometimes twice a day. I'd try portulacas in the summer. They are quite pretty and can take a tremendous amount of abuse. They will even cascade over the edges. Lobelia will fry. For winter, pansies, and/or alyssum would work. You can get these in six packs at home depot or lowes very cheaply, I wouldn't bother starting from seed, for the few plants you need.

Earth Patio -- I agree about lobelia not taking the sun ... but heart-lifting as long as it lasts ... and you may find a not-so-intensely-sunny spot for them. Buy plants. I've never tried seeds, have also heard they are diff. It's for sure that you'll have some successes and some failures as you find what works and what pleases you. But that's a part of the fun!

I'm looking at my Sunset garden book .. "Heat resistant plants for south and west exposures"

Bougainvillea: a relative has one on her patio and it knocks your socks off. Comes in dwarf version for pots. If you get much wind, the bracts tend to fly off.

Statice - have never seen in a pot ... but they take heat and sun and flowers last for a long time [common name "Everlasting"] If these work in a pot, would be stunning from a distance. They are drought-tolerant in the ground .... not sure about in a container.

Re: soil for your planters -- have you checked-out the container forum? http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/contain/

This thread has AL'S MIX http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0715434425632.html?117 Which I'm taking to heart for some planters I'm planning, after some not-so-great results from using my own "mad scientist" mix.

Anyway ... best of luck ... please keep us posted on results -- even the failures, so we can learn.

You can grow most anything as long as you keep the baskets from drying out. I found that my pots need watering 2x per day. I use an automatic system to water at 11 AM and 3 PM. Each pot has a 1/8" pipe going to a mini spray head. Regular drippers don't do a good job of wetting the surface soil and you can get a situation where most of the potting soil stays dry.
Plants I like in baskets include wave petunia, mission bells, ipomoea, coleus...

Chad in Los Gatos, CA Zone 9

Thanks for replies.
@davissue: yes i had portulaca last season but i started late around July so could not get much flowers. What is the right time to start portulaca? i have saved a few seeds from my last plant but dnt know if they will work.

@ borderbarb : oh i would love Bougainvilla....thanks i will check the container forum. I will keep u posted - even if my plans fail :-(

Million bells, Petunias sound like good choices and are very showy, although they don't look good in winter (if they survive). Pansies are really only good for winter and do not like hot afternoon sun.
Portulaca seems like a good choice for summer heat.
Flower carpet roses would provide a good show and trail as well, but you would have to buy plants, not seeds, but they are more permanent.

@ wanda : thanks! i loved carpet rose idea but will it be o.k in the basket size i have? i searched carpet rose on net after your post and loved it :-)

I doubt carpet roses would last long in a 7-inch depth container. Same for bougainvillea. They would be ok for 1 season.

Calendulas, petunias, & alyssum are good container performers and ivy geraniums are great!!! even tho common. They will accept shallow soil depth and bloom off and on all year. Seasonal annuals can be planted in between.

I use polymer crystals in my shallow containers to help reduce watering. They have helped. The other idea is to line the baskets with plastic that has holes poked in the bottom. As the plants' root systems enlarge the containers dry out faster and faster.

iris_gal : thanks- i have planted seeds of calendula, petunia wave , petunia drawf bedding already Yay!! The only one u suggested which i was not planning to plant was alyssum but i saw Lowes selling set of 4 for $1.99 so i guess i will get it. I am dying to get seeds/plants of ivy geraniums RED but i couln't find them either at Lowes, OSH nor Home Depot :-( Target had but WHITE one!!
Yes, i am using plastic for baskets - have made holes ta bottom (using garbage bag :-) ) Do u use polymer crystals at bottom of container or fill it entirely - sorry! i am a new gardner and know very little about soil, fertilizer etc...so asking this basic question!
thanks!!