Don't relegate your vegetables to a hidden plot in the back yard, instead use them to spice up your ornamental flower beds. Growing edible plants in ornamental beds lets you get the most use out of your landscaping.
Use lettuce to put some color into early spring ornamental beds, and enjoy the fresh greens on your dinner table. Looseleaf lettuce varieties come in colors ranging from pale green to deep purple. Many have ornate frilled foliage that adds texture and depth to your ornamental beds. Lettuce grows so quickly you can easily experiment until you find your favorite edible and ornamental variety.
For impressive and colorful foliage, ornamental cabbage can't be beat. Varieties come in greens, whites and purples with lacy, fringed foliage. The cabbages are just as tasty as they are pretty.
Many herb plants make an attractive addition to ornamental gardens. The small, daisy-like flowers of chamomile, the yellow clusters on fennel and the small lavender flowers on anise-hyssop all work well in flower beds.
Chard provides attractive foliage to your garden beds that also works well as a cooked or fresh green. The deep green to reddish tinted leaves sit atop stalks that come in colors including white, yellow and vibrant red.
Many flowers are edible and they add whimsical touch to salads. Nasturtiums provide a peppery flavor to foods. Calendula, carnations and pansies are just a few of the edible choices that bring colorful blooms to your garden.
Plant edible plants in ornamental beds on their own or pair them up with strictly ornamental flowers and foliage plants. Most edibles are best suited to annual beds, but some herbs and flowers are perennial.
Thank you for this fine list.h5
If you can't eat it, don't plant it, this is a quote from my husband. Great list.
select one here...