IN THE GARDEN

Leave room for edible plants

5/21/2014

The soil temperature is perfect for roots to flourish, so start digging.

You probably have a long list of annuals you want to pop in the ground to brighten up your garden with color throughout the summer, perennials to carry the load until late fall, and, hopefully, a few flowering shrubs, such as roses or hydrangea.

We love our flowers, but don’t forget about the fruit. A few well-placed vegetable plants in your landscape border can be a welcomed surprise for you tummy too.

You might already have a few edible blossoms in your garden.

Marigolds, dandelions, daylily blossoms, bee balm, nasturtium, pansies, and squash blossoms are flowers that can be clipped, fried, or even firmented. Just dig out that secret family recipe.

Its thyme

Plant a small outside cottage garden that you can enjoy inside too.

Try a combinaton of lemon thyme, foxley thyme, and English thyme surrounding a center spike of fennel. If you don’t like fennel, then plant a leek in the center of your planter. An alternative to thyme, you can plant basil or strawberries that will trail off the edges of the container, or fill in as a ground cover if you plant it within your garden border.

Herbal bliss

Hanging baskets are beautiful and help draw more color at eye level around your garden or deck.

How about seeding it with something you will use often? Try planting heirloom lettuces with trailing New Zealand Spinach. It will be pretty in the pot and healthy on your table.

We love to use mint in recipes and drinks, but it can take over the entire garden quickly.

Contain it in a pot to stop it from going wild. You can keep the pot of mint on your deck or sink the pot in the garden border. Combine the mint with dainty violas, pansies, and chive and you can clip all of it and add it to your salad bowl.

Pizza garden

Pizza anyone? You can place an edible garden on your deck or nestle it within your border.

A pizza garden is an easy one and fun to do with your kids. Start with one tomato plant in the center of a large garden pot. Pick your favorite, from beefeaters, to grape tomatoes.

Just be sure to put a strong cage or trellis around them to keep them growing vertically. Around the edges, plant basil, oregano, one pepper plant and a small patch of onions.

Give your potted plants some room because they will take up a lot of space as they grow. Depending on the size of your container, you might only plant two or three plants in each one to give them enough space to mature.

What are your favorites?

What are your favorite top 10 vegetables to grow in the garden?

I am sure tomatoes, potatoes, corn, and beans will be in there. You might help another gardener add a few new goodies in their veggie patch. Email me at getgrowing@gmail.com or post it on my Facebook Page at Kelly Heidbreder 13ABC.

Contact Kelly Heidbreder at getgrowing@gmail.com