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I want to replace some of the bedding plants I have in my garden's borders with something edible. I've already cleared quite a bit of the western side to make room for vegetables, but now I want to do the eastern side where there is a laurel tree and a pine tree. I don't necessarily want to plant annual crops again, I'm more interested in something more permanent that will be slightly less maintenance and possibly also there in the winter. Some ideas I've had were raspberry canes or artichokes. But I'm very open to other ideas, if anyone has some to share?
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How about Calendula and/or Nasturtium (low/climbing)?
Bright, cheerful and edible!
Here's a link to T&M's list of edible flower seeds which may give you a few more ideas
Seed List Index: A to Z Flowers
Just scroll down to 'edible'!
Forgot to add that many are self-seeding!Last edited by quark1; 18-07-2009, 02:52 PM. -
Something there in the winter is the hard one. Permanent - rhubarb, currant bushes, globe artichokesComment
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a mix of red and green lettuce
alpine strawberriesLast edited by piskieinboots; 18-07-2009, 04:34 PM.aka
SuzieComment
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Currants: red, white and black. Gooseberries. Dwarf apple trees (eg 'stepover' espallier type).
If it is sunny enough a Passionflower will produce edible fruit (the 'Passion' in the name refers to the flower, and comes from a supposed symbolism to Easter).Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.Comment
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Cardoon and seakale?
My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)
Diversify & prosper
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Thanks everyone, I especially like the idea of currant bushes. I'm not sure about the low-lying plants, as there's an incredible amount of bind weed around for some reason, more than at my allotment, which is saying something.
Do you think if I fed the soil well near the pine tree it would be a good spot for some blueberries? I read that pine needles are good for them as they make the soil acidic, so it seems a natural match to me, but I'm not sure if anything would like living to near a pine tree, other than the occasional weed. It's sunny enough I think, just a water and nutrient issue.Comment
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Pine trees are quite hard to plant near - they take a lot of moisture and nutrients out of the soil, and depending on which variety and what size they are can cast a lot of shade. Good luck with the projectComment
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'Thames Valley' should have pretty acid soil anyway surely??Originally posted by Growem View Post
As long as any chalk is a long way down, (if there at all) that is not likely to be an issue. As already stated, the big problem with pine trees (really pine, or just 'conifer'?) is that they are often surface rooting, which means they get first grab at water and nutrients, so NOTHING is going to grow well near them!Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.Comment
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