Any ideas for decorative, but edible, plants?

Ice · « **on:** December 30, 2006, 11:33 »

I have a largeish front garden, south facing and sheltered. Thought it might be interesting to decorate it with plants you can eat. I like the idea of chilli plants in containers that I saw in the BBC chilli thingy post. Nasturtiums, maybe train a vine around the door, that kind of thing. Not much money to spare so why waste it on things you can't eat

Any good ideas out there?
IHM

muntjac · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2006, 12:04 »

i have perennial sweet peas on mine mixed in with annual sweetpeas i plant as well with nasturtiums and camponea and other climbers .cost about £5 /i just dump a few shovefuls of manure on the beds

Ice · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2006, 13:09 »

Which part of the sweet pea can you eat? I love them as plants because they look and smell so nice.

muntjac · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2006, 13:48 »

swet peas are legumes but i mis read ur post ,do not eat them,,,,,,,, nasturshums flowers are fine . you can grow runner beans as well as i do on obelisks along with other climbing beans etc

Plot No 2 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2006, 14:58 »

Artichoke is a beautifull plant and the globe can be eaten. If you don't eat it all it will flower. Low maintenance

Ice · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2006, 15:01 »

WOW. Thanks for that, just what I was after. Keep them coming folks

Annie · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2006, 17:14 »

Courgettes can look good in a pot and just one plant will give you plenty,if you want decorative try yellow or round ones,also tumbling toms in a hanging basket and all sorts of herbs that are edible and not spoilt if allowed to flower,you can grow some squash upwards too and don`t forget salad leaves,rocket......must be someone ealses turn!

shaun · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2006, 19:20 »

red cabbage,red lettuce some of those coloured caulis,

Ice · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2006, 19:43 »

Thanks Annie and Shaun. Love the idea of tomatoes in hanging baskets and ornamental cabbages and caulis. This plan is coming together

Denise

muntjac · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2006, 20:21 »

i once saw in the cotswolds a front garden on a cottage that had all plants in it that you could eat it was deliberatly done and was fantastic it had loads of beans and such .cabages as bedding plants lolo

milkman · « **Reply #10 on:** December 31, 2006, 10:18 »

Swiss chard rainbow looks very decorative with its red and yellow and pink and white stalks, and is useful in the kitchen.

Also how about climbing french bean Barlotta Lingua di Fuoco (organic gardening catalogue) - this has lovely bright pinky mottled bean pods which if left on the plant to mature produce drying beans which can be used in winter stews.

Also how about mange tout pea Ezetha's Krombek Blauwschok (organic gardening catalogue) - this grows quite tall with lovely pinky violet flowers and purple pea pods.

shaun · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2006, 10:21 »

and rhubarb

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2006, 14:15 »

How's this for a veg patch?

All ornimental vegetables (except the roses) mainly lettuce .

Jardins de Villandry France

shaun · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2006, 14:21 »

have you been spying on my plot aunty

very impressive though.

Puff · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2006, 15:55 »

That looks like a mecca for rabbits if ever there was one !

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