Garden Mastery Tips
|
May 2003 |
Vegetables as Landscape Plants
Why are vegetable gardens relegated to the far corner of the back yard? Who decided that plants that produce food do not also have ornamental value? It is time to debunk this myth! The large purple orb of a cabbage plant or the red stalks of rhubarb are just as attractive as a marigold or a petunia. Another benefit to putting your vegetables into your flower bed is that dinner may be a lot closer to the kitchen.
To get you started, here are some specific vegetable varieties that have ornamental qualities. Experiment with other vegetables and varieties. Be sure to check the growing requirements to make sure your yard and micro-climate will help the vegetables flourish. Most vegetables require lots of direct sunlight and well-draining neutral soil. Inter-plant annual flowers amongst the short-season vegetables (such as lettuces and radishes) so that once you harvest, the space will quickly be filled in.
Note: All varieties are edible unless otherwise noted.
| Vegetable | Variety | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Artichoke | Violetto | Violet bracts |
| Asparagus | Purple Passion | Burgundy stalks |
| Runner Beans | Painted Lady Scarlet Emperor Dwarf Bees |
Red flowers Scarlet-orange flowers Small bush plant for border |
| Broccoli | Minaret Rosalind |
Unusual spiral clusters Violet heads |
|
Cabbage |
Ruby Ball Walking Stick |
Purple heads Long stems (ornamental) |
|
Cardoon |
|
Similar to artichoke except the stems are eaten. |
|
Indian Corn |
Indian Summer Painted Mountain Chinook |
Multi-colored kernels Vivid oranges & reds Dark maroon to tan (ornamental) |
|
Popcorn |
Calico Early Pink |
Long ears, multi-colored Only 85 days! |
|
Eggplant |
Bride Bambino Zebra Hybrid |
Slender white/purple fruits Dwarf plant good for pot or border Deep violet/white variegated |
|
Topsetting Onion |
Egyptian Walking Catawissa |
Both produce clusters of bulblets at the top of each stalk |
|
Kale |
Redbor Nero di Toscana Red Russian |
Magenta leaves Dark green crinkly leaves Frilly, blue-green leaves, red veins |
|
Kohlrabi |
Kolibri |
Great for a border where the purple bulbs can be seen bulging out |
|
Lettuce |
Devils Tongue many others |
Bright red new growth |
|
Okra |
Annie Oakley |
Hibiscus-like flowers are gorgeous! |
|
Oriental Greens |
Edible Chrysanthemum Osaka Purple Mustard Giant Red Mustard |
Eat the leaves and flowers Purple-tinted leaves Burgundy leaves |
|
Peppers |
Sweet Pickle, Pretty Purple, Marbles, Medusa, Riot, Bolivian Rainbow, Chilly Chili Hybrid, Filus Blue, Largo Purple, Numex Twilight, Poinsettia, Starburst, Thai Hot Ornamental, Tri-fetti |
Can plant in pots or yard. Can be pickled or chili-like peppers can be dried. Largo Purple has violet foliage and Tri-fetti has variegated green/white/purple foliage. Other peppers that are red, orange, or yellow also make good landscape plants. |
|
Radish |
Rat-Tailed |
Violet-tinged seedpods |
|
Rhubarb |
Victoria |
Red stalks, large leaves |
|
Swiss Chard |
Rhubarb Bright Lights |
Red stems, red-veined leaves Stems are red, yellow, orange, gold, or white |
|
Tomatoes |
Sungold (Cherry) Yellow Pear (Cherry) Schimmeig Striped Hollow (Stuffer) many others |
Bright orange fruit covers plant Yellow fruit covers plant Red fruit with gold streaks |
|
Vine Crops |
Jack Be Little Pumpkin Baby Boo Pumpkin Lemon Cucumber Delicata Squash Sunburst Squash Swan Gourd |
Small orange fruits (ornamental) Small white fruits (ornamental) Delicious lemon-colored fruit Yellow/Green striped fruit Bright yellow patty-pan fruit Speckled swan-shaped necks (ornamental) |
Be sure to also plant some culinary herbs close to the kitchen. Chives, basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, marjoram, bronze fennel, and anise hyssop all produce flowers. In addition to being pretty, the flowers also attract bees and butterflies. As a further reward, the succulent foliage of herbs will season your favorite recipes.
Imagine walking through your yard with some friends, nonchalantly picking a few tomatoes, a pepper, and a few sprigs of basil. Now bring them into the house, pour a glass of wine, chop those ultra-fresh veggies, toast some french bread, and voila – instant bruschetta from your yard. Won't they be impressed?
Seed Sources
Territorial Seed
www.territorialseed.com
Phone: 541-942-9547
Tomato Growers Supply
www.tomatogrowers.com
Phone: 888-478-7333
Johnny's Seeds
www.johnnyseeds.com
Phone: 207-861-3901
Nichols Garden Nursery
www.nicholsgardennursery.com
Phone: 800-422-3985
References
Schoneweis, S.D. (1996). Vegetables and Herbs as Ornamentals. Retrieved March 2, 2003, from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Web site: http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/horticulture/g1196.HTM#tom.
Whipker, B.E., McCall, I., Gibson, J.L. (1999). Ornamental Pepper Cultivar Trial. Retrieved March 2, 2003, from North Carolina State University, Horticulture Department Web site: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/crop/pepper.htm.
Gibson, J.L., Whipker, B.E., (2000). Ornamental Vegetable Cultivar Trial Fall 2000. Retrieved March 2, 2003, from North Carolina State University, Horticulture Department Web site: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/crop/ornveg/cultrial_2000.htm.
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