You know I talk alot about the kitchen garden. It's my jam. But there are a variety of ways to design your garden and it doesn't have to be a formal potager. Until recently your landscape probably consisted of manicured lawns, trimmed gardens, and shrubs as they are considered mostly decorative. However, gardeners have started appreciating a new concept of gardening: edible landscaping.

Foodscapes include planning and growing a garden with a mix of blooming plants or aesthetically pleasing edible plants such as herbs. With so many visual and practical benefits, it's time to uncover the secrets of this technique.

Expert Gardeners on Foodscaping

A famous person who utilized the foodscapes to the fullest is the gardener, Brie Arthur, author of “The Foodscape Revolution.” She sprinkled a few seeds of tomatoes and coleus amongst her ornamental plants and grew enough veggies to feed herself and her neighbors. Furthermore, she reduced her grocery bills while making her landscape gorgeously beautiful. Over the years, she continued experimenting with this technique and transformed the overall perception of gardening.

Another well-known gardener with decades of experience in food landscaping is Charlie Nardozzi. He is also an award-winning and nationally recognized gardener who brought this gardening process to a whole other level. He has worked on several concepts of organic gardening, and his ways of transforming an aesthetically pleasing garden into a practical one are outstanding. Through various modes such as magazines, radio, and forums, he has advocated this concept and has tried to help gardeners understand its unique benefits.

Likewise, a certified Permaculture designer and master urban gardener, Katie takes pride in growing food on half a dozen farms and different gardening projects. She started her own venture, Columbus Foodscapes, to help community members uncover different gardening concepts and grow fresh and delicious food and fruits. Nowadays, she works on rural farms, urban hardens, and organic production farms.

These expert gardeners have worked hard in their respective fields to bring foodscapes close to your homes and help you easily grow your favorite veggies. Let's read through to uncover interesting insights on this concept.

Choosing Plants for Foodscaping

The principle of edible landscapes is simple and fun. It involves a garden of edible plants grown with traditional plants to create a functional and living environment. Foodscapes help deliver productive, harmonious, and attractive garden design. If you want to try this technique, go with vegetables, fruits, or herbs you purchase regularly. Remember to research the growing conditions and needs of the plants to ensure they can thrive. That way, you will narrow down the choice of plants.

These are some of the key considerations when planning and arranging your gardening landscape. Then, when you choose the fruits and vegetables you want to plant, it's time to begin the journey.

Before you begin, check if your desired plants will fit into your existing landscape. Organize them by their size, color, and level of maintenance. This will help you select the perfect plants to create harmonious and manageable urban foodscaping.

Some veggies and herbs grow wide and low which makes them great ground cover. Meanwhile, others such as berries grow in length making them an excellent choice for walls or bordering.

It is important to provide your plants with the required minerals and nutrients. This can be achieved by mixing compost into the soil. How? Simply create your own compost or purchase a mixture suitable for your foodscape.

Most vegetables, herbs, and fruits grow best in moist soil. Therefore, if you want to achieve the best results, with food landscaping invest in good-quality mulch. It will help you control the weed and act as a moisture retainer.

Additionally, pay attention to the placement of plants because. Some require more direct sunlight, while others like to be more in the shade.

One of the most important things to consider with this technique is creativity. Add decorative elements like benches and walkways. Also, decorative stones are an excellent choice to make certain plants stand out.

How to Get Started with Foodscapes?

The best thing about the edible garden is that it can thrive anywhere in the front of the residence, in the backyard, on the terrace, and even on the roof. Many attractive and colorful edible flowers like pansies or carnations can enhance the visual appeal of your home. Also, you could add edible plants, including Swiss chard, kale, strawberries, and peppers.

Nonetheless, this process works best with fruit trees, especially if you are doing it at home. Try incorporating trees that require little maintenance, like cherry or apple. It will help you maximize the space and create a lush and productive garden with a steady supply of fresh fruit.

However, if your space is limited, several varieties can be grown in containers or small pots. One of the advantages of this type of gardening is that it helps increase biodiversity and promotes pollination while reducing pest problems.

As a gardener, I enjoy working with containers as there are endless creative possibilities. Exploring urban foodscaping can enhance these advantages for creative planting throughout the year. It is time- and money-saving, and it is great for people with little free time.

Trust me, even a small area is great to begin with. Just ensure that the plants require similar sunlight, fertilizer, and water. However, if your yard lacks space for additional plants, there are other ways to add edible mix elements to an already existing edible garden or patio:

Grow herbs, zucchini, and strawberries in the larger pots across the decks or patios.

Cucumbers, squash, and snow peas grow well in limited spaces or on trellis. Vertical growing is perfect for these plants.
Similarly, vertical plant walls like trellis are great for urban settings with limited space. You can place the containers on different heights to achieve harmony and balance.
Hanging baskets are also a great option. They can be easily replanted and require little maintenance.

Every season presents a chance to experiment with different growing techniques. Therefore, be creative and try exploring something new. Following the foodscapes approach can benefit both the planet and people. The best part? Eating and growing your veggies, herbs, and fruits will promote healthy eating habits and a satisfying feeling. Embracing foodscaping can transform your garden into a productive and vibrant space.

Are you looking for more inspirational or exciting tips and interesting ideas on gardening? Read my blogs to keep yourself informed about the latest gardening techniques.

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