This is the final post in the series about landscaping with edible plants and I’ve lumped groundcover and annuals together. Chances are if you’ve been gardening for any amount of time you have already found the annual plants that you prefer to grow and won’t need suggestions. However I will share some of my favorites that I think also have an ornamental look to them. Bear in mind that if you are incorporating edible plants into your front landscaping chances are you will want to maintain curb appeal. If that is the case I would recommend you avoid planting things like tomatoes that will become bushy and overgrown near the end of the season, or plants that would give your house a “farmy” feel like corn (unless that is the look you are going for).
Groundcover:
Strawberry
Strawberries make an amazing edible groundcover. Select ever bearing varieties that will produce fruit for a longer period during the growing season. They are evergreen and will happily fill an area of their own accord. To increase yields and keep the plants where you want them, cut off the shoots of baby plants they put out. Otherwise let them grow and spread out for more dense coverage. Make sure to keep the area moist and fertilize on a regular schedule to get the best results. Using a weed mat or mulch will help to retain moisture as well as keep your harvest off the ground and provide protection from damage for your precious berries.
Thyme
Thyme is a great groundcover for areas that get a little afternoon shade during the summer. They do best with protection from the afternoon summer heat but if you have a spot in full sun where you would like to plant them they can thrive with some extra care. Planting the thyme in the ground in fall and making sure you keep it moist throughout the hot summer months will help them through the heat. There are many different varieties of thyme that can be used as a groundcover and all are good options. Some of my favorites are lemon thyme which has white flowers and a unique lemony flavor that is amazing in everything from drinks to sauces and meats. Another favorite is creeping thyme which stays very low to the ground and has abundant purple flowers in spring.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium is typically grown as an annual as they are sensitive to frost. However if you have a location that is protected from any frost we may get in the winter they will survive with minimal damage. I have a plant that has been in the ground for about 2 years now and I just give it a haircut during springtime. It has come back strong and healthy and is thriving. The bright flowers in shades of yellow, orange and red and the lily pad like leaves are delicious added to salads or used as garnishes as they have a peppery flavor. The seed pods are also edible and can be pickled. In the summer when we have sustained high heat they will not bloom as frequently. Keeping them moist will help them through the summer and reward you with a flourish of blooms again in the fall. If you would like to use it as a ground cover or to cascade over a pot make sure you purchase the trailing varieties not the bush varieties (also called dwarf).
Annuals:
Many fruits, veggies, greens and edible flowers are annuals and make beautiful additions to a landscape. They are easy to interplant with your ornamentals and can add interesting textures as well. If you are going to replace plants seasonally, might as well put in ones that you can use for more than just beautification. Edible flowers and herbs such as basil, dill, calendula, and chamomile are my favorite for this but you can also plant varieties of greens with various leaf colors and forms for added interest, or things like eggplant that have attractive flowers and fruit. There is one variety of eggplant I have been wanting to try from Johnny Seeds called Fairy Tale. Any kind of pepper also makes a nice addition as many have bright, colorful fruit. Potato plants are also quite beautiful with their tall stems and spurts of flowers at the top.
These are just a few edible plants that you can swap your ornamental plants for if you are looking for a more productive yard but don’t want to have a dedicated garden space. If you need help incorporating any of these plants in your yard or want more suggestions, send me a message on my contacts page, I’d love to hear from you.
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