Jim Elbrecht wrote in message . ..
What part of the world/country you live in will help determine what
plants might do well-- as well as which direction your front yard
faces. My east facing front is less/more suited to some things than
say a north facing front.

Indeed. If you live in, say, California, you could have swiss chard
and lettuce in your front beds 12 months a year. In Michigan, four or
five months a year.

At any rate, here is a short list of plants I have seen in front
yards. Most fruit trees will of course look good when in bloom, and
are decent looking when espaliered.

- chard and oakleaf lettuce (red and lime) can pass as flower bed
plants. So do some kales. Some cabbages can be sneaked in if you
surround them with different foliage. Flowering cabbages in the front
yard are ubiquitous here in Michigan.
- cardoon is a magnificent specimen plant
- corn, in a bed, can look like an accent grass clump
- zucchini as a tropical looking ground cover
- some herbs (thyme in particular) as a ground cover. Rosemary used
for ground cover is far worse eating than the edible varieties
- as specimen trees, chestnut and bay laurel can be outstanding
- hardy kiwis are the prettiest of vines for a trellis.
- beans or peas can be put in the back of a bed up a trellis

I myself would put all these in the front yard except corn, beans and
peas.
Plants that do not especially qualify for the front yard include
tomatoes (too coarse of a plant), most salad greens (exception could
be claytonia as a ground cover), garlic and onion, most root crops,
favas, asparagus, and potatoes. Mind you, if one mixes them with
flowers most of them will be able to blend in. My problem, however, is
that my backyard is suitably defended against wildlife (fence,
underground fence, electric fence, chicken wire under beds). The front
yard plants have to be rodent and deer-proof.


Ignoramus31046 wrote:

Being from a country where people considered their land plots as
source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times
-snip-

Just curious, but where is that? I'm a native USAn & I still like to
make most of the plants I put in have some culinary or medicinal use.

-snip-
My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD
can be planted in the FRONT yard.

You asked someone else what Rhubarb was good for-- I like it just as
a sauce with a dab of ice cream, but it also makes a great cobbler --
If you like marmalades at all, here's a simple recipe that is
scrumptious-
1lb rhubarb
1 lemon
2.5 cups sugar
slice rhubarb thinly - don't peel
zest entire lemon and mix with rhubarb
mix in sugar & let sit on counter overnight

In the AM, add the juice of the lemon & bring quickly to soft ball
stage-- Jar & seal. Good immediately-- better in a month or so.

-snip-
3. Fruit trees -- great flowering in the spring and great looking
crops in the fall.

I'm in zone 5-6 & was pleased to find that my flowering Almond not
only has gorgeous pink flowers in early spring, it also bears a bunch
of almonds. My peach tree is out back, but would look nice next to
my Almond. Neither takes any where near the care that my apple trees
do & both bear more fruit.

If you get lots of sun there I like my Lovage plant & it takes little
care-- Borage never did so well for me, but it is fun to eat the
flowers--- and speaking of flowers, be sure to throw in some
nasturtiums. The flowers & the leaves are a great addition to summer
salads.

Jim