The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

On 5 Jun 2006 13:32:20 -0700, Mark wrote:
The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?


Where I live (a nice suburban area) I can plant anything I want in my
front yard (yes, I checked). I even had a scarecrow for a while, I am
sure that neighbors complained, but the village could not do
anything. I am trying to behave better in my new house though. See if
your association has specific rules about planting stuff, maybe it
does not and you can do anything you want.

I think that anything edible looks better than lawns. I would consider
potatoes or low tomatoes.

i

Mark wrote:
The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?



Strawberries or Kale.

..

On 5 Jun 2006 13:32:20 -0700, in rec.gardens.edible "Mark"
, in glistered weave writ large for all to see:

The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

Would it be unreasonable to suggest that you could terrace a portion of the
back yard?

FACE

Thanks a lot.
Strawberries or Kale


Are these one time a year crop or more?
would they grow well in South California(San Diego)


Mark wrote:
The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?



Strawberries or Kale.

..

On 5 Jun 2006 13:32:20 -0700, "Mark"
wrote:

The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

If we knew what USDA zone or other climate reference you are in,
we might be able to offer more useful suggestions. Kales and leaf
lettuces are beautiful, but it's already way too hot here in
South Carolina for them.

There are lots of ornamental peppers, and some not intended as
ornamentals that are very attractive. Tabasco peppers are
beautiful, and tall enough to be planted at the back of a flower
bed. It's looks like a giant candelabra with thousands of tiny,
multi-color lights, *and* most big box stores carry Tabascos.

Most squashes have pretty blooms on them, although they can
sprawl, so pick your variety carefully. A lot of peas have nice
flowers, too, and can be trellised. Jerusalem Artichokes
(Sunchokes) will make your homeowner's association think you're
growing sunflowers. Sweet potatoes have nice blooms, too,
although they may wonder why you're digging up the whole flower
bed come fall.

Oh, and don't forget your herbs. If you're not too far north,
rosemary makes an attractive shrub. Red basils double as
ornamentals, and you could put some mint in hanging baskets for
your front porch. You could actually do the whole front yard as a
herb garden there are so many attractive herbs.

There are a lot of possibilities, but we need more information
about your home. What zone, how much sunlight, how much room, and
what did you have in mind to plant? Could you use planters, or do
you want mostly in ground stuff?


Penelope

--
You have proven yourself to be the most malicious,
classless person that I've encountered in years.
- "pointed"

Mark wrote:

Thanks a lot.
Strawberries or Kale


Are these one time a year crop or more?
would they grow well in South California(San Diego)



They should do fine there, especially the strawberries.

Frost probably isn't a concern but Kale is known for being very
resistant to the cold (and often lasts well into December here). Kale is
a member of the cabbage family, so you'd face the same concerns - like
root maggot. I usually put a bit of newspaper around the plants and
mulch on top.

If you get strawberries, get a day-neutral variety. You'll get berries
well into the fall and they don't send out many runners that would
overwhelm the garden. Get some transplants, plant them, pick the flowers
off them for the first few weeks, then let them fruit. You should mulch
them as well. Strawberry plants are good for 3 to 5 years.

..

Zone 5a in Canada's Far East.

On 5 Jun 2006 13:32:20 -0700, "Mark"
wrote:

What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

As Ms. Periwinkle stated, your Plant Hardiness Zone would be
useful information to us.

Some determinant tomato plants might be decorative beside the
front door walkway.

Be aware that ripe vegetables are targets for thieves.

In article ,
says...

snip

There are a lot of possibilities, but we need more information
about your home. What zone, how much sunlight, how much room, and
what did you have in mind to plant? Could you use planters, or do
you want mostly in ground stuff?


Penelope



Eggplants come to mind.

Bill
--
Gmail and Google Groups. This century's answer to AOL and WebTV.

Mark wrote:
The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

Andy writes:

Okra, and hang Xmas tree lights from them....

Andy

Mark said:

The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

The only veggie-garden plants that ever got a "wow, that's beautiful!"
are okra and eggplant.

I also remember a tiny in-town front yard that was packed with paste
tomatoes and basil. (It was the only sunny spot they had.) Looked
strange, but very healthy and well-tended.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

(Pat Kiewicz) wrote in news:
:

Mark said:

The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

The only veggie-garden plants that ever got a "wow, that's beautiful!"
are okra and eggplant.

I also remember a tiny in-town front yard that was packed with paste
tomatoes and basil. (It was the only sunny spot they had.) Looked
strange, but very healthy and well-tended.

I had a similar reaction to the carrots I grew, but it was more "these
look a lot better than parsley." I think given the chance I'd use carrot
greens as a garnish and not parsley.

Puckdropper
--
www.uncreativelabs.net

Old computers are getting to be a lost art. Here at Uncreative Labs, we
still enjoy using the old computers. Sometimes we want to see how far a
particular system can go, other times we use a stock system to remind
ourselves of what we once had.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

In article . com,
"Mark" wrote:

The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?


Do a Google for "edible landscaping." There are a couple of
really good books about it, and you'll probably be able to
find lots of links that'll give you good ideas.

I always plant pansies and leaf lettuce (like Red Sails) in a
pot next to my front door. (I'm in Zone 3, in Alaska.)

And I have my culinary herbs growing near the front door:
chives, basil, rosemary, french tarragon, oregano, etc.
They're pretty, they smell nice and they're neat to cook with.

It's too hot in 'dago this time of year, but Romanesco
broccoli is a neat looking plant. You can grow that in the
winter down there. Kale is also really pretty. Globe
artichoke plants are neat looking -- they're just thistles.
Those are all cool season crops, where you live.

Robert Kourick and Rosemary Creasy have both written good
books on edible landscaping. (Bob Kourick was one of my teachers
when I did my Master Gardener training in Marin County, CA.
He's a hoot.)

Jan
USDA Zone 3

--
The way to a man's heart is between the fourth and the fifth rib.

Mark wrote:
The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?

Okra flowers are beautiful. Carrots have lovely foliage.

Peace,

Kate

You'll probably do best with herbs. You can lay them out in a formal,
European style garden plan and then when the snooty neighbors ask what
this or that plant is, you can pluck a leaf or stem and eat it right in
front of them. I imagine it could be fun to watch their reactions. :-)

Seriously, in addition to all the other good suggestions, including
terraces or big containers in the back yard, letting some garlic and
onions go to flower can add a nice touch as well. There are even some
strictly ornamental onions that are bred just for this purpose.

J.

Mark wrote:
The only place that is flat in my yard is in the front yard.
I want to grow some vegiatables.
What would you recommend to grow in front yard, so it is edible and
looks good enough not to **** homeowner asscociation?