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Edible stuff in the front yard
Being from a country where people considered their land plots as
source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. I personally plant only what I can eat. Although I would not mind my spouse devoting herself to planting flowers and whatnot, this is not something that I see myself doing. My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD can be planted in the FRONT yard. Some things come to mind. 1. Sunflowers -- beautiful flowers that make nice seeds 2. Corn -- tall grass with some view blocking properties that looks nice and is also obviously edible. Adds a rustic look to the area 3. Fruit trees -- great flowering in the spring and great looking crops in the fall. I am thinking of setting up a nicely decorated compost pile in the front yard next year, and growing squash in it. Any other ideas for food plants that look nice int he front yard? i |
Edible stuff in the front yard
I like rhubarb and strawberry plants in the front. Strawberry is a nice
groundcover, and rhubarb has pretty foilage. I've seen people grow tomatoes as a border plant. Most herbs are very pretty. I've grown chives & garlic in my front "flower" bed. Sage is a pretty shrub. Peas growing on a fence or wire are also very pretty in bloom. Maybe you should ask what you shouldn't grow in a front yard ;-) I, personally don't know of any unsightly food plants. If you are creative, you can make a very fun and pretty display. You could plant spinach in clumps btween bush beans, and have an alternating display, or something similar. Along the house, put taller plants in back, gradually getting shorter as you plant forward. There are so many possibilities! |
Edible stuff in the front yard
Being from a country where people considered their land plots as
source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. BRBR Do I hear a sniff of disdain here? Flowering varieties of peas and squash. Opium poppies--usually not illegal unless you harvest them. Dandelions--make wine of the flower heads. Morning Glories if you enjoy hallucinogenics (read up on them first.) Flax, for the oil (and the flowers). zemedelec |
Edible stuff in the front yard
Assuming you're in a part of the country that experiences winter, I
would recommend against annual crops in the front yard. Your front yard will look like bare soil (or weeds) for more than half the year and your neighbors may be upset (depending on your neighbors). You might consider perennial crops. Fruit trees are common and can be used as screens in the summer. Berries, particularly those that grow on shrub-like bushes, can be attractive. If appearances are a problem, you could plant a hedge at the front of your yard to block the view of your crops. In that case the area used by the hedge serves a function of a fence. It can reduce road noise. If the hedge produces berries it can also feed wildlife. When we first started farming, I had a similar bias toward food crops over decorative crops. Then one year we grew winter squash and gourds. Very similar crops. The winter squash brought in $.25/lb. The gourds brought in $.99/lb. People are willing to pay for decorative items, but food in this country is supposed to be cheap. We now grow both food and pick-your-own flowers. The flowers are very popular, and bring in more than the veggies in dollars/acre. Ignoramus31046 wrote: Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. I personally plant only what I can eat. Although I would not mind my spouse devoting herself to planting flowers and whatnot, this is not something that I see myself doing. My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD can be planted in the FRONT yard. Some things come to mind. 1. Sunflowers -- beautiful flowers that make nice seeds 2. Corn -- tall grass with some view blocking properties that looks nice and is also obviously edible. Adds a rustic look to the area 3. Fruit trees -- great flowering in the spring and great looking crops in the fall. I am thinking of setting up a nicely decorated compost pile in the front yard next year, and growing squash in it. Any other ideas for food plants that look nice int he front yard? i |
Edible stuff in the front yard
In article , tmtresh wrote:
I like rhubarb and strawberry plants in the front. Strawberry is a nice groundcover, and rhubarb has pretty foilage. I've seen people grow tomatoes as a border plant. Most herbs are very pretty. I've grown chives & garlic in my front "flower" bed. Sage is a pretty shrub. Peas growing on a fence or wire are also very pretty in bloom. Yes, I will have strawberry in my front yard. What can you do with rhubarb, food wise? Maybe you should ask what you shouldn't grow in a front yard ;-) I, personally don't know of any unsightly food plants. how about potatoes If you are creative, you can make a very fun and pretty display. You could plant spinach in clumps btween bush beans, and have an alternating display, or something similar. Along the house, put taller plants in back, gradually getting shorter as you plant forward. There are so many possibilities! makes sense, thanks. i |
Edible stuff in the front yard
In article , Zemedelec wrote:
Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. BRBR Do I hear a sniff of disdain here? Flowering varieties of peas and squash. Opium poppies--usually not illegal unless you harvest them. Dandelions--make wine of the flower heads. Morning Glories if you enjoy hallucinogenics (read up on them first.) Flax, for the oil (and the flowers). zemedelec Okay, can you enlighten me about poppies. I would like to grow poppies that I can use for pies and such, tyhat you make with poppy seeds. Is that legal? i |
Edible stuff in the front yard
Dandelions produce excellent 'chards' if planted thickly in pots and kept in
total darkness. Just dig up the roots and pot them up, having removed all green tops. Days rather than weeks!! A first class addition to green salads. Best Wishes. "Zemedelec" wrote in message ... Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. BRBR Do I hear a sniff of disdain here? Flowering varieties of peas and squash. Opium poppies--usually not illegal unless you harvest them. Dandelions--make wine of the flower heads. Morning Glories if you enjoy hallucinogenics (read up on them first.) Flax, for the oil (and the flowers). zemedelec |
Edible stuff in the front yard
What can you do with rhubarb, food wise? Wow! I almost think you're joking! Rhubarb is one of my favorite foods :-) My favorite is rhubarb crumble. Anyway, mixed with sugar & cooked, it absolutely divine. Many people also make pie from it. There are many recipes that mix it with strawberries. Use the stalks. Throw the leaves in the compost pile (they are poisonous). Google for "rhubarb pie", "rhubarb crumble", or "rhubarb crisp." how about potatoes Potatoes are pretty plants, similar to tomatoes (same family). I guess it depends on how you plant them. You'd want it to be in a place that can easily be dug up. (and probably not too many plants together) Or, you could plant them in some sort of raised box, which I think would look very nice.. Come to think of it, you could even make cabbage look good, surrounding by some different, smaller plants. (and there ARE ornamental cabbages, though I don't know if they are edible) Kohlrabi is also a very interesting plant. Some may think it is ugly, but planted in a designed, complimentary setting, can be quite the unusual addition. Oh, and don't forget that some flowers are also edible, such as pansies. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
Everything is edible in my front yard and all around the house as far
as that goes, at least to my goats when they happen to escape their pasture. Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com Opinions expressed are those of my wifes, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
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. 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 |
Edible stuff in the front yard
"dps" wrote in message ... Assuming you're in a part of the country that experiences winter, I would recommend against annual crops in the front yard. Your front yard will look like bare soil (or weeds) for more than half the year and your neighbors may be upset (depending on your neighbors). I disagree. Many people plant annual flowers, and flowers such as daffodils and tulips don't keep they're foliage year-round (or even all summer). When vegetables stop producing, or are ready to be pulled (radishes, etc), you can readily plant more. The ground doesn't have to be bare for long. Vegetables can be very complimentary with flowers or other perenials. And with things like lettuce and herbs don't have to all be cut at once. It's good for show to leave the bulk of such plants. Even if he did cut them all at once, they'd readily grow back. There is no reason food plants can't be planted as display plants or even in the same bed as non-food plants (as long as you can tell them apart, you wouldn't want to eat non-food plants) I think it's kind of funny how strict some people are with 'flowers in front, vegetables in back'. For the record, I don't have food plants in my front yard only because I can't find any small plants that grow in full shade-- I'd love any suggestions. My backyard is mixed-- strawberries, roses, peas, cotoneaster, lilac, raspberries-- soon to plant my annual veggiesand maybe some geraniums. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD
can be planted in the FRONT yard. Whatever won't be in violation of local ordinances when the neighbors complain. : ) I'm only half-honest with that, I live in an area where the favorite past-time is for neighbors to call the city on each other. Nevertheless, last year I grew a bunch of jalapeno, habanero, and other pepper plants in a "flower bed" (wink-wink) in my front yard, and nobody cared at all. If anything, I think that the red and orange peppers were pretty enough that people thought it was neat. (Of course, you can't get away with that in all areas: Your peppers might just disappear off of the plants before you have a chance to get to them!) steve |
Edible stuff in the front yard
In article , Jim Elbrecht wrote:
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. Northern Illinois, my front yard faces south, a bit to the west. i |
Edible stuff in the front yard
"Ignoramus31046" wrote in message ... Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. I personally plant only what I can eat. Although I would not mind my spouse devoting herself to planting flowers and whatnot, this is not something that I see myself doing. My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD can be planted in the FRONT yard. Some things come to mind. 1. Sunflowers -- beautiful flowers that make nice seeds 2. Corn -- tall grass with some view blocking properties that looks nice and is also obviously edible. Adds a rustic look to the area 3. Fruit trees -- great flowering in the spring and great looking crops in the fall. Peppers Herbs Peas Anything, actually. You can make a vegetable garden that looks attracticve and is productive. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
What can you do with rhubarb, food wise? I cannot believe you mean it!! Tens of acres of rhubarb are grown in dark sheds to produce the blanched stalks and are as deliceous as any fruit. The plants are only used once and replanted each year. Others have provided recipes of which there are no end. The actual leaf is known to be poisonous and as students we could detect no difference bettween the chemistry of stalks and leaves. Technically both are equally poisonous but our guts have yet to find out!! Best Wishes |
Edible stuff in the front yard
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Edible stuff in the front yard
Before you jump in, a few points to consider:
Have you thought about pollination? Your fruit trees and many of your vegetables need to be pollinated in order to bear crops. In many areas, honey bees are in decline, and you may need to depend on wild and solitary bees. A variety of flowering herbs and ornamentals provide much needed food sources for these bees during the summer months. Have you thought about pest control? Fruit trees, especially apples, are magnets to a variety of pests that can cause a lot of damage to your crops. There are small, beneficial wasps that are predators to these pests (and do NOT sting humans). Again, they need nectar sources throughout the year. For example, I grow aruncus (goatsbeard), that is not edible but attracts an astonishing variety of these small wasps when it blooms. Dill, parsley, and fennel are also good for this purpose, as well as providing food for humans and butterflies. Birds eat a lot of insect pests, but they too need other food sources, such as ornamental shrubs that produce berries, and they need cover in trees and evergreens to nest in. Have you thought about economy of scale? I don't grow corn, because the farmer down the road from me does a great job of it, picks it fresh several times a day, and in season I can buy if for $1.50 a dozen. Same thing with potatoes--they are dirt cheap and quite good at the farmer's market. I do grow peppers, even thought I can also buy them as well, because I like varieties it's hard to find locally. Think about how you want to allocate not just your money, but your time and efforts. I tried for years to grow apples, with limited success. It takes a lot of time and attention to get the disease and pest management scheduled properly. I now buy the bulk of my apples, but my trees are still valuable in that they provide wormy apples that keep the resident groundhog fat and satisfied and out of my vegetable garden. The drops also feed a variety of large wasps in the fall that have been patrolling my vegetables all summer. On the other hand, my Asian pears are a great success. They take little care, the fruit is absolutely delicious, and very expensive at the market. Consider finding out what types of shrubs and flowers are either native or easy care in your area, that are beneficial to wildlife, and planting some even if they are not directly edible. Your goal should be to create a micro-ecosystem that feeds you as well as the birds and the bees. And it's ok to grow things just because they are beautiful. We need food for the soul as well as the body. Good luck with your endeavors, Sue -- Zone 6, South-central PA "Ignoramus31046" wrote in message ... Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. I personally plant only what I can eat. Although I would not mind my spouse devoting herself to planting flowers and whatnot, this is not something that I see myself doing. My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD can be planted in the FRONT yard. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
On 21 Apr 2004 16:36:29 GMT, Ignoramus31046
opined: Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. I personally plant only what I can eat. Although I would not mind my spouse devoting herself to planting flowers and whatnot, this is not something that I see myself doing. My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD can be planted in the FRONT yard. Some things come to mind. 1. Sunflowers -- beautiful flowers that make nice seeds 2. Corn -- tall grass with some view blocking properties that looks nice and is also obviously edible. Adds a rustic look to the area 3. Fruit trees -- great flowering in the spring and great looking crops in the fall. I am thinking of setting up a nicely decorated compost pile in the front yard next year, and growing squash in it. Any other ideas for food plants that look nice int he front yard? i Any herbs will be beautiful, as well as some peppers and even eggplants have lovely flowers and fruit. Lemon grass, garlic chives...etc. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
"Ignoramus31046" wrote in message ... Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. I personally plant only what I can eat. Although I would not mind my spouse devoting herself to planting flowers and whatnot, this is not something that I see myself doing. My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD can be planted in the FRONT yard. Some things come to mind. 1. Sunflowers -- beautiful flowers that make nice seeds 2. Corn -- tall grass with some view blocking properties that looks nice and is also obviously edible. Adds a rustic look to the area 3. Fruit trees -- great flowering in the spring and great looking crops in the fall. I am thinking of setting up a nicely decorated compost pile in the front yard next year, and growing squash in it. Any other ideas for food plants that look nice int he front yard? Of course it all depends on where you live and the particulars of your yard. There is no reason that the things grown in the back yard won't grown in the front yard. I grew tomato plants among the roses one year. There are some beautiful leafy vegetables. You can grow Swiss chard "bright lights." If you don't care what the yard looks like, then simple grow what you want. Otherwise, look though a seed catalog like Johnny's Seeds and pick out things that look good that you like to eat and will grow in your area under the conditions that you have. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
I simply never tasted rhubarb. Are its stalks sweet?
i In article , Brian wrote: What can you do with rhubarb, food wise? I cannot believe you mean it!! Tens of acres of rhubarb are grown in dark sheds to produce the blanched stalks and are as deliceous as any fruit. The plants are only used once and replanted each year. Others have provided recipes of which there are no end. The actual leaf is known to be poisonous and as students we could detect no difference bettween the chemistry of stalks and leaves. Technically both are equally poisonous but our guts have yet to find out!! Best Wishes |
Edible stuff in the front yard
Thanks, I will ask my grandma about pollination. Have not thought of that.
i In article , SugarChile wrote: Before you jump in, a few points to consider: Have you thought about pollination? Your fruit trees and many of your vegetables need to be pollinated in order to bear crops. In many areas, honey bees are in decline, and you may need to depend on wild and solitary bees. A variety of flowering herbs and ornamentals provide much needed food sources for these bees during the summer months. Have you thought about pest control? Fruit trees, especially apples, are magnets to a variety of pests that can cause a lot of damage to your crops. There are small, beneficial wasps that are predators to these pests (and do NOT sting humans). Again, they need nectar sources throughout the year. For example, I grow aruncus (goatsbeard), that is not edible but attracts an astonishing variety of these small wasps when it blooms. Dill, parsley, and fennel are also good for this purpose, as well as providing food for humans and butterflies. Birds eat a lot of insect pests, but they too need other food sources, such as ornamental shrubs that produce berries, and they need cover in trees and evergreens to nest in. Have you thought about economy of scale? I don't grow corn, because the farmer down the road from me does a great job of it, picks it fresh several times a day, and in season I can buy if for $1.50 a dozen. Same thing with potatoes--they are dirt cheap and quite good at the farmer's market. I do grow peppers, even thought I can also buy them as well, because I like varieties it's hard to find locally. Think about how you want to allocate not just your money, but your time and efforts. I tried for years to grow apples, with limited success. It takes a lot of time and attention to get the disease and pest management scheduled properly. I now buy the bulk of my apples, but my trees are still valuable in that they provide wormy apples that keep the resident groundhog fat and satisfied and out of my vegetable garden. The drops also feed a variety of large wasps in the fall that have been patrolling my vegetables all summer. On the other hand, my Asian pears are a great success. They take little care, the fruit is absolutely delicious, and very expensive at the market. Consider finding out what types of shrubs and flowers are either native or easy care in your area, that are beneficial to wildlife, and planting some even if they are not directly edible. Your goal should be to create a micro-ecosystem that feeds you as well as the birds and the bees. And it's ok to grow things just because they are beautiful. We need food for the soul as well as the body. Good luck with your endeavors, Sue |
Edible stuff in the front yard
"tmtresh" wrote in message ... "dps" wrote in message ... Assuming you're in a part of the country that experiences winter, I would recommend against annual crops in the front yard. Your front yard will look like bare soil (or weeds) for more than half the year and your neighbors may be upset (depending on your neighbors). I disagree. Many people plant annual flowers, and flowers such as daffodils and tulips don't keep they're foliage year-round (or even all summer). When vegetables stop producing, or are ready to be pulled (radishes, etc), you can readily plant more. The ground doesn't have to be bare for long. Vegetables can be very complimentary with flowers or other perenials. And with things like lettuce and herbs don't have to all be cut at once. It's good for show to leave the bulk of such plants. Even if he did cut them all at once, they'd readily grow back. There is no reason food plants can't be planted as display plants or even in the same bed as non-food plants (as long as you can tell them apart, you wouldn't want to eat non-food plants) I think it's kind of funny how strict some people are with 'flowers in front, vegetables in back'. For the record, I don't have food plants in my front yard only because I can't find any small plants that grow in full shade-- I'd love any suggestions. My backyard is mixed-- strawberries, roses, peas, cotoneaster, lilac, raspberries-- soon to plant my annual veggiesand maybe some geraniums. The recommendation of most landscape architects and designers is to plant things in a front entry garden that will have year round appeal - that means predominately evergreens or at the very least, deciduous material that offers a permanent woody framework and preferrably, some sort of winter interest. An entry garden comprised primarily of herbaceous plants - either perennial or annual - offers very little in the way of curb appeal. This may not be a huge concern now (unless you live in a nieghborhood with restrictive covenants), but can definitely play a big factor in resale value. This does not mean you should refrain entirely from these types of plants, including edibles. Just combine them with other, more permanent additions.Fruit trees have been mentioned, as have a number of herbs which are perennial and/or evergreen. You could also consider a number of berries which form attractive small shrubs - blueberries, huckleberries, currants - even viburnum berries are edible, but you need to pick your variety if taste is what you are after.Lots of edible crops make very attractive garden additions. Look for books describing 'potagers' or decorative kitchen gardens - the Europeans have made an art form of these, although not often are they presented as front yards. But a well-designed mixture of edibles plus more ornamental plants should satisfy all requirements. pam - gardengal |
Edible stuff in the front yard
Ignoramus, since you live in Illinois, why not plant the native American
Persimmon tree in your front yard. It will be totally hardy, relatively pest free, will give you delicious fruit every fall - heavier every other fall - and has pretty fall foliage. Other than that, I favor the berry solution - (blueberries, maybe raspberries). and possibly a grape arbor, for concord grapes in your region. Dward fruit trees that are hardy in your region would also be fine. Probably apples would do well, and maybe cherries. Rhubarb would be good in your climate. Also asparagaus is relatively picturesque, and a perennial. Mix a few annual food crops in with these, and you will have a yard that no one will object to. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
"Ignoramus31046" wrote in message ... I simply never tasted rhubarb. Are its stalks sweet? No, they are sour, that's why so much sugar is added. |
Edible stuff in the front yard
Ignoramus31046 said:
Any other ideas for food plants that look nice int he front yard? Okra -- it's a hibiscus, after all! Eggplants -- visitor once exclaimed in amazement how beautiful theeggplant 'bushes' in the garden were Peanuts -- rather pretty plants, with all the food-making work going on underground Sweet potatoes -- ditto the peanuts Personally, I think corn (sweet or otherwise) would end up looking rather unkempt. Millet would be a more ornamental grain. -- Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast) Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced. (attributed to Don Marti) |
Edible stuff in the front yard
tmtresh wrote:
...I disagree. Many people plant annual flowers, and flowers such as daffodils and tulips don't keep they're foliage year-round (or even all summer). When vegetables stop producing, or are ready to be pulled (radishes, etc), you can readily plant more. The ground doesn't have to be bare for long... I will have to retract my "more than half the year" statement. In my area the ground would be bare only from December through April. (unless I put in something like winter rye) ... There is no reason food plants can't be planted as display plants or even in the same bed as non-food plants (as long as you can tell them apart, you wouldn't want to eat non-food plants)... There are only a few plants that you really don't want to eat (i.e. are toxic). The other non-food plants probably just aren't culinarialy appealing. However, I agree that there's no real reason to separate food and decorative crops. As far as not harvesting a crop all at once, that certainly works with some crops. I do not advise it with something like lettuce. You can peel off the outer leaves of lettuce and make a salad. Eventually the plant will get tired of that treatment and will bolt, at which time the leaves get bitter. Much better to cut the head (or even better, pull it up by the roots, wash them off, and place in a plastic bag with a little water in the fridge, where it will last for a couple of weeks if you don't finish it off sooner) and plant a replacement immediately. If you plan ahead, you can have several lettuce plants waiting to go into the garden as soon as you pull the ones that're ready. Most people think that they should plant in the spring and enjoy the harvest all summer. However, some crops need to be planted almost continuously to enjoy a continuous harvest. My last lettuce planting is generally in mid to late August. Lettuce will take temperatures down to 25F, although some varieties will show some tipburn at those temperatures. I have picked lettuce at Christmas (MA, zone 5, but certainly not every year). |
Edible stuff in the front yard
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 |
Edible stuff in the front yard
"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message news:5JFhc.634$IW1.102311@attbi_s52... The recommendation of most landscape architects and designers is to plant things in a front entry garden that will have year round appeal - that means predominately evergreens or at the very least, deciduous material that offers a permanent woody framework and preferrably, some sort of winter interest. An entry garden comprised primarily of herbaceous plants - either perennial or annual - offers very little in the way of curb appeal. This may not be a huge concern now (unless you live in a nieghborhood with restrictive covenants), but can definitely play a big factor in resale value. This does not mean you should refrain entirely from these types of plants, including edibles. Just combine them with other, more permanent additions.Fruit trees have been mentioned, as have a number of herbs which are perennial and/or evergreen. You could also consider a number of berries which form attractive small shrubs - blueberries, huckleberries, currants - even viburnum berries are edible, but you need to pick your variety if taste is what you are after.Lots of edible crops make very attractive garden additions. Look for books describing 'potagers' or decorative kitchen gardens - the Europeans have made an art form of these, although not often are they presented as front yards. But a well-designed mixture of edibles plus more ornamental plants should satisfy all requirements. pam - gardengal You misunderstood me, Pam. I didn't mean to imply that I only grow perrenials and annual flowers in the front, only that I would like to grow some food plants, too. I have limited space, front and back, and would like some creative ways to have both flowers & veggies. My front yard is small, but I have the aforementioned honey locust, a very large evergreen shrub (no idea what it is), a lilac that the previous owners cut to the ground (and since has been slowly growing back in the two years we've been here), and two medium sized barberry. There is a large triangular flower bed 20 feet by 5 ft next to the house. The lilac and barberries are located there. I recently made a smaller bed about 2 feet quarter round next to the driveway and the public sidewalk. I planted a peony in the middle, surrounded by tulips and crocuses (the idea being that when the tulips and crocuses died down, the peony would be up). My house faces north, so it is very shady in front. I planted tulips, daffodils, hyaciths, and a few other things (mostly bulbs) in the large bed. I know these are full sun plants, they do all right, simply blooming later than those across the street. I also planted irises there, so I could have some color later in the year. I plan to plant a bleeding heart also in the large bed. So, my concern is to fill between the shrubbery with annuals/perrenials and maybe some food plants, which seem more finicky for sun than the flowers. I can easily plant veggies between permanant plantings in the backyard, because the sun is there. So, any ideas for food plants which are less sun craving which I can plant in my shady front yard? |
Edible stuff in the front yard
This begs the old gardening cliché~~ "Do you put horse manure on your
rhubarb?" "No~~only sugar!" Best Wishes "Ignoramus31046" wrote in message ... I simply never tasted rhubarb. Are its stalks sweet? i In article , Brian wrote: What can you do with rhubarb, food wise? I cannot believe you mean it!! Tens of acres of rhubarb are grown in dark sheds to produce the blanched stalks and are as deliceous as any fruit. The plants are only used once and replanted each year. Others have provided recipes of which there are no end. The actual leaf is known to be poisonous and as students we could detect no difference bettween the chemistry of stalks and leaves. Technically both are equally poisonous but our guts have yet to find out!! Best Wishes |
Edible stuff in the front yard
On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 06:42:16 -0400, dps
wrote: tmtresh wrote: ...I disagree. Many people plant annual flowers, and flowers such as daffodils and tulips don't keep they're foliage year-round (or even all summer). When vegetables stop producing, or are ready to be pulled (radishes, etc), you can readily plant more. The ground doesn't have to be bare for long... I will have to retract my "more than half the year" statement. In my area the ground would be bare only from December through April. (unless I put in something like winter rye) ... There is no reason food plants can't be planted as display plants or even in the same bed as non-food plants (as long as you can tell them apart, you wouldn't want to eat non-food plants)... There are only a few plants that you really don't want to eat (i.e. are toxic). The other non-food plants probably just aren't culinarialy appealing. However, I agree that there's no real reason to separate food and decorative crops. As far as not harvesting a crop all at once, that certainly works with some crops. I do not advise it with something like lettuce. You can peel off the outer leaves of lettuce and make a salad. Eventually the plant will get tired of that treatment and will bolt, at which time the leaves get bitter. Much better to cut the head (or even better, pull it up by the roots, wash them off, and place in a plastic bag with a little water in the fridge, where it will last for a couple of weeks if you don't finish it off sooner) and plant a replacement immediately. If you plan ahead, you can have several lettuce plants waiting to go into the garden as soon as you pull the ones that're ready. Most people think that they should plant in the spring and enjoy the harvest all summer. However, some crops need to be planted almost continuously to enjoy a continuous harvest. My last lettuce planting is generally in mid to late August. Lettuce will take temperatures down to 25F, although some varieties will show some tipburn at those temperatures. I have picked lettuce at Christmas (MA, zone 5, but certainly not every year). I had volunteer grand rapids lettuce plants freeze overnight and in the morning.. but be thawed out in the afternoon and looking as if they'd never been frozen at all. Janice |
Edible stuff in the front yard
I agree - Blueberries make great hedge plants - with white flowers in
the spring and red/gold leaves in the Fall. Strawberries make a great ground covers. Fruit trees are all covered with blooms in the spring. Brambles might not be so good, as they need a support trellis, but they can cover a fence. And if you are looking for some ideas - visit a pick your own farm - Check out http://www.pickyourown.org/ . There are complete listings for pick your own (u-pick, PYO, etc.) farms and orchards there for the United States, Canadfa, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The site is free and easy to use. You can also find a pick your own farm or orchard for fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, etc.) and vegetables, pumpkins, Christmas trees, etc. near your location. The typical harvest dates and other information for each area and farm, are also present. And there are also illustrated directions to make jam, applesauce, apple butter, etc. They even have local weather (current and forecast) linked in.Have fun! Blake dps wrote in message ... Assuming you're in a part of the country that experiences winter, I would recommend against annual crops in the front yard. Your front yard will look like bare soil (or weeds) for more than half the year and your neighbors may be upset (depending on your neighbors). You might consider perennial crops. Fruit trees are common and can be used as screens in the summer. Berries, particularly those that grow on shrub-like bushes, can be attractive. If appearances are a problem, you could plant a hedge at the front of your yard to block the view of your crops. In that case the area used by the hedge serves a function of a fence. It can reduce road noise. If the hedge produces berries it can also feed wildlife. When we first started farming, I had a similar bias toward food crops over decorative crops. Then one year we grew winter squash and gourds. Very similar crops. The winter squash brought in $.25/lb. The gourds brought in $.99/lb. People are willing to pay for decorative items, but food in this country is supposed to be cheap. We now grow both food and pick-your-own flowers. The flowers are very popular, and bring in more than the veggies in dollars/acre. Ignoramus31046 wrote: Being from a country where people considered their land plots as source of food rather than entertainment, I have hard times reconciling myself with gardening decorative plants. I personally plant only what I can eat. Although I would not mind my spouse devoting herself to planting flowers and whatnot, this is not something that I see myself doing. My question, rather, is, what varieties of plants that produce FOOD can be planted in the FRONT yard. Some things come to mind. 1. Sunflowers -- beautiful flowers that make nice seeds 2. Corn -- tall grass with some view blocking properties that looks nice and is also obviously edible. Adds a rustic look to the area 3. Fruit trees -- great flowering in the spring and great looking crops in the fall. I am thinking of setting up a nicely decorated compost pile in the front yard next year, and growing squash in it. Any other ideas for food plants that look nice int he front yard? i |
Edible stuff in the front yard
dps expounded:
Assuming you're in a part of the country that experiences winter, I would recommend against annual crops in the front yard. Your front yard will look like bare soil (or weeds) for more than half the year and your neighbors may be upset (depending on your neighbors). Huh? My gardens are bare during the winter, makes it easier to clear out the leaves, etc. And my yard is one of the best looking yard in the neighborhood, everyone comments on it. I have raised veggie beds and perennial borders.....looks just fine. -- Ann, Gardening in zone 6a Just south of Boston, MA ******************************** |
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