I don’t know about you guys, but I have been giddily flipping through all of the seed catalogs I’ve received of late. It’s always hard for me to decide how many flowering and foliage plants to pot up versus how many vegetables, fruits and herbs. That’s part of the reason why I like edibles that are beautiful in their own right. I also like tucking in edibles here and there in my flowering pots so that I can make the most of my limited space.
What are you planning to grow this year?
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I was totally disheartened by my tomatoes last year. But I don’t think I could handle all flowers. Where would herbs, grasses, and foliage plants fit in here?
Bob–Sorry, I was trying to keep the answer choices pithy. Vegetables was supposed to encompass all edibles, and flowers encompassed all ornamentals.
I mostly grow flowering things and use a lot of trailing herbs in my pots. I like the tiny flowers and the fact almost all attract bees which I dearly love. This year I am going to try the gutter salad bar for lettuce, which I have never grown and experiment with peas and green beans on teepees in fairly deep pots. I wanted to try a fig tree, which was posted about awhile back, but after further research, I don’t think this would work for me since I don’t have full sun anywhere.
Shari–Bummer about the fig tree. I love watching bees do their work too. Today I had a bee in my car though. That wasn’t nearly as happy. I was sure it was going to sting me because it was so angry that the window was up. I heard lots of angry buzzing before I got that little guy out of my car!
I’m all about edibles. The flowers I chose as companions and bee attractors do doubletime as salad additions.
viggie–What do you like adding to your salad? I posted on the LOTB facebook page a chocolate cake recipe that called for edible flowers like pansies. YUM!
I voted 75% veggie 25% flower as that is what I’m growing for myself; but technically it will be more like 75% flower and 25% veggie when you take into account all the extras I’m going to grow for the parents….
I wouldn’t be growing any flowers for myself if it weren’t for the companion benefits to my veggies to have marigolds and sweet alyssum. And I can’t resist sunflowers…
Mary–I remember that you really liked that peach sunflower in the hipster plants post. I can’t remember if that’s a pollen-less variety or not, but assuming that it does have pollen, you could justify the sunflowers because they attract bees and other pollinators that your edibles need.
I had trouble deciding what to click… I’m lucky enough to have half an acre, so I plant lots of EVERYTHING. I think it comes down to more flower then veg, but I’m not really sure. Truth is, I never really know EXACTLY what I’m going to grow until I get outside with seed packets in hand!
Joseph–I’m jealous!
Normally I only plant edibles, but I’m now trying to attract more beneficial insects to my garden so I need to concentrate a bit more on flowers. I will be doing mostly natives and perennial flowers though- I don’t have the time or a greenhouse to manage annual flowers too!
Carri–I hear ya on the perennial front. Replacing annuals twice a year is exhausting!
The only reason I am planting any flowers is to lure and feed my pollinators! In general, my policy is that if it doesn’t feed me, I’m not planting it. I did inherit a yard that is almost entirely ornamentals when we bought our house, so any efforts I make to get food out of it are a drop in the bucket next to the lilac trees, english ivy, rhodies, and endless expanse of lawn.
Jess–I have that desire too, but I have no self-control when it comes to pretty flowers, so I have to try and balance what my head wants with what my heart wants.
I used to have a private entrance with a large “plate bande” (sorry, i don’t know the word in english). But recently i moved in a smaller appartment, so i only have a balcony. No problem for me, i will have my veggies and flowers.
Il will grow from seeds a couple dwarf tomato plants, lots of different herbs and flowers.
Cammu–I think “plate bande” translates to “flower bed” in English, but not sure. I love how many compact tomato varieties have come on the market of late. Great for us balcony gardeners!
I’m a big fan of the potager. Vegetable gardens are beautiful! However I love flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees too.
Adriana–I love hummingbirds and definitely need to plant something at the new balcony that will attract them. But as much as I think butterflies are beautiful, I don’t want to see them in my garden because they bring the bain of my existence: caterpillars.
The stuff I start myself is all veg, as I get a big thrill from having the fresh food available, a few steps away from my back door. But I have been given flowers by other people and I love having them in the garden.
I used to want to plant only vegetables, but it didn’t take long to realise you needed balance. My balcony garden is mostly edibles, some flowers, and some succulents because of the hot dry weather. The beauty about some of the flowers is that they are perennials so I don’t have to keep potting up all new things every year. Ohh and cornflowers are the new obsession – I found some ‘black’ ones and thought of you! Will post a picture if and when they ever flower.
Prue–I didn’t know there were black coneflowers. Coneflowers in general are pretty hot here in the states. Are they a popular plant in Australia?
Kathryn–Sounds like you’re doing a great job of keeping the cost of your garden down. That’s something I’m working on this year. I want to grow everything from seed/bulb.
I like some flowers but mostly veg — growing veggies is so rewarding!
The year before last I would have voted all flowers, but last year I discovered herbs. What a delight – I have found fresh herbs are the best thing in the world to cook with.
I am excited and a little nervous to be having a go at growing some little gem lettuce, radish, carrot (the ones I am hoping to have most success with), dwarf bell pepper, tomatoes and cucumber…have got myself organised, bought seeds etc and am just working on cheap but easily portable containers (pref with handles) as I may have to move them around the communal garden area where I live and maybe even bring them indoors as the Manchester (UK) climate is very unpredictable! love your blog by the way x
So many plants to meet…so little time. I’m an admitted veggie-freak, but LOVE my flowers..and orchids..and want a coolio Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick..
Fern-yes I got a packet of those peach sunflower seeds! They look cool and they are pollenless so no pollinator attraction there. But I love sunflowers so I’m growing them anyways, if nothing else I hope they’ll lure aphids away from my other plants…
I also have a stockpile of autumn colored sunflower seeds from my harvest last year which will attract bees and hummingbirds that I’m planting also.