Good plant choices for your edible garden.蔬果園的植栽選擇
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1. Plants that have longer life span and are more cold tolerant — such as trees, shrubs and perennials.
Fruit trees, nut trees, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, currants, rhubarb, asparagus, artichoke (with protection to over winter if you are in colder climate), garlics, sage, mint, thyme, oregano, garlic chives, chives, … Something you plant once then they are good for many years.
2. Plants that require less water — more drought tolerant the better.
Plants with deeper root system… otherwise you can use a layer of natural mulch (not colored) to conserve water. Through time, the mulch will break down and become fertilizer in the soil.
3. Plants with longer harvest seasons and have more parts can be harvested — it means more value for you! 🙂
For example, garlic. The garlic green is very green and nice to cook with protein or simply with other veggies.
Sweet potatoes leaves are very nice leafy veggies and yam is so nice and sweet.
Chili pepper leaves are good leafy veggies, but a lot of people don’t seem to know it. 😦
With leafy veggies, harvest the outside layer of leaves instead of yanking out the whole plant — that can allow plants to recover and grow more for you to eat.
4. Pick plants that can grow seeds for sowing next year, that can save you some money.
5. Pick the plants you like the most — so you can really enjoy them.
6. Grow some plants that can attract pollinators for your fruit and crops and also add some colour in your garden, such as nasturtium and marigold.
7. Fast growing plants — so you can enjoy them sooner. For example zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, peas, beans and most of leafy veggies/herbs.
8. Space saving plants. Some people do this to save planting space — grafting two things together. Such as tomato plants on potato plants.
It will work because both are from the same family but this way requires good soil and fertilization for grafted plants to produce tomatoes on the plant top and grow potatoes underneath.
Perhaps growing some plants will not save you money (especially in the beginning) but they sure taste better when they are from your own garden!
My Food And Flowers 