With an Edible Landscape, Your Yard Can Feed You

Edible landscape can include edible weeds

Even a “weed” like this purslane can be nutritious food

Thinking about using part of your outdoor space for a kitchen garden? You’re not alone. Every day, more people turn their limited outdoor space or an indoor area into an edible landscape.

We say space restrictions be damned. There are plenty of foods that can be successfully grown in pot, inside or outside all year long. Mix foods that need direct sunlight with those that love the shade to ensure success. Here are some ideas to get your edible landscape started:

Vegetables

Peppers – Small peppers, at a minimum, need a 2-gallon pot. Larger peppers require 5 to 10 gallon pots. All peppers require 8 hours of direct sunlight. If the night calls for dipping temperatures just bring the container inside and back out in the morning.
Summer Squash – Adaptable and robust, summer squash can grow just about anywhere. Remember to routinely harvest once it starts growing to avoid getting bogged down. Yields about three squashes per week.
Spinach – This leafy green loves the shade, inside or outside. During the winter, make sure your spinach plants are well hydrated against the indoor heat. One plant per 8-inch container and you’ll have more than enough spinach.

Fruits

Strawberries – Indoor or outdoor, these berries love container living. Select a sunny area and a large enough container for them to grow. That’s it. You can use artificial sunlight if you’d like to continue growing during the winter months.
Bananas –Dwarf banana plants are ideal for an indoor garden. These perennials grow best in a deep pot that has a large enough hole for proper drainage.
Pineapples – Surprised to learn you don’t need to live in the tropics? Growing pineapples is as easy as cutting off the crown of a pineapple; soaking it for 24 hours and then planting it in a gallon-sized plastic pot. It does best under direct sunlight so choose a warm, sun filled location; like a deck or balcony.

Herbs

Oregano – All you need is a small container, direct sunlight for this herb to grow. Remember to bring it in at night, especially during the winter months.
Rosemary – It likes to spread so pot growing this herb is ideal if you want to control it. Remember to put sand in the bottom of the pot for proper draining and allow the top soil to dry just a little in between watering.
Thyme – It can be grown in a container with other herbs or on its own. The best pots are clay because it reduces drying out in between watering.

Conclusion

Don’t let the cost of getting started prevent you from building your edible landscape. Take your time and do what you can when you can. It’s not a race to the finish. You’ll find what works best for you through trial and error. The key is to start small and build your edible landscape slowly. Ask for help if your garden goes south. There are plenty of green thumbs willing to share their knowledge.

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Image credit: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=307510