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Container Gardening

Hanging basket with strawberries and trailing lobelia - edible?

15 years ago

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help. I am a beginner to gardening, and planted a strawberry plant with trailing lobelia in a hanging basket (with poppy and petunia seeds too!).

Aside the overcrowding issue, is it safe to grow these plants together? Will the strawberries be adible if they are sharing the same soil? (Hasn't fruited yet).

If not, is it safe for me to transplant the strawberry plant, which is doing well, into other soil and still eat the fruit, or will it be contaminated?

Any ideas would be gratefully received!

Many thanks!

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Comment (1)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
15 years ago
The alkaloids and other poisonous compounds in lobelia are by-products of the plant's metabolism. The plant doesn't actively secrete these compounds into the soil, but shed plant parts that break down after falling onto the soil surface have the offending compounds in them, so you should consider they are present in the soil. Look to the juglone that black walnut plant parts add to soils as the parts break down near the trees' rootzone for a comparison.

I doubt that it would be a problem, but I'm also the first to say that I don't know the answer to your dilemma. I caution you against taking definitive advise from someone on the net though, unless you can establish somehow, that the person knows what he/she is talking about.

Al
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Romance Gardens and Greenhouse has Lobelia erinus "Lucia Dark Blue" that blooms all summer instead of just spring, and is wonderful for hanging baskets. I bought some myself to try for a half barrel where I planted a climbing mini rose. I'll plant the Lobelia around it. :) Here is a link that might be useful: Lobelia erinus
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I would really consider coleus. Last year I did coleus and abutilion that bloomed all summer, for my shade basket. I have also, used the sweet potato vines and in the center I used a hibiscus. This is a good site for coleus. http://www.rosydawngardens.com/selection_guide.htm
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Plants don't affect each other quite like that, your strawberries will be edible.
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Haven't tried it myself, but just read the suggestion to grow creeping thyme, oregano, or prostrate rosemary in a hanging basket in the Reader's Digest book called Short Cuts to Great Gardens: A Practical Guide to Low-Maintenance Gardening. I do grow creeping lemon thyme & an ornamental oregano in holes of concrete blocks for easy harvesting & edging in raised beds along our gravel driveway (where we have enough sunshine!) I planted them early last spring & they've really taken off. I watered last summer, but don't plan to this summer. I have chives & some sedums in there in a pattern as well. It's lovely & so easy... There are all sorts of tips in the book I mentioned. It shows how you can remake your garden based on the purposes & number of hours you have available. It shows previous garden, describes family members make up & wishes for the garden, then shows the new garden in drawings. It makes everything look simple & easy, but you know reality is a bit more complicated. It sure is encouraging to gardening. More nurseries should sell it because it can make a gardener out of anyone. They have a simple explanation of potagers with suggestions of what to plant where in your 4 squares with an herb garden in center. Obelisks in center of squares for climbing plants & lovely flowers, too! Would be good for FAQ for this forum. Here is a link that might be useful: Short Cuts to Great Gardens: A Practical Guide to Low-Maintenance Gardening
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