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Planting Veggies in the flower garden

13 years ago

Now that I've starting thinking again, any thoughts on planting colorful veggies in my country garden to add texture or color? Any recommendations on this...FYI I don't get full sun all day. I was thinking of adding something different to the varied mix of perennials.

Hmm...but, I have been seeing alot of rabbits this year...more than in the past. Maybe it's time to toss out some Blood Meal? Wish there was something cheaper!

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
most veggies.. for production of veggies.. NEED full sun ...

but if all you want is texture.. go for it ... the worst that can happen is you end up with a green plant that doesnt perform like a veggie ...

and the best that can happen.. is that you can eat it if it does work ..

i dont really know what more we can tell you .. than give it a go ... its your garden.. and you surely dont need anyones permission to bend the rules ....

great stream of consciousness on the post..

ken
janicej11
Original Author
13 years ago
I always enjoy your response, Ken. Thanks! I'm picturing purple Kale intermixed with Fountain grass and maybe something with bright red or yellow overtones!
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Sounds like Johnson's grass, and yes, that's really a tough weed! I have it on one border of my main gardens and constantly battle it. There's no reason you couldn't use that garden for veggies. The upside down grape cluster type flowers are grape hyacinths. Around May they will die down. They have small bulbs and could be transplanted if you wished. They will actually grow nicely in one's lawn or along a fence. Just mark where desired flowers are located and plant away with whatever you would like. Also, if you would like to prepare another garden bed, for next year, I'd recommend that you mark it out even now and start laying down cardboard, to kill grass and weeds. Then, as you find mulching materials, or even manure or leaves, pile them up on top of that cardboard. You could add and add all year long and then, by next spring you could work it up with a spading fork and... presto! You'd have some good soil. I often do this wherever I want to start a garden. George Tahlequah, OK
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Your best bet is to build an insectary-- something year round that the good guys have something to feed on(and breed) until there are pests to eat. In colder climates, they would do much like the bad guys do -- lay eggs, pupae/larvae burrow, and in the spring come out with the bad guys. Borage, Bachelor Buttons, Corn, Sunflowers, anything in the umbelliferae family(Cilantro, Parsley, Dill, Alyssum, etc.) Wild Carrots and Queen Anne's Lace, Coreopsis, Black-Eyed Susans and anything else in the Aster family. Also, some ornamental grasses along with Alfalfa and Buckwheat. Onions and garlic supposedly repel some pests although making a spray from them would probably be more effective. I've read that Marigolds are also good but they ATTRACT aphids -- thus, keeping them off your veggies. Kevin
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If you live somewhere with freaky weather it is always best to sow a few seeds and then sow some two weeks to one month later to act as back up plants should the first batch not survive. Its all about timing. If they stay in their pots too long, some plants just never do as well in the garden as those that got outside and in the ground at the perfect time. You'll never be able to forecast that "perfect" time so just take the risks you're comfortable with. Hot weather lovers like morning glories and zinnias do not do any better starting them early. They just kinda sit still until things warm up so there isn't a huge advantage to starting them early. They will set seed which will over winter and sprout next year but the zinnia seedlings won't show up until summer is half over and the morning glories will show up where you don't want them and also a bit late. Two things will slow down seedlings - lack of sunlight (much stronger than indoor lighting) and lack of warmth. It is better the keep them starved for light while you wait for things to warm up outside. Cool temps bring with them all sorts of rot problems with seedlings. If you're starting large seeds of things like melons or cucumbers just stick two or three seeds in each space and then use scissors to chop off the heads of the weakest plants after they're a week or so old. No need to risk damaging roots by digging them up to thin them. The headless ones will sink back into the soil over time. The truth about roots - the roots you see when you dig up a plant are not the parts of the roots that do the actual work of drawing in water and nutrients from the soil. The real workers as far as roots go are microscopic. Only superman can see them with the naked eye (and he ain't much of a gardener!). You can gauge a plants health by looking at its roots but the damage that is done by handling baby plants is to the microscopic roots. Some plants just freak out when those roots are damaged.
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I also plant flowers herbs and vegetables together. Why not!? Lots of vegetables are pretty, particularly when they aren't planted in 'soldier rows.' One thing you might consider is planning small pathways (using your choice of material) that go through the area. That way you have easy access to your plants and don't compact the growing soil. If you can allow enough room to get a wheelbarrow through, all the better! With a little planning, you can make the paths so that they enhance the look of the garden. Soaker hoses are great and mulch will make everything healthier and very pretty. Both cut down on maintaince time. Rotating your crops cuts down on infestations and allows the soil to recouperate from heavy feeders. When you really get daring, you could consider a fountain or birdbath somewhere in the garden to add the sound of water! PS Watch out for invasive herbs like mint. Those, I'd plant in a pot in, or above ground! Good luck!
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noinwi
13 years ago
"Bright Lights" Swiss Chard is pretty...

Here is a link that might be useful: Chard images
janicej11
Original Author
13 years ago
Noinwi...It sure is pretty! Love the colors! Thanks.
mxk3 z5b_MI
13 years ago
Yep, most veggies need full sun to set abundant fruit. If planting for greens (e.g. lettuce, etc.), part sun should be okay and will be preferred during high summer.

You'd probably have much better luck with herbs, even the sun-lovers do okay in part-shade, perhaps a bit lanky but since you're harvesting the leaves that's easily remedied. Sages look terrific in perennial beds as do chives, basil.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
13 years ago
You can get red-leaf basil, such as 'Red Rubin'. Culinary sage comes in the typical silver and variegated as well. Parsley is pretty ornamental in my mind as is rosemary. I usually have a few garlic plants in my flower & shrub beds which I let flower because I love the curly flower stalks. There is a taller kale with red stems and rather frosted looking leaves that I've seen as well as the rosette style kales that folks use for autumn decoration but which can be eaten. Edible podded peas have nice flowers as do scarlet runner beans.

Today I'll be planting a cool weather container or two with light green leaf lettuce, pansies, parsley and rosemary.
tomtuxman
13 years ago
Yes, I plant a few veggies in flower beds (sage, parsley, basil, chard) BUT I also plant some flowers in veggie garden. Lavender and monarda ensure really good pollination by attracting bees in droves.
nancyd
13 years ago
I've attempted this but as mentioned above, you need full sun to get any veggies. Plus I have a dog so I need to keep all mine together and fenced to keep him out. Herbs work well in this situation and are a little more forgiving. As the poster above does, I plant flowers behind my veggie garden to attract favorable insects. Dahlias work great as a tall backdrop in this situation.

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