7 Reasons to Grow Edible Landscape Plants

Inside: Growing edible landscape plants that we can eat, that help the bumblebees, and that look great is the best thing I can do on our homestead.

I have gone through phases with our yards. From wanting a beautiful green lawn and decorative plants to wanting to only grow food. Now, I think I have found a happy balance. Growing edible landscape plants that we can eat, that help the bumblebees, and look great.

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7 Reasons to Grow Edible Landscape Plants

When getting started on creating an edible landscape, it's essential to start with plants that are not only delicious but also relatively low-maintenance, especially for beginners.

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Here are some excellent choices to consider:

Herbs: They require minimal space and care while offering abundant flavor and aroma. Classics like basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme thrive in various climates and soil types.
Salad Greens: Lettuce, spinach, arugula, and kale are perfect options for those new to edible landscaping. These leafy greens grow quickly and can be continuously harvested by snipping leaves as needed.
Tomatoes: While tomatoes may require a bit more attention than some other plants, they are still relatively easy to grow and incredibly rewarding. Choose determinate varieties for compact growth and easier maintenance.
Peppers: Both sweet and hot peppers are excellent additions to any edible landscape. They thrive in warm, sunny locations with well-drained soil. Peppers are relatively low-maintenance.
Strawberries: Perfect for containers or ground planting, strawberries are not only delicious but also decorative. They produce sweet, juicy fruits and attractive runners for spreading.
Culinary Perennials: Incorporating perennial herbs and vegetables into your landscape can provide years of harvest with minimal effort. Plants like chives, oregano, asparagus, and rhubarb come back year after year, requiring only occasional pruning and fertilizing.
Dwarf Fruit Trees: For those with a bit more space, dwarf fruit trees offer the opportunity to grow fresh fruits like apples, pears, and peaches without the need for extensive pruning or maintenance.
Edible Flowers: Don't forget to add some edible flowers to your landscape for both visual appeal and culinary delight. Options like nasturtiums, calendula, and pansies not only add beauty but also flavor to salads, desserts, and drinks.

Reasons to Grow Edible Landscape Plants

There are many reasons to try edible landscaping. Including these seven great motivations to keep you interested in starting your edible landscaping adventures today.

Getting in Touch with Nature

It can be hard to take the time to get outdoors as much as we should sometimes. But the rewards for doing so are great. When you grow plants in your edible landscape, you are creating your own oasis and ensuring that you will spend time there which is kinda the point.

Stress Relief

Being around plants is a great way to de-stress. Spending time among your trees, plants, flowers, and herbs will allow you to unwind and put aside your daily worries on a regular basis.

Growing plants is a great way to let go of everything that makes you feel tense, and see everything that you have accomplished.

Saving Grocery Money

Edible landscapes are a great way to improve your economic situation. Although there is a bit of a start-up cost, you will save money in the long run. Growing your own produce is a great way to save on your food bill.

And great way to get your kids to eat more veggies.

Ensuring High-Quality Food

When we buy produce from the store, we are putting our trust in many people we have not even met. Conventional produce is often loaded with pesticides, herbicides, and many other things we may not know about.

Growing your own food is a wonderful way to be aware of what you are putting into your body, as you can make the choice to garden organically. You can easily save your fresh produce for the winter as well.

Encouraging a Family Bond

Gardening is a great way to spend time with your family. Watering the plants in your edible landscape, weeding and caring for them, gives you something in common as a family. Spend quality time with your family as you care for your plants and work towards a common goal.

And those weeds can be fed to you chickens who are giving you healthy, delicious eggs. And then their manure can be used in your garden next year. It's a great cycle.

Exercise

Gardening is a great way to get a workout. Although you may not immediately identify it as a significant exercise, it really is. Carrying, bending over, pulling, and digging contributes to your physical health.

Gardening has been studied and shown to lower the risk of osteoporosis and diabetes, among other diseases and health conditions.

A Healthy Sleep Aid

There are several reasons that growing plants contributes to a good night’s sleep. All the exercise and the significant amount of time in the outdoors, soaking up the fresh air and sunlight.

Horticultural therapy has even been used to assist individuals with their mental health… which also improves sleeping patterns.

There are many great reasons to grow your own edible landscape plants. You probably have your own list of personal reasons that inspire you to garden.

Decide what is important to you, and what benefits you wish to experience. You will enjoy the rewards of your hard work as you literally reap what you sow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in an edible garden? An edible garden is a versatile and rewarding space that combines the beauty of traditional landscaping with the practicality of growing edible plants.

Are marigolds edible? Marigolds are one of these: simply separate the head from the stem and pluck off the bright petals.