Adding Edible Plants to Your Garden

February 25, 2009
There are some truly beautiful garden plans that incorporate vegetables and fruit into residential landscaping. In our Inland Empire heritage, citrus trees have long been a favorite with homeowners. In the spring the citrus blossoms have an unbeatable fragrance and the fruit adds bright color to the garden. Citrus also is a fairly easy maintenance with deep irrigation monthly. (They do not like to be on a daily watering system.)
Tomato plants are not the most attractive as they can get scraggly, but mixed in with marigolds and other flowering plants in a garden bed, they add color and when ripe, a homegrown tomato is an entirely different flavor from those sold in the market. (I have yet to be a successful tomato grower, but the memory of the flavor filled tomato keeps me trying.)
Chives are another attractive plant with great purple-lavender blossoms that can enhance a garden border. Basil, parsley, rosemary and other herbs have long been standard in garden borders. Lettuces and carrots with their frilly tops add interesting texture among the flowering plants.
Now is the time to prepare the soil and visit the garden center. Using old newspapers to mulch around the newly plants will keep the soil warm and as the newspapers disintegrate they will add nutrients to the soil. (A great way to recycle those newspapers.) Just posting this information has me ready to redo my garden beds!