Feed Your Family With Edible Landscapes

Growing your food is vital to make sure no pesky and deadly herbicides actually sneak on to your dinner table.

Previously we’ve talked on how to prep your own seeds and develop your own rainwater irrigation system.

Here’s how you can make the most of your garden’s landscape without compromising on its beauty.

Before You Start

If you’re planning to use your garden space as a solely utilitarian source of your food, you can afford to skip this tip and simply focus on maximizing your garden’s crop yield to feed your family.

If you’re like the rest of us and you want to have a pretty garden and eat it, you need to invest a serious amount in planning your layout so it actually complements your home’s general aesthetic.

Here’s what you need to factor in when you’re selecting plants:

– Their color

– Their texture

– Their form

– Their size

Select what you think works best for your own tastes. If you’re looking for additional sources of inspiration, I recommend checking out Pinterest because it has a dedicated community that is more than happy to share tips.

Where to Start

I recommend replacing small shrubberies with herb plant and vegetables used for salad greens.

If all goes well you can start adding rhubarb and strawberry plants to your flower border.

Finally, I recommend you start replacing a couple square feet from your yards to make room for more vegetables.

This way you can gauge how much space you want to commit to growing food according to your own comfort.

Making Your Garden Produce Even More

Here are some general tips to help increase your garden’s crop yield:

– Place tall plants (like corn) in the northernmost part of your gardening area to make sure that even the smaller plants get enough sunlight.

– Discover the first and last frost dates in your area and plan accordingly. Every seed packet comes with instruction based on these crucial dates.

– I know you may be trying to make the most of your garden, but always make sure plants have enough room to grow. Ample growth room significantly increases air quality.

– If your plans include sprawling plants, make sure you provide them space to grow vertically so you can maximize your garden’s yield.

– I also recommend interplanting long-lived plants (like tomatoes and peppers) with fast growers (like spinach and radishes) so you can make extra space for the larger plants.

– Finally, you need to make sure you have the best soil. Ideally, it needs a pH balance between 6.0 and 7.0. After testing your soil, you can correct acidic soil with dolomitic limestone or correct alkaline soil with sulfur.

Amazing Plant and Vegetable Combinations

Here are some beautiful plant and vegetable combinations that help your plants grow efficiently and improve your garden’s unique look.

– Combine cherry tomatoes with blue and purple morning glories.

– Yellow zucchini and dahlias that are lined with basil and zinnias.

– Cucumbers with a coral gladiolus.

– Strawberries and burgundy-leafed cannas.

With these tips your garden will look simply amazing, provide the most economically efficient source of vegetables, and be the foundation for your healthy holistic diet.