Edible Plants to Easily Grow In Your Garden

In this fast-paced world, gardening is a nice escape for a growing number of people. It nurtures minds and souls and is a way of stepping out of the chaos of the day and focusing on the task at hand. Choosing an edible garden in this process, allows you to really take advantage of the fruits of your labor.

Pretty plants and flowers are nice to look at, but nothing beats the experience of whipping up a meal using something you grew yourself. Plus, many vegetable plants are as attractive as so-called ornamental plants. Another great benefit is that you always have a snack at hand, anywhere in your garden.

Edible Garden Plants

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, embracing the joy of gardening and growing your own food is a rewarding experience. Even with limited space, a small backyard garden can provide a bountiful harvest of delicious and nutritious edible plants that can provide fresh and nutritious food to your household.

The following easy-to-grow edibles show just how simple growing and enjoying your own herbs, vegetables, and fruits can be.

Herbs

Herbs are not only flavorful but also compact and versatile. They can be grown in small pots or tucked into corners of your garden. Many popular herbs thrive in sunny spots and can be used to enhance the taste of various dishes. Plus, they add a delightful fragrance to your garden.

Gardening newbies often choose herbs as “starter plants” because they’re small, low-maintenance, and easy to grow. A lot of them grow indoors too, like basil, mint, oregano, bay leaves, parsley, rosemary, and thyme. Perfect for gardening novices.

Perennial herbs are the safest choice in this matter. Other herbs that you can easily grow in your backyard are dill, sage, coriander, cilantro, fennel, peppermint, and lemongrass.

Vegetables

There are many vegetables that are considered easy to grow in a home garden. And while these vegetables are generally easy to grow, success also depends on factors like your climate, soil quality, and proper care. However, whether you're a seasoned gardener or just a novice trying out gardening, here are some ideal examples of vegetables that you may consider planting.

Onions and Garlic

If there are fail-safe vegetables for edible landscaping, it would be onions, garlic, and chives. Be aware though, that chives have a tendency to quickly spread. If you don't want them taking over your garden, don't let them go to seed.

Since garlic and onions need to be dug up when harvested, they can be trickier to interplant. But you could always use them along borders.  

Peppers and Chillies

Hot or not, peppers and chilies are a great way of spicing up any dish – and they're pretty easy to grow, too. The plants will do just fine in a small pot in which you can grow a variety of different types of seeds. Just stick to one per pot and water them a little and often. Easy peasy.

Radishes

Spice up your salads with crunchy, peppery radishes. They're easy to grow in containers or sow them directly into the ground throughout the summer for a succession of crunchy, colorful crops. 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a staple in many home gardens, and fortunately, there are numerous compact and dwarf varieties suitable for small spaces. Cherry tomatoes, patio tomatoes, and determinate varieties are ideal choices. They can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, or even vertical gardens. With proper support and regular care, you'll enjoy a plentiful harvest of juicy, sun-ripened tomatoes.

To have them in your garden, you can either buy tomato seeds and plant them, or opt for a young plant that already has a vine if you want to start producing sooner. Once they're of a decent size, you can transfer them to a grow bag, or you can buy special varieties for hanging baskets too.

Edible Flowers

Eating flowers from the flower garden may seem a little odd, at first. Somehow planting them in the vegetable garden makes it seem more sensible to snip them for a salad. But growing edible flowers throughout your yard should be a part of every edible landscape. Just be sure not to feed or spray them with anything you don't want to ingest. 

Fruits

Not a lot of fruits are easy to care for, especially for beginner gardeners. There are a few exceptions though. Apricots, lemons, avocados, raspberries, and kiwifruit are some small indoor fruit trees you can try your hand at growing.

Fruit Trees and Berries

The real advantage of using these plants as an edible landscape is that they require minimal care and most look good for at least 3 seasons. A little spring pruning and feeding and most will take care of themselves.

Consider the visual impact of a blueberry bush that covers itself with white flowers in spring, dusky purple berries in summer, and radiant red leaves in the fall. 

Strawberries

These sweet and juicy berries are perfect for small gardens, as they can be grown in hanging baskets, containers, or stacked planters. Strawberries are generally low maintenance and produce ample fruit. They also make an attractive addition to your garden, with their lush green foliage and vibrant red berries cascading down the sides of containers.

You can plant them in pots, grow bags, or in the garden, as long as they don't get too waterlogged. The bonus here is that if you look after them they'll keep producing fruit every year. after year.  

Good luck with starting to build your edible empire!

Feature image by jcomp, and header image by 370eis.