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Post by bluelacedredhead on Nov 15, 2010 20:03:57 GMT -5
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Post by rintintin on Nov 16, 2010 16:35:25 GMT -5
Growing up, we had an Italian family 2 doors up the street. Their backyard looked like 4 acres of veggies packed into a 75x100 foot yard. The wife felt it inappropriate to plant veggies in the front yard, but Henry was not about to lose that much space to a lawn. He planted an artichoke on either side of the arched window, which quickly grew and arched over the window. In the flower patch directly in front of the house were beautiful 'ferns' which provided early spring asparagus for the family. Of course, rosemary, sage, and some other herbs made it to the front yard.
Here's a suggestion for those saying too many school kids pass the yard every day: Plant "green when ripe" tomatoes. There will not be that tempting red cherry to entice them.
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peppereater
Breeder in Training
TREE HUGGER
just tell me when to shut up
Posts: 230
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Post by peppereater on Nov 16, 2010 22:12:58 GMT -5
Even though I've followed most of this thread from the onset, I still crack up at the topic, picturing people harvesting turf to eat. I'd like to ask about a few things and suggest a few (if I haven't already and forgotten,) first, I've had crabapples so good they rivaled the best johnathans and such, anyone know varietal names for those? My peaches are the most gorgeous flowering trees I've seen, cherries are a close second. I have a peculiar obsession with pricklypear cactus, as an evergreen ornamental, a beautiful flower "shrub," and the rich crimson fruit. I don't especially use them for food, but they're there if times get bad enough, although some, sorellina for one, love the fruit for preserves. I'm lazy. Rosemary is one beautiful shrub as is sage and also the herb fennel, the list goes on. Pomegranate has the most amazing flowers, and beautiful fruit. As I recall, the dwarf is more cold hardy, but less fruitful. The old fashioned favorite, flowering quince, produces an "apple" famous for it's use in Brittain, although I don't know of a best variety for harvesting more than a few fruit. Even the berries produced on dogwood are edible...strawberries make a good groundcover...I'm preaching to the choir, but the options are numerous.
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Post by kathyrrozier on Oct 16, 2011 9:37:31 GMT -5
What is edible landscaping?
Edible Landscaping is the practical integration of food plants within an ornamental or decorative. The same principles of landscape design and ornamental use, while the substitution of food crops such as lettuce, berries, vegetables and some fruit trees to plant materials otherwise unproductive. Using food products in the landscape design can enhance a garden, providing a unique ornamental component of additional health, aesthetics, and economic benefits. Edible landscape is a mixture of beauty and utility. However, the edible landscape does not have to be edible. In fact, filling the yard with edible products are often produced too much food for most families, not to mention time and effort. Instead, careful planning and judicious use of fruits, herbs, and vegetables results in a garden that is tasty, practical and pleasing to the eye. As a bonus, which is a big topic of conversation!
Homeowners in all climates, with small or large patios, can benefit from a trellis cherry tomatoes cascade over the entrance, a border of fragrant basil colorful and tasty, and a prolific semi-dwarf apple trees or two. There are edible and ornamental tasty addition to any garden in any climate. Only the most gloomy and wet soils are not suitable. The sunniest spots and areas with the finest soil reserves for most fruit trees and vegetables annually. On the other hand, there are culinary herbs suitable for rocky or poor soils, and some edible perennials for wet locations. In theory, any edible plant can be used in an ornamental landscape, but in practical and aesthetic, some are more suitable than others
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