Edible plants are a great way to supplement your existing garden or landscape. They can be incorporated into the landscape in place of ornamental plants or in a separate area specifically for edibles such as a kitchen garden or raised beds. There is a lot of satisfaction in growing your own food. Just knowing that you cultivated the food that is on your plate can give you a sense of accomplishment as well as save you a few pennies at the market. It’s also a healthy and fun activity for all ages, and is actually something that you can do as a family. Involving everyone in the planning stage, all the way through to deciding what recipe you will use is great way to increase family together time. Additionally, you can control the kinds of pesticides and herbicides used and, in turn, know exactly what is on your plate.
If you have a hard time deciding what to grow, just be sure to select plants that will grow well in the Raleigh, NC area. Also, the size of your garden or landscape will play into what to grow. Some fruits and vegetables can also be grown in containers as well as vertically on trellises which is something to consider if you are limited on space. Herbs are a great way to get an edible garden started. They are easy to grow in beds and/or containers. And, who doesn’t love fresh herbs like mint, basil, oregano, and rosemary!
Growing your own tomatoes gives you the chance to try some different varieties that may not be readily available at the local grocery store or farmers market. Squash and zucchini love summer here in NC and so do those delicious melons that are great for a snack, smoothies, cold soups, and as a healthy addition to any meal. Blueberries and figs are also wonderful additions to the landscape. Just keep in mind that blueberries do require a more acidic soil than most plants. Figs also thrive here in North Carolina and the local Raleigh area. They do need about eight hours of full sun so keep this in mind when designing your garden. Celeste’ and ‘Brown Turkey’ are the most common varieties planted here. ‘Celeste’ bears a sweet fruit that is a small purplish brown. ‘Brown Turkey’ is the favorite for preserves and produces a larger, reddish brown fruit.
Summer is a great time to try some edibles in your garden. If we can assist you in designing and installing an edible garden, please give us a call at 919-844-3441 or fill out the contact form below.
