Edible Gardens: 3 Rules for a Delicious Space

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You might not be the most green-fingered soul but having a small kitchen garden is a great way to integrate your indoor and outdoor spaces. Whether you have large patio doors leading out into the garden or just make do with a small window above the sink, having something beautiful to look out at is always a good idea. And making that space edible is even better.

Planting and curating an edible garden doesn’t mean that you have to plant in neat rows or that you have to operate a strict gardening routine. Many plants are quite happy to make do on their own given the right conditions to thrive. So, no matter what your kitchen style is, here are a few rules to follow to make a delicious outdoor space.

Attract Local Wildlife

One of the first rules for any successful garden is to attract local wildlife. Though you might assume that insects are bad for your crops, the truth is that insects are invaluable in the assistance they provide. Sure, some insects will go to town on your crops and leave nothing for you, but in general, we need to encourage their unwitting pollinators into our lives.

Having a source of water is the perfect way to encourage more diversity in your garden. A simple water feature is all you really need but you could go for a more complex stream or waterfall design if you like. Visit store.sawyerwaterscaping.com for some ideas. Similarly, putting out bird food will encourage feathered visitors who, incidentally, will love picking off rogue insects too. To quote A Bug’s Life, it’s a circle of life kinda thing!

Companion Planting

When you imagine a farmer planting crops, you probably imagine rows and rows of the same thing. This might work for a large scale production of a single product but for a small time gardener, companion planting is a much more effective method. Indeed, many farmers are now switching to companion planting themselves.

There are all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowers that are more than happy to cohabit. The result of planting like this is that you get a much more balanced garden but you also enjoy greater crop yields too. Don’t be afraid to make decisions based on your aesthetic preference either. Nature is excellent at adapting and there are few hard and fast rules when it comes to gardening.

Harvesting and Cooking

When you are buying plants and seeds for a kitchen garden, you should think about what you like to eat and cook with. Herbs are a brilliant place to start as many are cut and come again and you can add them to most meals.

You should also consider your environment and what is likely to survive. If you have arid soil, for example, you might need to think more carefully about the types of plants that will thrive there or consider spreading compost to improve the conditions. For all that nature is adaptable, you still need to give it a fighting chance!