How to Grow an Edible Garden
Growing your own fruit and veg is easy, whether you have acres of land or a small plot, and edible plants can look wonderful in a garden
You don’t need acres of land to grow your own edible garden. In fact, many varieties of edible plant can flourish in tubs and containers, and most can be mixed in with flowering perennials and shrubs. To sucessfully grow edible plants, you need a plot with good soil that’s rich in organic matter and receives around six hours of sunshine a day, plus good access to water and adequate wind protection.
Once the key ingredients are in place, it won’t be long before you’re picking your own fresh, home-grown fruit and vegetables. Here are a few ideas for the best edibles to plant, plus some handy growing tips to get you started.
Read more in this series: How to Grow a Cottage-style Garden l How to Grow a Scented Garden l How to Grow a Lush, Jungle-style Haven l How to Grow a Container Garden
Once the key ingredients are in place, it won’t be long before you’re picking your own fresh, home-grown fruit and vegetables. Here are a few ideas for the best edibles to plant, plus some handy growing tips to get you started.
Read more in this series: How to Grow a Cottage-style Garden l How to Grow a Scented Garden l How to Grow a Lush, Jungle-style Haven l How to Grow a Container Garden
Invest in a fruit tree
A fruit tree lets you feast on fresh or preserved fruit all year round and is a great investment for an edible garden. Fruit trees are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard sizes, with the rootstock determining how well the tree will adapt to soil, climate, pests and diseases.
When choosing which tree to plant, consider how big it will grow – you want to allow space for reaching to pick, prune and spray. Give your tree lots of sun and some wind protection, and don’t plant it at the bottom of a hill, where the cold air collects, as any late frost may kill the blossom.
Some fruit trees are self-pollinating, but others require specific pollinating partners to bear fruit. To save space, try stepover (horizontally trained) varieties, which can make great path- or bed-edgers, and will also produce a good amount of fruit.
Want to add the wow factor to your garden? These standout trees will do just that
A fruit tree lets you feast on fresh or preserved fruit all year round and is a great investment for an edible garden. Fruit trees are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard sizes, with the rootstock determining how well the tree will adapt to soil, climate, pests and diseases.
When choosing which tree to plant, consider how big it will grow – you want to allow space for reaching to pick, prune and spray. Give your tree lots of sun and some wind protection, and don’t plant it at the bottom of a hill, where the cold air collects, as any late frost may kill the blossom.
Some fruit trees are self-pollinating, but others require specific pollinating partners to bear fruit. To save space, try stepover (horizontally trained) varieties, which can make great path- or bed-edgers, and will also produce a good amount of fruit.
Want to add the wow factor to your garden? These standout trees will do just that
Add leafy salad veg
Salad crops are one of the easiest edibles to grow, and there are many cut-and-come-again varieties. Harvesting the young leaves as and when required ensures you’ll have a continuous supply of tender, tasty salads throughout the year.
They are easily grown in containers if you don’t want to plant directly into the soil, and you can even grow salad on a windowsill in winter. There are some wonderful seed mixes available, which mean you can grow an instant mixed leaf salad. Seed packet mixes include salad rocket, red mustard, pak choi, mizuna and ‘Red Russian’ kale. Once sown, the leaves will be ready to cut after just 25 days during the summer months.
Salad crops are one of the easiest edibles to grow, and there are many cut-and-come-again varieties. Harvesting the young leaves as and when required ensures you’ll have a continuous supply of tender, tasty salads throughout the year.
They are easily grown in containers if you don’t want to plant directly into the soil, and you can even grow salad on a windowsill in winter. There are some wonderful seed mixes available, which mean you can grow an instant mixed leaf salad. Seed packet mixes include salad rocket, red mustard, pak choi, mizuna and ‘Red Russian’ kale. Once sown, the leaves will be ready to cut after just 25 days during the summer months.
Dig in some root vegetables
Carrots and potatoes are the easiest root vegetables to grow, and they also do well in containers.
For an autumn harvest of potatoes, plant them in soil in April. First, dig a trench about 12cm deep, add some compost and plant your potato seeds. Space the seeds at 37cm intervals and in rows about 75cm apart. Cover with soil and water regularly. When the emerging shoots are 30cm high, it’s time to earth up, which means pulling the soil up over the base of the plant in order to protect it from late frosts. Earthing up also encourages more growth at the base, which means more potatoes.
If space is limited, you can grow potatoes in huge pots, bins and even hessian sacks. As the potatoes grow, keep earthing up or adding soil to the container. Once the leaves turn yellow, the potatoes are ready to harvest.
Carrots require a fine soil and should be planted in shallow drills. Use a bamboo cane for a line and water the line before putting in your seeds. Sow the seeds thinly, every 1cm or so, then cover with soil. When the carrots start to come through, thin the seedlings to about 5cm – do this early in the morning to avoid carrot fly. You can harvest your carrots just eight weeks after planting.
Carrots also do well in containers, but be sure to choose a deep pot for root growth.
Carrots and potatoes are the easiest root vegetables to grow, and they also do well in containers.
For an autumn harvest of potatoes, plant them in soil in April. First, dig a trench about 12cm deep, add some compost and plant your potato seeds. Space the seeds at 37cm intervals and in rows about 75cm apart. Cover with soil and water regularly. When the emerging shoots are 30cm high, it’s time to earth up, which means pulling the soil up over the base of the plant in order to protect it from late frosts. Earthing up also encourages more growth at the base, which means more potatoes.
If space is limited, you can grow potatoes in huge pots, bins and even hessian sacks. As the potatoes grow, keep earthing up or adding soil to the container. Once the leaves turn yellow, the potatoes are ready to harvest.
Carrots require a fine soil and should be planted in shallow drills. Use a bamboo cane for a line and water the line before putting in your seeds. Sow the seeds thinly, every 1cm or so, then cover with soil. When the carrots start to come through, thin the seedlings to about 5cm – do this early in the morning to avoid carrot fly. You can harvest your carrots just eight weeks after planting.
Carrots also do well in containers, but be sure to choose a deep pot for root growth.
Cultivate a Mediterranean-style vine
Beans and tomatoes, along with cucumbers and peas, can be considered climbers to a degree, as many varieties grow upwards.
But why not grow a vine, either against a wall or on a pergola? What could be lovelier than sitting outside on a summer’s evening beneath an arbour heavily laden with grapes that you can just reach up and pick?
Good grape varieties include ‘Black Alicante’, which needs a hot summer for setting the fruit, and ‘Golden Champion’, which bears tasty grapes and is also good for wine making.
As with all vines, powdery mildew can be a problem when growing outside, while those grown in a greenhouse can have trouble with scale insects and mealybugs.
Beans and tomatoes, along with cucumbers and peas, can be considered climbers to a degree, as many varieties grow upwards.
But why not grow a vine, either against a wall or on a pergola? What could be lovelier than sitting outside on a summer’s evening beneath an arbour heavily laden with grapes that you can just reach up and pick?
Good grape varieties include ‘Black Alicante’, which needs a hot summer for setting the fruit, and ‘Golden Champion’, which bears tasty grapes and is also good for wine making.
As with all vines, powdery mildew can be a problem when growing outside, while those grown in a greenhouse can have trouble with scale insects and mealybugs.
Plant berries and currants
Some fruit and vegetables tolerate growing in shady spots, although the crop may be lighter than plants that get more sunshine. Certain varieties of ribes, such as blackcurrants and white currants, do very well in semi-shade, as long as they’re sheltered from cold winds.
Add well-rotted manure to your soil and plant black or white currants fairly deeply to encourage extra stems to be produced below ground. Try ‘Big Ben’ for blackcurrants and ‘Blanka’ for white currants.
Blueberries also tolerate semi-shade and can be planted in containers. Full of antioxidants, they are relatively easy to grow, as long as you use an ericaceous compost. Make sure the soil is moist and well drained, and feed your plants monthly using a liquid fertiliser specifically for ericaceous plants.
For a low-growing, shade-tolerant edible, try the lovely white Alpine strawberry.
Some fruit and vegetables tolerate growing in shady spots, although the crop may be lighter than plants that get more sunshine. Certain varieties of ribes, such as blackcurrants and white currants, do very well in semi-shade, as long as they’re sheltered from cold winds.
Add well-rotted manure to your soil and plant black or white currants fairly deeply to encourage extra stems to be produced below ground. Try ‘Big Ben’ for blackcurrants and ‘Blanka’ for white currants.
Blueberries also tolerate semi-shade and can be planted in containers. Full of antioxidants, they are relatively easy to grow, as long as you use an ericaceous compost. Make sure the soil is moist and well drained, and feed your plants monthly using a liquid fertiliser specifically for ericaceous plants.
For a low-growing, shade-tolerant edible, try the lovely white Alpine strawberry.
Grow your own toms
Nothing beats the smell and taste of home-grown tomatoes and there are so many varieties to choose from, including tiny cherries and big beefsteaks. Many tomatoes can be grown in grow bags in a sheltered, sunny position on a patio or balcony, or even in a hanging basket.
Tomatoes need a great deal of water to get the tastiest fruit, and watering little and often is best. Include a liquid feed in the water until you see the first truss, then alternate with a high potash feed.
If you’re planting tomatoes outside in the ground, make sure you have good soil with added compost or well-rotted manure.
If you’re planting in pots or a grow bag, water your tomatoes regularly and, if the plants are under glass, ventilate well to prevent any disease or pests.
Good tomato varieties to try include ‘Money Maker’, ‘Gardener’s Delight’ and ‘Sungold’.
Nothing beats the smell and taste of home-grown tomatoes and there are so many varieties to choose from, including tiny cherries and big beefsteaks. Many tomatoes can be grown in grow bags in a sheltered, sunny position on a patio or balcony, or even in a hanging basket.
Tomatoes need a great deal of water to get the tastiest fruit, and watering little and often is best. Include a liquid feed in the water until you see the first truss, then alternate with a high potash feed.
If you’re planting tomatoes outside in the ground, make sure you have good soil with added compost or well-rotted manure.
If you’re planting in pots or a grow bag, water your tomatoes regularly and, if the plants are under glass, ventilate well to prevent any disease or pests.
Good tomato varieties to try include ‘Money Maker’, ‘Gardener’s Delight’ and ‘Sungold’.
Think vertically
Indoor or outdoor vertical spaces can be used to grow edibles, freeing up valuable floor space. Herbs grow well in containers or in a specially designed wall-mounted unit like this one. Living edible walls do equally well outside, too, as long as they are well fed and watered, and have good drainage.
Many edible plants can be added to a living wall, including strawberries and varieties of salad crops, plus some vegetables. As the planting area is limited in a vertical living wall, some varieties that would normally grow quite tall will be shorter and more dwarfed. Plants will need watering regularly and feeding with an organic fertiliser every few weeks.
Bored of flowerbeds? Add drama with a magical living wall
Indoor or outdoor vertical spaces can be used to grow edibles, freeing up valuable floor space. Herbs grow well in containers or in a specially designed wall-mounted unit like this one. Living edible walls do equally well outside, too, as long as they are well fed and watered, and have good drainage.
Many edible plants can be added to a living wall, including strawberries and varieties of salad crops, plus some vegetables. As the planting area is limited in a vertical living wall, some varieties that would normally grow quite tall will be shorter and more dwarfed. Plants will need watering regularly and feeding with an organic fertiliser every few weeks.
Bored of flowerbeds? Add drama with a magical living wall
Arrange plants in rows
Many people like the idea of having a designated area for their edibles and the formality of rows, which can make it easier to harvest and plan ahead. However, if space is limited in your garden, having your own vegetable plot may not be an option. Instead, arrange your edibles in terms of form, texture and colour, and combine them with herbaceous perennials to great visual effect.
Some edibles, such as chard and beetroot, have wonderful coloured stems and leaves, and they mix well with perennials, as do purple cabbages and purple-leaved basil.
You will have gaps in the border when your salad or vegetable plants have stopped producing, but these gaps are easily filled with other plants. This way of planting edibles may also stop you ending up with loads of produce you can’t eat. It’s easy to get carried away and over-plant a specific vegetable patch, only to get fed up with having to eat carrot soup every night!
Many people like the idea of having a designated area for their edibles and the formality of rows, which can make it easier to harvest and plan ahead. However, if space is limited in your garden, having your own vegetable plot may not be an option. Instead, arrange your edibles in terms of form, texture and colour, and combine them with herbaceous perennials to great visual effect.
Some edibles, such as chard and beetroot, have wonderful coloured stems and leaves, and they mix well with perennials, as do purple cabbages and purple-leaved basil.
You will have gaps in the border when your salad or vegetable plants have stopped producing, but these gaps are easily filled with other plants. This way of planting edibles may also stop you ending up with loads of produce you can’t eat. It’s easy to get carried away and over-plant a specific vegetable patch, only to get fed up with having to eat carrot soup every night!
Create an outdoor kitchen
Once your edible garden is up and running, why not create an outdoor area for cooking your produce straight after picking? If you have room, building a space to cook freshly grown produce makes a wonderful spot to entertain, and your guests can watch as you pick the freshest ingredients ready to be cooked.
You can grow herbs in pots that can be used in your outdoor cooking area, and if you have space for a sink to wash your ingredients, you can dig up or cut fresh leaves from your planted pots and prepare a completely alfresco meal.
Herbs grow especially well in pots as many are Mediterranean plants and need good drainage. Mint should always be grown in a container or it will run all over your beds. Herbs also grow well in hanging baskets and you could suspend these from a pergola or outside your kitchen door.
TELL US…
What do you grow in your garden that you enjoy eating – and what’s your best edible gardening tip? Share your advice in the Comments below.
Once your edible garden is up and running, why not create an outdoor area for cooking your produce straight after picking? If you have room, building a space to cook freshly grown produce makes a wonderful spot to entertain, and your guests can watch as you pick the freshest ingredients ready to be cooked.
You can grow herbs in pots that can be used in your outdoor cooking area, and if you have space for a sink to wash your ingredients, you can dig up or cut fresh leaves from your planted pots and prepare a completely alfresco meal.
Herbs grow especially well in pots as many are Mediterranean plants and need good drainage. Mint should always be grown in a container or it will run all over your beds. Herbs also grow well in hanging baskets and you could suspend these from a pergola or outside your kitchen door.
TELL US…
What do you grow in your garden that you enjoy eating – and what’s your best edible gardening tip? Share your advice in the Comments below.
There are many pretty edible flower varieties available and they can look wonderful in a garden. Try these three for starters: