Decorative veg plants?

PeteW

Hiya,

I've got a flowerbed in my front garden that's roughly 9ft x 2.5ft. I'd like to use it to supplement the patches I've got out the back, but as they're on public display would like them to look vaguely attractive if at all possible.

So does anyone have any suggestions for something that would look quite nice but also provide me with some tasty grub?

Cheers

Pete

diluvsdiscounts

Not entirely sure about decorative but if you alternated cabbage and cauliflowers around your borders I think that would look nice maybe with a few leeks in between!
I remember watching hugh fearnley whittingstall when he was planting veg in the middle of towns with local people they looked really good!

foxgloves

I'm not sure if this is what you were thinking, but how about companion-planting something attractive that would help your veg? I was thinking calendula (dead easy to grow from seed & then you can save seed for following year) and poached egg plants, again these self-seed once established. Both will attract hoverflies & useful pollinating insects to your veg & will also make a pretty display.

conradmum

Broad bean flowers look surprisingly pretty and smell nice too!

Runner beans were originally grown for decoration.

Ken68

These look good, Pete...

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.uprisingorganics.com/images/uploads/rainbow_chard_comp.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.uprisingorganics.com/index.php%3Fact%3DviewProd%26productId%3D7&usg=__TP3BBdxv0rINyJ-B2UYUi9RyW4U=&h=390&w=298&sz=41&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=xG7ZdZhE80p3FM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=94&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drainbow%2Bchard%2Bimage%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1T4GZAZ_en-GBGB334GB334%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1%26newwindow%3D1

ALIBOBSY

I love herbs, most look pretty and the smell on a hot summer day is lovely. Lavender, rosemary, thyme, and chives all have pretty flowers.

ali x

Linda32

Sounds odd but Beetroot has really nice dark red leaves.

ScratchandSniff-->[X]

Globe artichokes - big spiky and perennial. Kale for textured and coloured leaves. Some chicories for red colour. Fennel for leaves/swollen bases (depends on type). Kohl rabi for the the outer space look.

SaverSueG

Rainbow chards as per pic look great. Unfortunately my OH refuses to eat them, (they are quite strong flavoured!) so I won't be growing any more.

As previously mentioned Broad Beans are easy - I grow the Crimson Flowered ones which are quite nice to look at and also compact. They don't give the highest yield but in my opinion they taste the best.

Grow Bulls Blood if you want nice looking beets with dark leaves. I start mine off in modules and alternate with white (or yellow) beets. These are also easy for a beginner.

Be careful with Poached Eggs you'll never get rid of them!

Maybe try Empress of India Nasturtium if you want edible flowers.

Mixed Salad leaves (lots of different mixtures around) are good, easy and attractive. If you choose the oriental ones or rocket don't sow early in the year as they will just run off to seed.

I personally wouldn't grow brassicas in the front garden as they attract too many pests and either need spraying (don't like doing this!) or netting.

Good luck.

Amarillo

A friend of mine grew a very pretty runner bean called Celebration I think it is. She had it in a large pot on her patio and it had lovely salmon pink flowers.

Amarillo

You could maybe get one of those cheap rose arches to grow things up which could look nice.