Just the other day, I was nattering away with my friend Isaac, a keen gardener himself, about this fascinating area – growing your own food within the framework of a beautiful UK garden. We were swapping stories about overcoming slug infestations (a perennial favourite!) and triumphant harvests. What sparked our conversation was an article I’d read about ‘Landscaping with Edible Plants: Creating a Beautiful and Bountiful UK Garden.’ It got me thinking… why can’t we have both beauty and bounty?
Isaac, bless him, has always been a bit more… practical in his approach. Vegetable patch, straight lines, all about yield. But even he admitted that my haphazard, cottage-garden style edible borders were rather charming. He’d been reading up on the same subject matter, but more from the angle of maximizing efficiency. He’s building a polytunnel, you see, and is determined to get the most out of it. Our differing approaches led to a really interesting discussion about integrating edibles into a visually appealing garden.
We started by talking about ground cover. He always uses bark chippings, but the article suggested creeping thyme or chamomile as alternatives. Imagine that! A fragrant carpet underfoot, and perfectly edible too. I’ve always been drawn to herbs, but never considered the aesthetics of how they could function more cohesively within a space. The trick, apparently, is choosing varieties that can withstand a bit of trampling. Things that are hardy enough to be able to withstand the conditions that they are living in.
Then we moved onto hedges. Isaac had always just stuck to box hedging, but he was quite taken by the idea of a fruiting hedge – perhaps gooseberries or blackcurrants. It would need careful pruning, of course, to maintain the desired shape, but the potential reward of fresh fruit every summer was incredibly enticing. I’m starting to think about where I could place a low row of blueberry bushes. They could provide a great supply of fresh ingredients for a morning smoothie.
Finally, we discussed focal points. Now, this is where things got really interesting. Isaac was used to a purely ornamental approach, focusing on statues or ornate bird baths. But the article mentioned using trained fruit trees or ornamental kale as striking focal points. I have a climbing rose in my garden and am beginning to consider if I can train anything else, potentially as a focal point. I’ve already tried to train it on to a larger section of wall in my garden and I am already seeing great results. Suddenly, the vegetable patch didn’t seem quite so… utilitarian. We debated whether to try training a climbing grapevine up an archway, or perhaps a cordon apple tree against a sunny wall. The possibilities were endless!
The key takeaway from our discussion – and from the article – was the importance of choosing the right plants for the UK climate. We can’t just throw any old edible plant into the ground and expect it to thrive. We need to consider things like frost tolerance, sunlight requirements, and soil type. Things like Runner beans can grow really easily, given the correct support but things like Aubergines might require a little more care and attention.
Speaking of sunshine, we even touched on the orangery aspect. Whilst neither of us currently own one, we both agreed that an orangery extends the growing season considerably. Imagine being able to cultivate tender herbs and citrus fruits year-round, protected from the harsh winter weather. This would significantly improve our ability to have a truly year-round selection of fruit.
Essentially, the intersection of edible and ornamental gardening lies in smart plant selection, creative placement, and a willingness to experiment. From ground cover to hedges to focal points, edible plants can be integrated into any garden design, enhancing both its beauty and its bounty. It’s about seeing the garden not just as a decorative space, but as a source of fresh, healthy food. It’s about finding harmony between aesthetics and functionality and allowing the garden to be enjoyed both visually and gustatorily. It will also be important to ensure that the correct plants are chosen and that they can withstand the UK climate in the correct time of year. It all adds to the joy of being a gardener in the UK.
