Planting an edible garden is both challenging and fun. Your landscaping can be twice as nice when you know the plants are useful as well as ornamental. You can grow herbs in their own separate garden or interplanted in flowerbeds or in containers. The petals, foliage, and/or roots can be used for food, teas, or garnish. When cooking with herbs and flowers, a pinch of this or a suggestion of that can make the difference between a humdrum and a spectacular dish.
Some of the herbs that are the easiest to grow and that are used most often in recipes are the following:
- Thyme (Thymus)-This herb is excellent for seasoning foods, particularly chicken dishes. The creeping types make great ground covers, too.
- Basil (Ocimum)-This herb is very good in cheese spreads and Italian dishes. It grows so quickly that you'll wonder why you ever bought it at the market.
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)-A good-looking perennial foliage plant, this herb can be used in soups, salads, and seasonings.
Some favorite edible flowers are the following:
- Dianthus (Dianthus)-This is a great flower in salads or as a garnish.
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)-All of this plant is edible-leaves, buds, and flowers. It looks beautiful on a salad.
- Marigold (Tagetes)-This flower is great for salads and makes a great trim on desserts.
- Pansy (Viola tricolor hortensis)-The pansy is excellent in salads and is quite decorative.
- Rose-The petals make an exceptional salad or tea ingredient, and the hips are an excellent source of vitamin C.
Have fun with your garden. If you have any doubts about whether or not a plant is edible, check it out first, and remember: Do not use pest control products on plants you plan to eat, unless they are labeled specifically for that purpose.
Pat Fernandez, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
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