Flowering Vegetables and Herbs
Flowers are a beautiful addition to any vegetable garden, but what about flowering vegetables? It's the ultimate 2-for-1 in the gardening world.
They say you can't put pineapple on pizza. They say you shouldn't have more than two cups of coffee or tea each day. They say you can't do everything. Well, I'm not exactly sure who "they" are, but I'm here to tell you that you can have it all. Want pineapple on that pizza? Four cups of coffee? Choose the same. Want flowering vegetables? go…. wait What?
When we think of our gardens, most of us think of dividing our plants. Flowers go here. Vegetables go here. Herbs go here. Flowers make things beautiful, while vegetables and herbs serve a useful purpose (food). But there are many beautiful and delicious flowering vegetables. They really are the best of both worlds.
The flowering vegetables and herbs you need in your garden
If you look around your garden, you probably already have many flowering vegetables. Here are some common vegetables that bloom, as well as some you may not be familiar with. By the way, all of this comes with a huge bonus: flowers attract pollinators. So growing these will not only give you a beautiful and tasty garden, but also help bring in much needed bees and butterflies and ladybugs to the rest of your garden.
1. Squash.
Have you given the pumpkin flower too much notice? It is a truly stunning yellow flower that opens during the day and closes as evening sets in. Plus, squash blossoms are delicious. When they're in season, you can find roasted squash blossoms on the menu at your favorite local restaurant, and you can make them yourself at home.
2 okra.
This southern favorite is a very colorful plant. The stem and leaves are of course green, but the fruit of the okra plant can range anywhere from soft, light green to deep burgundy. However, the flowers. They are something else. Some varieties produce flowers that are bluish white and glow in the dark.
3. Peas.
Early peas, straight pods, are nature's dessert, I swear. They are so sweet and fluffy! But one of the flowering vegetables that most of us don't take advantage of is peas. Sure, we eat peas, but did you know that pea greens and the flower of the pea plant are also edible? Be careful; While edible garden peas are fine, avoid ornamental sweet peas because their flowers are poisonous.
4. Scarlet Emperor Runner Beans.
These bean plants are easy to grow, and boy do they grow. Given a solid trellis, they can easily reach the 10-foot mark. The edible flowers are, as you might have guessed, a rich crimson and very plentiful. It doesn't hurt that this plant will produce enough beans.
5. Lavender.
You may be familiar with this perennial herb. Lavender flowers and leaves are good for all kinds of culinary purposes and are a perfect addition to your herb garden. In addition, the delicate purple flowers are highly favored by bees.
6. Dill.
Here is another herb that produces beautiful flowers. They look like little yellow and white crackers and have a stronger flavor than dill leaves.
7. Dandelion.
Yes, people think it's a weed. It's also completely edible green! Greens are on the bitter side, but wonderful when you cook them with lots of garlic and salt. The flowers are slightly sweet. You already know that bees and ladybugs love dandelions.
0 Comments