Edible Landscaping

Emily Tepe, Research Fellow

University of Minnesota,
Dept. of Horticultural Science
1. What is edible
landscaping?

2. Why is it a good
idea?

3. The U of M Edible
Landscape and a few
tips

4. Brainstorming

5. Questions

6. You’re inspired!
 http://z.about.com/d/gardening/1/0/R/9/OverviewSo http://www.kwaree.com/blog/tag/staking-
http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/02/ tomato-plants/
nny.JPG

What is edible landscaping?

Gardening outside the rows…creatively
 http://www.gardenfreshliving.com/2009/02/the-
http://youvegottoseethis.myhomeideas.com/see_ canceling-of-the-west-coast-garden-shows-is-there- http://www.rosalindcreasy.com/tomatoes-
this/2009/04/go-green-for-earth-day.html hope.html and-peppers-in-the-edible-landscape/

What is edible landscaping?

(my definition)
The thoughtful arrangement of edible plants in the landscape to
maximize their aesthetic appeal, production and resistance to pests.

Treating edibles as ornamentals

Why try
edible
landscaping?

http://www.rosalindcreasy.com/toma
toes-and-peppers-in-the-edible-
landscape/
http://miyouthandfood.msu.edu/projects/inde
x.html
Best of both worlds –
edible & ornamental
Inter-planting reduces
pests
New textures, forms,
colors
Grow what you like best
Fun for kids
Responsible water use
Great conversation
piece
UM Edible Landscape
A demonstration garden
Week of May 18, 2009
Week of May 18, 2009
Week of June 15, 2009
Week of June 15, 2009
Week of July 10, 2009
Timing – Habit - Requirements
A few plants
to try
 Easy to Incorporate

Kales & Leaf Chard

mustard lettuces
greens
 Variety & Interest

Beans & peas Strawberries Peppers

on trellis for for variety of
height groundcover color & size
 Shrubs & Bushes

Blueberries Currants & Raspberries

gooseberries
 Creativity Required

Tomatoes Eggplant Squash

Creative Color & form Keep size in
trellising mind
 Herbs Everywhere!

Basil Sage Thyme

many colors texture & with small-
& flavors color variety flowered
annuals
Edible Flowers
 Edible Flowers

Winter Rye
•Helps feed soil micro-organisms
•Adds organic material to soil
•Grows well late in fall, resumes in spring
•Prevents erosion, aids in spring weed suppression
•Plant 2-3 weeks before frost, till in 30 days before planting
 What’s happening in 2010?
MN Landscape Arboretum
• Powerhouse Plants June – October

St. Paul Campus demonstration garden

• “Veggies by the Yard”
• 5 designs – 50 square feet
• Master Gardeners replicating plantings
across the state
 Let’s Brainstorm!
Qualities for use in the Ideas for use in the
landscape landscape
• Groundcover? Mass planting?
What about this plant Border? Hedge? Foundation?
Edging? Container?
would make it work well
in the landscape? • What other plants would it
look good with?
• What ornamental could you
replace with this edible?
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Color: light green to purple/bronze
Texture: fringy
Flowers: light yellow umbels
Mizuna Mustard
Height: 8 to 15 inches
Spread: 6 to 12 inches
Mounded form
Deeply serrated leaves
Texture: fringy to jagged
Height: 2 to 6 feet
Spread: variable depending
on pruning
Spread by underground
rhizomes…..Yikes, what to do?
Resources
Web:
UM Edible Landscape Blog
http://umediblelandscape.blogspot.com/
UM Extension: Garden Info
http://www.extension.umn.edu/
Rosalind Creasy’s Edible Landscape Page
http://www.rosalindcreasy.com/

Books for inspiration:

All in One Garden by Graham Rice
Creative Vegetable Gardening by Joy
Larkcom
The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping
by Rosalind Creasy
A few tips:
Remember timing, habit,
requirements
Start planning early
Be creative…think outside
the rows!
Think about combinations
Don’t be afraid to try
something new.
What edibles will YOU grow this year?