Edible Landscaping Incorporating Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs and Flowers Into Your Gardening Space Presented by Christopher Wong of Young Urban Farmers for the Ontario Non Profit Housing Association Conference October 19 th 2013. What is Edible Landscaping? Simple: Incorporating edible plants into the natural environment Advanced: Incorporating edible plants in an aesthetically pleasing way while tying the plants’ physical characteristics into the function and design of the natural environment Why Edible Landscaping? Some of the many reasons to landscape with edible plants include: recreation, relaxation, physical activity, mental stimulation, fresh air, connect with nature, learning, try unique varieties of food, connect with neighbours, engage with children, improve food security, save money, food security Considerations 1. Sun Conditions a. Determines what you can and cannot grow. Most edibles need as much sun as possible, with a recommended minimum of 6 hours of direct sun per day during the growing season b. Most urban edible landscape choices are limited by the amount of sun. c. More sun generally translates into higher yields. Consider mature trees that leaf out in the spring/summer, picket fences, and tall buildings that compete for the sun’s rays. d. Some veggies will grow in a partial shade area, like leafy greens and some herbs. Use transplants for best results e. Assess your sun conditions by taking a picture every 2 hours to see exactly what areas receive sun and when. f. Sun conditions will change as the trees, bushes, and vines fill out with new leaves in the spring, and over time as trees mature, and the sun’s movement in the sky changes with the season. g. Shady area can still grow edibles, but consider things like ferns (for the fiddleheads they produce in the early spring), or fungi like our shiitake mushroom grown on logs. 2. Site Conditions a. Soil quality and consistency. Whether you have clay or sand soil, they can both be improved by adding extra compost and organic matter. Most plants prefer slightly acidic soil conditions and some plants need specific soil pH in order to be as healthy as possible. For example, blueberries need especially acidic and free draining soil. Soil can take a few years to build up and improve.
b. Drainage. How quickly does water drain after a heavy rain? Most edible plants prefer loose soil with good drainage. Improve drainage by building raised beds, adding sand to the planting area and amending the soil with organic matter. c. Slope/elevation. Ideally, planting should be done on a flat and level surface. Take a note of the prevailing wind conditions to determine the air flow in the garden. Better airflow generally means less disease and healthier plants. Gardens placed in a depression or bottom or a hill can have the air pool, settle, and are at increased risk of frost damage as a result. d. Existing plants. Make a note of what trees, plants, shrubs, and bushes are already on site. Determine how big they will get in the future and if you want to keep them in your design. e. Heavy metals. Avoid growing food in areas of potential contamination like next to a railroad track or gas station. The City of Toronto has a good guide on how you can gauge the potential level of contamination and remedial steps f. Existing hardscaping. Stone paths, retaining walls, fences, and other features influence the look and feel of the garden. 3. Resources a. Budget. Consider the amount of food the garden will be producing as well as startup and ongoing maintenance costs. Creating and setting a budget will determine what kind of things you can invest in, like the size and type of containers, quality of soil, and size of raised beds you can purchase. For those on a tight budget, think about starting small and gradually expanding each year. Also popular is up-cycling or re-purposing items like old wine barrels, bathtubs, or scrap wood to get you started. b. Think of your garden like an investment. Over time, it will grow, mature, and give you a return on your investment in terms of the food that it produces. In-ground gardens get easier to work each year, durable containers last for many years, and raised beds continue to produce earlier due to being elevated off the ground. c. Time frame. Gardens are change with the seasons and grow from year to year. We suggest looking at your garden with at least a 5 year plan. d. Labour. How many people do you have to e. Tools. The most important tools to have on hand are a shovel, fork, hard rake, hoe, trowel, and garden shears. Other tools you can purchase later or borrow from other groups and organizations. f. Seeds and transplants. A package of seeds is relatively inexpensive ($3-4 on average). Some seeds can be direct sown into the garden while others (like peppers) need to be started in advance in order to have any chance of a good yield. g. Irrigation. How are you going to water the garden? Do you have the resources to purchase an irrigation system, rain barrel, hoses to reach the garden? h. Compost. This is one of the most important things to invest in. Think of it like the foundation of a building. With a good foundation you have long term stability. i. Gardening expertise. Where can you go or who can you call on for help and advice? 4. Project Goals
a. What do you want to get out of the garden? For some people, it is to maximize food production. For others, aesthetics and size constraints form the basis of the garden. Because of the function gardens can play, community engagement or year round production can be another goal to achieve. Assess your needs, desires, and goals when starting up an edible landscape 5. Planning/Design a. Different plants grow at different speed. Plan for how the garden will look now and at the end of the season. Most people tend to overplant b. Perennials stay in the same spot. Annuals you can move around each year c. Consider edible “weeds”. Different cultures consider the same plants to be weeds and prized edibles d. Consider the long term design and look of the landscape. e. For edible crops and high production gardens, remember to rotate the crops, plan in time for cover crops to minimize pest and diseases. f. Like all designs, consider visual balance and the different sight lines and angles people will be viewing the garden. g. Proportion. Choose the final size of the plants and features to be in conjunction with the size of the landscape. Ex. A huge tree in a small yard will probably be out of proportion h. Flow. How do people, water and air flow through the garden? i. Is there a unified theme running through the garden? Ex. A certain colour, texture, type of plant, etc. j. Keep the design simple and don’t over complicate. 6. Plant and Harvest a. Time planting around the late frost date in spring. Some cold hardy plants can be put in earlier. b. Succession plant greens and root vegetables for a continual supply throughout the season. c. Protect plants if a late frost, hail storm, or inclement weather arises. 7. Ongoing Care/Maintenance a. Water regularly. Long and deep is best as well as in the morning b. If you direct seed, some plants may need to be thinned out like carrots and lettuce c. Prune back fruit trees, berry bushes, and other perennials on a yearly basis d. Pinch off suckers and side branches of tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vining plants to control size, shape, and growth e. Train peas, beans, cucumbers, and other vines along a trellis or supporting structure f. Harvest, wash, cook, and enjoy the produce Practical Tips 1. Incorporate garden structures like a bamboo teepee, fence, arbor, pergola, trellis, archway, gazebo into the design 2. Container gardens make for excellent additions. They can add colour, height, and texture to the look of the garden as well as provide a different soil climate for specialty plants like blueberries
3. Setup a watering schedule. All the time and effort that went into a garden if it doesn’t get enough water during a heat spell or drought. A simple overhead sprinkler on a battery operated timer is an inexpensive insurance policy for the garden. 4. Start small and start simple. 5. Choose easy to grow plants that are drought tolerant. Many herbs fit this category 6. Plan work days with groups of people. A potluck lunch helps with strengthen bonds between gardeners 7. Just do it. The garden is a living, breathing, changing entity. It won’t be perfect from day one; it will change over time; it will go through growth spurts, Suggested Plants Top 6 Vegetables, Herbs, Edible Flowers, and Ornamental Plants Vegetables Herbs Flowers Ornamental Plants Cabbage Lemongrass Calendula Alyssum Kale Chives Nasturtium Zinnia Mizuna Oregano Viola Cone Flower Rainbow Chard Thyme Sunflower Yarrow Chili Peppers Sage Borage Black Eyed Susan Beans Lavender Chamomile Cosmos Other Plants to Consider Determinate Tomato plants • Collards • Purple Mustard • Espalier Fruit Trees • Green Onions • Lovage • Chili Peppers • Berry Bushes • Top Investments for the Edible Landscape Perennials • Good quality soil/compost • Mulch • Contact Information Christopher Wong chris@youngurbanfarmers.com 416-238-5715 ww.youngurbanfarmers.com
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