The world of gardening is home to an immense variety of plant types that come in a variety of colors and boast various unique attributes. There’s no end to the fun combinations of flowers, fruits, and shrubs you can grow in your yard. One side of gardening that is very fun and popular is edible plants. There are so many foods that people buy at the grocery store that are easy to grow right from the comfort of their very own backyards, as long as they have the right knowledge and materials on their side.
If you’re looking to add some tasty plants to your garden, take a look at this guide to some of the best edible plants for summer. With summer approaching so rapidly, now is a good time to start planning your summer gardening accordingly.
LEMONGRASS
If you like adding a little zest to your diet—and your garden—lemongrass is the way to go. Lemongrass is an ornamental edible plant that sprouts up and stands out in your garden, gracefully presenting itself to all passerby in your neighborhood. This delicious plant can be a great ingredient to use in various soups, baked goods, and delicious teas. Lemongrass is particularly common in tea due to the fresh lemon taste it provides, hence its memorable moniker.
It’s important to know that lemongrass can be toxic to some household pets, such as cats and dogs. Be sure you know whether your pet can safely interact with lemongrass before you buy it for your home garden. Lemongrass is a tropical plant, which means that if you add it to your garden in the hot summer months, it should be able to thrive and provide delicious ingredients for your next soup or tea. When planting lemongrass, make sure you use fertile, well-drained soil.
MINT
What’s fun about mint, aside from its unique appearance, is that you can choose from a variety of mint plants to flavor any meals or drinks you whip up at home. For instance, you can grow mojito mint for when you want to add some sweetness to a refreshing summer drink. Mint is a perennial plant that is best grown in the late summertime. Different forms of mint require different amounts of sun throughout the growing process. While some mint plants will thrive in direct sunlight, others require partial shade to grow.
Because mint is a perennial plant, it will die off and regrow each season as long as you maintain it well. For your mint to thrive, you’ll need to grow it in soil that is light and moist but well-drained, too. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about pet safety when it comes to mint. The only form of mint you’ll have to watch out for is pennyroyal, which is a form of mint that is toxic not only to dogs but to humans as well. Suffice it to say, pennyroyal isn’t the type of mint you want to put into your mojito anytime soon.
POTATOES
Potatoes are a deliciously diverse ingredient to add to your garden. This iconic veggie can be a great addition to a wide variety of meals, as Samwise Gamgee is so known for celebrating in the Lord of the Rings. Potatoes can make great side dishes, such as baked potatoes or mashed potatoes. Plus, you can even use them as a tasty ingredient in a soup or salad. Potatoes require direct sunlight to grow and come in various colors for you to choose from. Don’t worry; all potatoes tend to be very easy to plant and maintain.
You can go with the average brown-skinned potato, or you can shop for ones with gold, purple, or red skins to really make your garden pop. To begin planting your potatoes, you’ll need to use seed potatoes. Planting your seed potatoes, from which your potato will be grown, requires soil that is fertile and well-drained throughout the season, similar to lemongrass. This will ensure that your potatoes arrive with a rich, colorful outer layer and delicious, moist flesh underneath.
STRAWBERRIES
This beloved fruit can be grown during the summer; however, you will have to plant it a few months before the season. It’s a good rule of thumb to plant strawberries before the summer heat arrives, so sometime in March or April is your best bet. To prepare the soil for your strawberries, use organic matter during the planting process. Adding organic material, such as compost or manure, will make the soil moist, fertile, and slightly acidic, all of which are essential for growing strawberries.
While some types of strawberries feature a bright red exterior, others have less intense red skin. No matter what color they have, these strawberries will make a great addition to a salad or dessert. Strawberries are so flavorful on their own that you can add a few of them to your morning breakfast if you crave some extra potassium in your diet.
BLUEBERRIES
Just like strawberries, blueberries are a flavorful fruit that make the perfect addition to any smoothie or yogurt. Whether you’re making breakfast, dessert, or a quick snack, blueberries are always a great choice. While some blueberries grow better during the fall, most will thrive better in the spring or summertime. When it comes to soil conditions, the most important aspect is acidity. Blueberries need acidic soil to thrive; otherwise, they won’t grow properly.
Now that you’re more familiar with some of the best edible plants for summer, you’re ready to add some or all of them to your garden. This eclectic group of fruits and vegetables is sure to transform any garden into a place of incredible taste, in more ways than one. At The Gentleman’s Backyard, you can buy edible plants online and alter your garden to become more than just a beautiful group of flowers to look at. Not only do we have different varieties of the plants mentioned above, but we have a bevy of other edible plants as well, such as asparagus, raspberries, and haskap.
