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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-04-15, Page 71f Landscape with vegetables as well Think your lot is too small for a vegetable garden? Well, by landscaping with vegetables as well as flowers, you can make the most of today's small city lots, says Master Gardener Bonnie Warner of RR 3, Englehart, Ont. Master Gardeners are gardening en- thusiasts who have received formal horticultural training through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's Master Gardener program. Once trained, Master Gardeners are available to answer questions from the public. Try planting a border of leaf lettuce and marigolds around your foundation plantings or grow tomatoes on a trellis to separate two areas. "Planning is an important part of landscaping with vegetables. You must consider such things as color, growth habit, the time when each variety looks its best and appearance after harvest," she said. Cabbage, for example, is an effective accent plant until the first head is harvested. Once the head has been cut, the re- maining leaves become an eye -sore. At this point, perhaps you could re- place the cabbage with small pots of marigolds, petunias or geraniums. . Location of the vegetables is of prime importance too. ' Full sunlight, adequate water, proper fertilization and good soil are important if your vegetables and flowers are to thrive, she said. "Certain vegetables also require a regular spray program, so you must find out if the spray will adversely af- fect neighboring flowers (or vice ver- sa)," she said. For example, if you plant vegetables around your rose bushes, check to see if the chemical used on the roses will harm your vegetables. And note if there is a time interval re- quired between the last spray and har- vest time, so that the vegetables are not sprayed too close to consumption. "One advantage of planting vege- tables in your flower garden is the unique effect that can be created by combining new colors, forms and textures," she said. Parsley's dark green color and ruffled texture makes it a good choice for your border. Parsley is usually late to start from seed in the spring but it is very effective if you plant the seeds with spring bulbs in the fall. The following spring, the bulbs and , the parsley will appear; and in late June, when the bulbs have finished .flowering, their unsightly foliage will be hidden by the lacey parsley foliage. Asparagus, which is a perennial, makes an attractive delicate back- ground in a perennial garden. "But it is important to remember that asparagus needs about four to five years before you can begin to harvest the tender young shoots," she said. Tomatoes may be used in several ways. Miniature or cherry types can be used in patio pots or as a border plant. I arger varieties can be trained to grow on a trellis for an effective backdrop to the rest of the garden. Best of all, the tomatoes can be har- vested and the plant will still be an at- tractive part of the landscape. The unusual heads of the globe arti- choke make it an interesting accent, along with its thistle -like flowers. The heads are cooked like aspara- gus or sometimes eaten raw. Kale and borecole (with its finely curled dark leaves) can be used as an accent or border plant. The tender leaves of borecole can be used as boiled greens, chopped for salads or sandwiches or used like lettuce. Brussels sprouts also make a good accent plant in the flower garden. And after harvesting the sprouts late in the summer, the plant still looks at- tractive in the landscape. Herbs — tarragon, dill, sage — may be used as background materials or ac- cent plants. Page 43 Ornamental basil, with its dark pur- ple leaves and lavender -white blooms, is an interesting contrast plant. Chives, with its long narrow grass- like leaves and mauve -pink flowers, is ideal in a border. Peppers and Swiss chard may also be used as border material. The shiny leaves and fruit of the pepper add a unique texture to your landscape. Unlike the beet, only select parts of Swiss chard are harvested, so the plant D & D GLASS invites you to SEE WHAT'S NEW IN HOME IMPROVEMENTS AT OUR BOOTHS AT THE GODERICH & SEAFORTH HOME SHOWS This Weekend! ENTRANCE SYSTEMS ROOF WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS See us for ALUMINART 2" ALUMINUM STORM DOORS "MASTER SERIES" luxury doors NEW PREFINISHED INSULATED STEEL DOORS Wood Grain look embedded in the steel coven Can be stained to whatever colour you want. Call D & ® Gloss fora complete line of REPLACEMENT WINDOWS D & D GLASS GMB 232 R.R. 5 CLINTON, ONT. NOM 1L0 (1st AVENUE, VANASTRA) 482-7869