Low-growing flower suggestions

[ColourMeSurprised]

Hi! So I'm completely clueless when it comes to flowers, but I'm thinking of edging my vegetable bed with some



Obviously they'd need to be shorties, since I don't want them shading the veggies! I'm torn between enclosing the whole bed with them (possibly restricting access?) or leaving a small path, and then having a little border of flowers. Or maybe it would be better to position some pots around the bed instead? I don't know, I'm just worried it looks a bit ugly at the moment!

Thoughts?

[Guest]

Nasturiums and marigolds are always used as companion plants in my veg patch. French marigolds will behave size wise if you wanted to edge and they attract hover flies (try to get single flowering varieties) I think the gem varieties are particularly sweet, I am trying red gem this year which is meant to have lemon scented foliage. Nasturiums are sprawly but you can eat the flowers, leaves and seed pods. I use variegated as they are meant to taste different to cabbage white. Variety like alaska. If you wanted something more formal you could box it in with a low lavender hedge. I have found dwarf munstard a great starter lavender. All these flowers can be used in the kitchen and are great for beasties.

[Nicos]

To be honest, I'd go for a few tubs which you can move around .

You could put potatoes in some of them with a few nasturtium seeds.
That would give a bit of height and eventually colour too.( you could even paint the tubs!)
The nasturtiums will encourage pollinating insects but are also edible!
Once the potatoes start to die back the flowers will still look pretty, and when you take the spuds , you can repot the flowers back into the pots!

Maybe a few herbs like sage,rosemary,parsley in different height tubs would also look pretty grouped together to the side of the veg patch ( and useful too!)

[Thelma Sanders]

I'd go for some tubs as well, because the bed itself doesn't look huge and you'll need the room for veg

[Nicos]

English marigold look pretty too...and last for ages..they come in quite a lot of different shades and flower head shapes.
Cheap and easy to grow too
..and if you save the seed, free for next year!

[veggiechicken]

It looks "ugly" because there's nothing growing in it. When its full of veggies it will be less noticeable.
Plant up some pots that can be moved around because my crystal ball tells me that it won't be long before you dig out another veggie bed nearby - and you wouldn't want to use the flowers as an excuse for not doing it, would you?

[Noosner]

I think it looks lovely! But then I do have odd tastes, and love to see soil.

You might also look at the poached egg plant. It's a good companion plant and it can be dug in and used as a green manure if it gets a bit out of hand.

Alys Fowler: perfect partners in the veg patch | Life and style | The Guardian

[ColourMeSurprised]

It looks "ugly" because there's nothing growing in it. When its full of veggies it will be less noticeable.

I think it looks lovely! But then I do have odd tastes, and love to see soil.

Thanks and I hope so! The thing is, our house is rented, and although the landlords are happy to let us do what we want with the garden, I need it to look attractive if they come around and inspect. There's a chance they'll sell this year instead of letting us stay, so I want to do all I can to convince them that we're good tenants and they should let us stay.

Plant up some pots that can be moved around because my crystal ball tells me that it won't be long before you dig out another veggie bed nearby - and you wouldn't want to use the flowers as an excuse for not doing it, would you?

Pffft, I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about! -hides spade and kicks earth back over the second partially-dug bed-

Thanks guys, looks like pots will be the way to go. My herbs are actually kept nearer the kitchen, but I'll have a look for some nasturiums and marigolds next time I'm out.

Cheers guys!

[Nicos]

You do realise we'll be wanting piccies later on in the season don't you!!!

[ColourMeSurprised]

You do realise we'll be wanting piccies later on in the season don't you!!!

Haha, I hope so because I'll be posting them whether wanted or not! ;p I'm gonna throw some in the general direction of the 2015 calendar later today and update each month.

[WPG]

I find virginian stock is a really pretty flower for softening edges - plus the seeds are small, so one packet goes a long way. I usually mix the seeds with some night-scented stock to get the evening scent.

[ColourMeSurprised]

I find virginian stock is a really pretty flower for softening edges - plus the seeds are small, so one packet goes a long way. I usually mix the seeds with some night-scented stock to get the evening scent.

Thanks WPG, those are really pretty! Possibly a little tall for edging such a small veg bed though? They'd probably shade smaller veggies, no?

[Noosner]

Thanks WPG, those are really pretty! Possibly a little tall for edging such a small veg bed though? They'd probably shade smaller veggies, no?

I guess you could always put them on the north edge of the bed? That way they wouldn't case any shade.

[Bill HH]

I would go for marigolds but not nasturtians they are too invasive and will take over the bed, they also self seed and you will be cursing them for years to come. On balance the pots sounds a better idea.

[ColourMeSurprised]

I guess you could always put them on the north edge of the bed? That way they wouldn't case any shade.

True! Do they take to pots okay?

I would go for marigolds but not nasturtians they are too invasive and will take over the bed, they also self seed and you will be cursing them for ears to come. On balance the pots sounds a better idea.

Hm, see I was thinking nasturtians in pots, but if they self-seed that badly, would that still be risky?