What would you plant in your front garden?

[Flummery]

A thick hedge will sift our much of the road dust and particles. I've grown yin-yang beans for drying on a wigwam in the shaded bit of my garden. I also grew purple climbing french beans up alongside a viburnum tinus that had just had a serious haircut. This year I'm putting my crimson flowered broad beans in the flower border so they won't cross with the ordinary ones in the back garden. Most leafy stuff grows ok in shade but more things will cope than you think.

[maryif]

I would have to agree, I would not plant anything I was going to eat within 15ft of the street where cars are constantly pulling up & taking off. Stick to ornamentals. I know it seems like such a waste, I have the same tempting dilemma at my own curb, but would be worse of a waste to knowingly & needlessly poison yourself & loved ones.

[NewbieGardenerRow]

VEGETABLES FOR THE SHADY GARDEN
Try this, sez.

Thanks for this link. Really helpful....and I now have some ideas.

I have a north facing lawned front garden with, fortunately, no road anywhere near, just a public footpath and a green opposite. Unfortunately though if I planted anything out there I know it would get picked and nicked...lol
We are not allowed a fence or wall of any more than 2 feet high either so not much of a deterrent to any would be veggie pinchers.
I hate the lawns, there's only a few conifers and bigger shrubs out there and it seems such a waste as my front garden is actually bigger than my back garden/veggie plot...and I need more room out there.
I'm trying to decide if I can grow anything like spinach or herbs out there that hopefully won't get recognised as being edible and so won't get pinched.

[planesailing]

Talking of pollution, on my way back down to London the other day on the M1, I saw this allotment by the side, bordered by the M1 and a railway line!

alexandra street leicestershire LE19 2DD - Google Maps

[womble]

There are loads of allotments round here next to very busy roads.

I live next to a very quiet village road and I grow stuff in the front garden. Maybe I wouldn't want to next to a very busy road though.

This year I'm having my PSB, sprouts and kale in mine

No one thinks twice of buying anything from the shops, when you have no idea how close to the road that has been grown.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Try a visit to Plants With Purpose of Perthshire herbs, plants, pictures of flowers, garden design, nursery, consultancy, advice for ideas. They only sell plants that are edible or that have medicinal purposes.

[Two_Sheds]

There are loads of allotments round here next to very busy roads....No one thinks twice of buying anything from the shops, when you have no idea how close to the road that has been grown.

and of course we are all breathing the polluted air every day.

[womble]

and of course we are all breathing the polluted air every day.

Not even to mention the fact that the produce is transported for long distances on lorries, in tunnels, everywhere the lorry goes.
And also as you say, we walk there all the time. We think nothing of travelling in a car for long distances each day, breathing in huge amounts of polluted air.

There is a huge allotment right next to a very very busy roundabout in Kettering, I can't believe that the council would allow, or anyone would want to garden on such a busy area unless it was ok.

Read it and don't worry any more.
Are there no-go areas for veg? | Life & Style

I don't like pollution, I try to avoid it, but unless I lived next to a very busy road I wouldn't worry too much about it.
I bet anyway, if you took readings from the front and back gardens of a street, the difference would be tiny.

[Llamas]

Thanks for this link. Really helpful....and I now have some ideas.

I have a north facing lawned front garden with, fortunately, no road anywhere near, just a public footpath and a green opposite. Unfortunately though if I planted anything out there I know it would get picked and nicked...lol

I'm trying to decide if I can grow anything like spinach or herbs out there that hopefully won't get recognised as being edible and so won't get pinched.

Or amaranth. Maybe also planting it swathes rather than rows will make it look more ornamental and less free-veg garden.

[tamsin]

I'm planting two toms in amongst the flowers/shrubs

[selfraising]

I have a small asparagus bed in the front garden, mainly cos I ran out of space in the back!

[Patchninja]

Try getting a couple of those plastic animal ornaments that detect movement and make a noise. That might scare a potential veg nicker