veggies in flower beds

[janeyo]

Hi I have decided to put veggies in the flower beds. Since moving into this house I cannot keep up with the weeds and am trying to do so much there are not enough hours in the day (house needs totally doing up, veg garden to maintain, chickens to look after and a garden that's been neglected for years. But this is why we moved, for a project! And I've cetainly got one...)

So to put some vegies in the flower beds would keep the weeds down and give a bit of interest while I plan what's to go there full time.

I thought of PSB (got some in seed trays waiting to go somewhere anyway) which will free up the brassica bed over winter as well.

I might nick some of my nans rhubarb as that gets quite big and will cover some ground. What about putting my cougette and pumpkins in their too?

And any other suggestions? Pretty if poss but not bothered!

Thanks janeyo

[Rich75]

globe artichoke is always a good one in the pretty stakes, you could try chilli plants as well, depending on where you live. They're pretty when you get the little chillis growing. For ground cover im not sure, maybe just some herbs. I wouldn't put squash/ courgettes in though personally as they're prone to going a bit nuts.. you'll come out one day and find the rest of the bed completely submerged unless you're really vigilant

[Rich75]

alternatively you could just forget about the beauty of it and just whack in a load of spuds.. they'll cover the ground and break it up for you as well

[peanut]

Climbing Beans look good in the flower bed growing up a wigwam or obelisk, also Rainbow Chard looks fab, I'm going to get some for mine this year!

[Alison]

Last year I had climbing beans (blauhilde), bush toms (red alert), winter squashes and courgettes in amongst my flowers as well as some tomatillos. In addition, there were pepper and chilli plants in pots on sunny days on the patio. All very pretty and close to hand. Oh yes, not to mention all the herb plants.

[moggssue]

I was going to suggest a few herbs as well (though obviously not mint, too invasive to put into a mixed bed) - last year I had broad and dwarf climbing beans mixed in with the sweetpeas at the end of my flowerbed. Courgettes would look pretty and colourful if you have the room, they do tend to spread a fair bit. How about beetroot for their red leaves? Or pretty coloured salad leaves, like lollorosso lettuce?