Edible Gardens – This Year’s Fashion or the Future?

There have been many books, and even a television series about edible gardening this year. However, The Edible Garden Show, an event that would have displayed much more about edible gardens to the world at large, has had to be postponed until next year.

What is Edible Gardening?

Edible gardening is a trend that has been gaining momentum here in the UK and across the USA. It involves integrating vegetables, herbs and fruit into the garden, creating attractive, delicious gardens that are pretty and functional. Edible gardens can be created on any scale and to suit any budget from a small terrace or balcony, to a full scale plot with fruit trees, vegetables and herbs. Edible gardeners grow interesting plant varieties that not only taste good, but have interesting foliage, seed heads or flowers. Anyone from any age can have an edible garden, started on a windowsill. There are numerous reasons to promote edible gardening.

Health Benefits of Growing Your Own

Gardening is very good exercise, gentle mobilisation. It is also good for relaxation. Everyone in the UK is familiar with the mantra of ‘five-a-day’ – growing your own five-a-day is even better as it combines a healthy lifestyle with the satisfaction of reaping your own harvest. It is also possible to choose the growing methods – to be organic, wildlife-friendly and attractive at the same time. You also have full certainty about what you are eating, no chemicals or additives unless you choose to use them.

Environmental Benefits of Edible Gardening

Growing-your-own reduces your carbon footprint; cutting down the food miles that are involved in the production process and journeys to the shops to buy fruit and vegetables. If you are using home-made compost, there are even more benefits. This reduces the waste into landfill sites, reducing methane – a worse greenhouse gas than CO2. It also cuts down on synthetic fertiliser use, another source of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Economic Value of Edible Gardening

The initial investment in tools and seeds may seem expensive, but spare seeds can be kept until next year in airtight containers and the tools will be there the next time you need them. If you grow plants that are unusual varieties, salad crops and soft fruits that are expensive to buy, you may save money in the long run and if a bountiful harvest ensues, stock up the freezer to keep the winter blues at bay. Canny folk make jams and chutneys to give as gifts and save even more…

So is Edible Gardening Just a Passing Fad ?

Research carried out by the Horticultural Trade Association (Horticulture Week, 26.4.10) suggests that a boom in consumer spending on products related to growing vegetables and fruit in gardens is set to continue. Younger people have been inspired to grow more produce and there are signs that this is much more than a fashion trend and is more about lifestyle, environmental and health decisions.

So, continue to plan and plant those edible gardens. Visit the show next year when the trend will have gathered even more momentum, and be reassured that this is not just a flash in the pan – at least not until the vegetables have been harvested, anyway!