How to Grow a Recipe-Garden
It’s garden-planning time! What you grow often inspires meals, but in these cases the reverse is true. Find out how
Rebecca Cuttler
8 March 2017
Houzz Contributor. Rebecca Cuttler's mission is to share her love of urban food gardening with the world. She is the author of http://abundantcity.net, a blog that shares simple and effective techniques for growing food on an urban home garden scale with informative videos, photos and articles. She grows a huge amount of vegetables on a small lot in Vancouver, B.C. She is an urban gardening teacher for Hollyhock, Canada’s lifelong learning centre, gardening writer for the Vancouver Observer, co-host of Fabulous Urban Gardens on Roundhouse Radio 98.3 and member of the Vancouver Food Policy Council.
Houzz Contributor. Rebecca Cuttler's mission is to share her love of urban food gardening... More
Plants that taste good together often grow well together. Tomato and basil aren’t just a tasty combination — they are also companion plants. Basil’s aroma is said to repel pests, which can result in a more bountiful tomato crop. By thinking about your garden beds according to recipe-based themes, you can ensure plant diversity and get more pleasure out of your garden.
Start by thinking about what you like to eat. If you love kale chips but find them too expensive to purchase, you’ll be happy to discover that a few big kale plants will satisfy your cravings for most of the year. If radishes grow well in your cool, shady garden but you aren’t a fan of the taste, don’t grow them.
Take some time to determine what will work well in your particular site. If your garden is small or shady, salad greens are your friends. A big, sunny yard, meanwhile, will allow you to plant just about anything — but only if you have enough time, resources and water to keep things going. Here are some themed gardens to try.
6 Must-Haves for a New Kitchen Gardener
Take some time to determine what will work well in your particular site. If your garden is small or shady, salad greens are your friends. A big, sunny yard, meanwhile, will allow you to plant just about anything — but only if you have enough time, resources and water to keep things going. Here are some themed gardens to try.
6 Must-Haves for a New Kitchen Gardener
Salad-mix garden
Salad greens should form the backbone of any home garden. They grow quickly, take up little space and thrive in cool, shady climates and balcony gardens. Once you try homegrown salad greens, you’ll never go back to pre-packaged mixes. The freshness, money savings, variety and smaller carbon footprint are truly worth it.
Try growing a mesclun mix offered by a local seed company — a single packet contains several types of seeds. In addition to the usual lettuce, mesclun mixes often contain less-familiar items like spicy mustard greens, baby kales and mâche. Experiment with different varieties and see what you like the best. Be open to the bold flavours of homegrown greens, but don’t make yourself eat something you truly don’t like. Mild baby lettuce is always a great standby.
Salad greens should form the backbone of any home garden. They grow quickly, take up little space and thrive in cool, shady climates and balcony gardens. Once you try homegrown salad greens, you’ll never go back to pre-packaged mixes. The freshness, money savings, variety and smaller carbon footprint are truly worth it.
Try growing a mesclun mix offered by a local seed company — a single packet contains several types of seeds. In addition to the usual lettuce, mesclun mixes often contain less-familiar items like spicy mustard greens, baby kales and mâche. Experiment with different varieties and see what you like the best. Be open to the bold flavours of homegrown greens, but don’t make yourself eat something you truly don’t like. Mild baby lettuce is always a great standby.
Pasta and pizza garden
Nothing celebrates summer’s bounty like a freshly harvested crop of sun-ripened tomatoes. Make them even more exciting by growing tasty companions, like basil, oregano, chives and even carrots underneath your tomato plants. As long as you prune your tomatoes properly and train them to grow up a trellis, there will be lots of space to grow other plants underneath.
If you love pasta, the combination above will give you all the ingredients you need to make an amazing sauce. Enjoy it fresh or consider canning or freezing some for a bite of summer during the cold, rainy months. For bonus points, grow some zucchini in a separate bed. It will ripen at the same time as your tomatoes and can be sliced thin using a mandoline or spiralizer for a low-calorie alternative to traditional pasta.
Nothing celebrates summer’s bounty like a freshly harvested crop of sun-ripened tomatoes. Make them even more exciting by growing tasty companions, like basil, oregano, chives and even carrots underneath your tomato plants. As long as you prune your tomatoes properly and train them to grow up a trellis, there will be lots of space to grow other plants underneath.
If you love pasta, the combination above will give you all the ingredients you need to make an amazing sauce. Enjoy it fresh or consider canning or freezing some for a bite of summer during the cold, rainy months. For bonus points, grow some zucchini in a separate bed. It will ripen at the same time as your tomatoes and can be sliced thin using a mandoline or spiralizer for a low-calorie alternative to traditional pasta.
Pickling garden
Pickles are delicious and easy to make. When made with brine rather than vinegar, they can also be a healthy source of probiotic bacteria. Consider dedicating some space in your garden just to crops that are destined for the pickle jar. Cucumbers are an obvious option — just be sure to choose a variety that’s been bred for pickles rather than for fresh eating. Cabbages, for making sauerkraut, are another great option. Carrots, beets and radishes are also great for pickling. Experiment and see what works for you.
To truly bring out the flavours in your pickles, be sure to devote some space in your garden to garlic and dill. Dill is a companion plant to cabbage but not to cucumber, so plan your beds accordingly.
Pickles are delicious and easy to make. When made with brine rather than vinegar, they can also be a healthy source of probiotic bacteria. Consider dedicating some space in your garden just to crops that are destined for the pickle jar. Cucumbers are an obvious option — just be sure to choose a variety that’s been bred for pickles rather than for fresh eating. Cabbages, for making sauerkraut, are another great option. Carrots, beets and radishes are also great for pickling. Experiment and see what works for you.
To truly bring out the flavours in your pickles, be sure to devote some space in your garden to garlic and dill. Dill is a companion plant to cabbage but not to cucumber, so plan your beds accordingly.
Freezer-friendly garden
Freezing is an easy way to extend the life of your garden. Try devoting a bed just to freezer-friendly crops. Spinach, shelling peas, sweet corn and even kale work especially well. In some cases, you may need to adjust the specific varieties you grow to freeze more successfully.
Prepare crops for freezing by washing them thoroughly and then blanching them, a process that involves briefly immersing the item in boiling water and then immersing it in ice water before drying and storing. This process ‘shocks’ the plant into suspended animation, deactivating enzymes that could make the plants degrade in the freezer. Be sure to portion and label everything before freezing. For a value-added option, try preparing freezer-friendly foods, like spinach and feta pie, soups and even pesto. It’s a lot of work up front, but so worth it in the middle of winter when you get to enjoy your own homegrown convenience foods.
Freezing is an easy way to extend the life of your garden. Try devoting a bed just to freezer-friendly crops. Spinach, shelling peas, sweet corn and even kale work especially well. In some cases, you may need to adjust the specific varieties you grow to freeze more successfully.
Prepare crops for freezing by washing them thoroughly and then blanching them, a process that involves briefly immersing the item in boiling water and then immersing it in ice water before drying and storing. This process ‘shocks’ the plant into suspended animation, deactivating enzymes that could make the plants degrade in the freezer. Be sure to portion and label everything before freezing. For a value-added option, try preparing freezer-friendly foods, like spinach and feta pie, soups and even pesto. It’s a lot of work up front, but so worth it in the middle of winter when you get to enjoy your own homegrown convenience foods.
Baking garden
Don’t forget about the sweet side of things. If you have the space, consider growing fruits like apples, peaches and blueberries for pies. These perennial plants need a permanent, dedicated space to grow and may take years to reach full production. Keep in mind that some apples are ideal for baking, while others are best for fresh eating. Ask your local garden center for recommendations.
Vegetables and annual fruits like beets, carrots, zucchini and pumpkins are great for baking as well. Try including them in muffins, cakes and bread for a moist, delicious treat.
Read More:
8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen Gardeners
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
How to Grow a Green Thumb
Tell us:
What crops are you currently growing in your home? Tell us about them in Comments below.
Don’t forget about the sweet side of things. If you have the space, consider growing fruits like apples, peaches and blueberries for pies. These perennial plants need a permanent, dedicated space to grow and may take years to reach full production. Keep in mind that some apples are ideal for baking, while others are best for fresh eating. Ask your local garden center for recommendations.
Vegetables and annual fruits like beets, carrots, zucchini and pumpkins are great for baking as well. Try including them in muffins, cakes and bread for a moist, delicious treat.
Read More:
8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen Gardeners
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
How to Grow a Green Thumb
Tell us:
What crops are you currently growing in your home? Tell us about them in Comments below.
Related Stories
Decorating Guides
7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden
A gardening expert gives insightful and essential steps on how to go about setting up a thriving rooftop garden
Full Story
Decorating Guides
5 Best Outdoor Floor Tiles for Homes
Get to know about the most popular types of outdoor floor tiles for balconies and patios
Full Story
Decorating Guides
21 Roof Gardens That Are Heaven on Earth
Divert your mind from chaos and towards serenity as we bring you 20 inspiring terrace gardens from the world over
Full Story
Garden Guides
8 Climbing Plants Great for Indian Balconies & Gardens
Wish to add some vertical interest to your balcony garden? These eight climbers & creepers can be your pick
Full Story
Garden Guides
8 Most Effective Water-Saving Techniques for Your Garden
Is your garden water-conscious? Adopt these strategies to save a precious resource and lower your water bill at the same time
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Delhi Houzz: This Rooftop Barsati Has a Front-Row View to the Stars
The open-to-sky courtyard by Shreya Krishnan Design is an idyllic sit-out that mirrors the moods of the day
Full Story
Garden Guides
Outdoor Plant: A Guide to Growing the Golden Bamboo
Introduce this gorgeous plant in your garden as a soother for sore eyes and tired minds
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
28 Beautiful Entrances That Make a Big Statement Too
By Joanna Tovia
Building or renovating? Don't overlook your front entrance – it's a great opportunity to make a style statement
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
10 Ideas for a Terrace Makeover
Here are tips and suggestions to make good use of the alfresco spaces of your house
Full Story
Architecture
For the Love of Wooden Battens: Why Your Home Needs Them
Traditional timber slats are a great way to add flair and function to modern homes
Full Story
Great article. Thanks.