While the weather isn’t quite ready for a garden, that doesn’t mean you can’t begin to plan one for the next season. If you’re interested in having a unique landscape or garden, consider an edible garden. Edible gardens are ones that have plants and trees which offer fruits and vegetables. Not only will you have a supermarket in your backyard, but an edible garden can add a significant amount of charm and beauty to any yard. Here are some of the more popular plants you can add to a Minnesota garden.
Leafy Greens
Some of the most nutritional plants are spinach, kale, and lettuce. Also known as microgreens, these hearty plants can grow through most of the year until winter. They are relatively easy to care for, and in fact, will be one of the first plants to grow back in the spring.
Fruit-Bearing Trees
Since Minnesota leans towards a colder climate, there are not many trees that can survive here. While you aren’t going to be able to grow citrus trees or many drupes, cold-hardy fruit trees will work just as well. The most commonly grown fruit tree in Minnesota is the columnar apple tree. They are beautiful trees and are simple to grow and maintain. They also don’t usually grow higher than 10 feet, so it makes for an easier landscaping addition.
Peas
One of the earliest to produce in the springtime, flowering peas are a great crop to grow in any garden in Minnesota. They are incredibly healthy and tasty, and they also make for a beautiful plant. Snow peas are incredibly bountiful, which means you can store up plants during the yielding seasons to eat and freeze.
Shrubs and Bushes
There are many native fruit-bearing bushes in Minnesota. Some of the most common ones are Blackcap raspberry (Rubus species), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis). Edible bushes are not only beautifully ornamental plants, but they are easy to implement in any landscaping design. There are also many benefits of using Minnesota native plants as well!
If you’re wanting to incorporate a garden into any landscape, you should consider an edible garden. Consulting with professional landscapers is the best way to achieve your dream yard.