Ornamental veg garden?

[Gales]

I love my garden, but I have no artistic ability whatsoever and by far the most exciting bit for me is growing food.

I'm about to have my front garden done to create more parking, but there is room to keep a decent sized "flower" bed too.

I'd like to fill this with vegetables, but somehow make it look nice too. I know it's possible, but is it possible for someone with no artistic flair and how much harder will it be than regular veg growing in rows?

[ThePskettiIncident]

Look at potager gardens. They can look beautiful. You grow in groups and layers with flowering plants too.

Potato and bean flowers are very pretty.

I grow borage with veg for colour and for the bees. And marigolds with my carrots to protect them from beasties.

[HeathRobinson]

What veg would you grow?

You could use arches/obelisks for beans, with mixed salad leaves underneath.

[Talkinpeace]

get this book
www.amazon.co.uk/Ornamental-Kitchen-Garden-Gardeners-World/dp/0563360178?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Gales]

I have that book and have read it cover to cover several times. The whole successional sowing and having plants ready to fill gaps sounds complicated!

I'd grow anything edible! With a few flowers between if i must

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Look for different varieties of veg that are more attractive than the usual eg. Crimson flowered broad beans, purple French beans on a hazel wigwam, rainbow chard, golden sweet mange tout are some, yellow courgette all look good plus chives have lovely flowers. Mix in flowers like pot calendula, sunflowers and it can look lovely.

[GoodbyeBeer]

Have a look at James Wong's Homegrown Revolution book. There are lots of unusual fruit and veg in there that also look good. I am planning on putting some asparagus peas in my front garden.
asparagus peas

[Esmeeeeee]

Effortless plants: Things like Swizz Chard Bright Lights look fabulous and are very edible and simple to grow. You could also try Sorrel Bulls Blood - beautiful dark green leaves with red veins, adds a fantastic flavour to soup and comes back year after year - mine even survived the late snow. Strawberries also need little care and keep going for about 4 years before the yield starts to drop off.

Needs more TLC: Architectural veg like Romanesco Cauliflower and Purple-Sprouting Broccoli also look and taste great.

You should mix in a few edible annual flowers too, though - Calendula, Nasturtiums, Viola - as they feed the bees, which helps with pollination.

Happy growing!