Our Guide to Edimentals

In 2024, one of the biggest trends in garden design is the incorporation of edimentals—plants that seamlessly blend beauty and functionality by being both ornamental and edible. Discover the latest garden trend of 2024 with edimentals, where dual-purpose plants offer ornamental charm and edible delights. From fruit trees and flowering crops to pretty herbs and compact options for balconies, there's an edimental for every space and skill level. Embrace the joy of growing your own food while adding intrigue and allure to your garden with these versatile plants. Whether you're aiming for a cottage-style charm or modern sophistication, edimentals provide a delightful fusion of aesthetics and practicality, enhancing your outdoor space for both you and local wildlife. Let's explore the best edimentals to elevate your garden's aesthetic appeal while providing delectable delights for you and your family, as well as sustaining local wildlife.

Edimentals are dual-purpose plants that seamlessly blend ornamental beauty with edible functionality, embodying one of the biggest trends in garden design. These versatile plants can be fruit trees, flowering crops, pretty herbs, or compact options suitable for balconies, offering a wide range of choices for every garden space and skill level. By incorporating edimentals into your garden, you can enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own food while enhancing the visual appeal of your outdoor space. Whether you're aiming for a cottage-style garden or a modern landscape, edimentals provide a delightful fusion of aesthetics and practicality, enriching both your garden and the local ecosystem.

Edimentals come in all shapes and sizes, offering a diverse range of options to suit any garden space or aesthetic preference. From towering fruit trees with sprawling branches to compact herbs nestled in pots on a windowsill, there's an edimental for every corner of your outdoor oasis. Whether you have a sprawling garden, a cosy balcony, or even just a sunny ledge, you can find edimentals that fit perfectly into your space. These versatile plants can be ornamental focal points, culinary delights, or both, adding visual interest and practical functionality to your garden in equal measure. With edimentals, the possibilities are endless, allowing you to create a personalized green paradise that reflects your unique style and tastes.

Fruit trees like dwarf apple, pear, and cherry trees not only offer stunning blossoms in spring but also yield delicious fruits in summer. Their compact size makes them suitable for both large gardens and smaller spaces like balconies. Opt for self-pollinating varieties for increased yield. In larger gardens, consider planting standard-sized fruit trees such as plum, apricot, and peach trees, which require more space to grow and flourish. For pots and containers, dwarf varieties like miniature citrus trees (lemon, lime, or orange) or compact apple trees are excellent choices, offering manageable sizes without compromising on fruit production. Those with limited space, such as balcony gardens, may opt for columnar apple or pear trees, which grow vertically and take up minimal space while still providing a bountiful harvest. When starting from seeds, consider fast-growing options like lemon or avocado trees, while purchasing grafted or established trees ensures quicker fruiting and more reliable results, especially for varieties like apple and cherry.

Flowering crops refer to plants that produce edible flowers, which can be used for culinary purposes. These plants not only add beauty to gardens but also contribute unique flavours and visual appeal to various dishes. Incorporating edible flowers like nasturtiums, calendula, pansies, and lavender adds burst of colours and unique flavours. Nasturtiums, with their peppery taste, enhance salads or sandwiches, while calendula petals add tanginess to soups, stews, or rice dishes. Delicate pansies make exquisite dessert garnishes or decorative ice cubes. Beyond culinary uses, these flowers attract pollinators, contributing to garden biodiversity. Consider adding them for beauty and culinary adventures.

Visually interesting and pretty crops not only enhance the visual appeal of your garden but also offer nutritional benefits and culinary versatility. Ornamental kale, rainbow chard, and Swiss chard are excellent examples of such plants, boasting vibrant foliage that adds a splash of colour and texture to any garden landscape. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these leafy greens are packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and iron. Their tender leaves can be harvested for use in salads, stir-fries, or sautés, providing both visual interest and delicious flavour to your dishes. Whether you're looking to create a striking focal point in your garden or to incorporate nutrient-rich greens into your meals, ornamental kale, rainbow chard, and Swiss chard are versatile options that deliver both beauty and functionality to your outdoor space.

Best for beginners, herbs like basil, mint, and chives are an excellent introduction to gardening due to their forgiving nature and versatility. These herbs are not only resilient but also adapt well to various growing conditions, making them suitable for gardens of any size, from sprawling landscapes to compact balconies or even indoor spaces. Whether you have a small herb garden on your kitchen windowsill or a series of pots lining your balcony railing, basil, mint, and chives thrive in containers, raised beds, or directly in the ground, making them accessible to gardeners with limited space or experience. Additionally, other beginner-friendly edimentals include parsley, thyme, and rosemary, which require minimal maintenance and offer a bounty of flavour for culinary enthusiasts. With these easy-to-grow options, novice gardeners can embark on their gardening journey with confidence, enjoying the rewards of fresh herbs in their cooking while discovering the joys of cultivating their own edible oasis.

Edimentals offer a plethora of growing options to suit various spaces and preferences. For those with limited outdoor space, pots and raised planters provide an excellent solution. Compact edimentals like strawberries, herbs such as thyme, parsley, and oregano, and leafy greens like lettuce thrive in these containers, offering easy maintenance and accessibility. This allows you to cultivate a flourishing garden even in confined areas, whether on a balcony, patio, or small yard. Additionally, hanging baskets present an innovative way to grow flowering plants like nasturtiums, petunias, and trailing lobelia, which not only add colour and beauty but also maximize vertical space. These hanging baskets are perfect for adorning fences, pergolas, or balconies, creating cascades of blooms that delight the eye and attract pollinators. Furthermore, edimentals like chives, basil, and lavender can be grown along garden borders, window sills, or balcony planters, adding both visual interest and practicality to these spaces. With the flexibility of growing options, you can unleash your creativity and cultivate a diverse array of edimentals to suit your unique gardening needs and preferences.

Spring is the perfect time to start or expand your edimental garden, and there are several fantastic options to consider. Begin by planting herbs like basil, mint, and chives, which thrive in the warmer temperatures and offer a wide range of culinary uses. Additionally, spring is an ideal time to establish perennial herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and thyme, which will provide ongoing culinary delights and attract beneficial pollinators to your garden. Don't forget to include flowering crops like nasturtiums, calendula, and pansies, which not only add beauty to your garden but also enhance your culinary creations with their vibrant colours and unique flavours. Finally, consider adding fruit trees such as dwarf apple or cherry varieties, which will reward you with blossoms in spring and delicious fruits later in the season. By incorporating these edimentals into your garden this spring, you'll be on your way to creating a beautiful and bountiful outdoor space that delights all the senses.

Incorporating edimentals into your garden not only enhances its visual appeal but also elevates your culinary experiences and fosters a deeper connection with nature. Embrace this trend to create a garden that is both beautiful and bountiful, providing joy for you, your family, and the surrounding wildlife. This guide will help you pick the perfect option for your garden by offering a comprehensive overview of the best options for different garden sizes, skill levels, and spaces. Whether you have a large garden, a cosy balcony, or limited indoor space, you'll discover a wide range of edimentals to suit your needs and preferences.