Easy Vegetable Gardens with a Taste of Fun

​​Spring is just around the corner, and it's time to think about that vegetable garden you never planted!  If every year goes by without your new garden, you are not alone.  Preparing a traditional vegetable garden plot can be overwhelming.  One solution is an easy, no-fuss edible garden that mixes vegies and berries into your existing planting bed.  
 
Finding the Perfect Spot
The first step is to find an area that gets up to six hours of sunlight.  If you have critters that love to munch, you may want to place a simple fence or protective mesh around your garden area.
 
Rhythm
If you prefer a tidy-looking vegetable garden, incorporate repetitive plant colors, patterns, or textures to create balance.  Enhance your garden by selecting plants that bloom at different times throughout the growing season.  Your vegetables will benefit, and you will enjoy the rhythm of changing colors.   

Garden Art 
The number one must-have in my vegetable garden is whimsical art placed among my veggie plants.  Anything goes!  Garden art is a great way to add fun and to keep it bright and happy. 

​Three Sisters Garden
Another easy way to grow vegetables is the no-fuss Three Sisters Garden with only corn, beans, and squash. This garden trio has been used by Native American peoples to produce sustainable food sources for centuries and is increasing in popularity for northwest gardeners. 
 
How does the Three Sisters Garden work?

• The tall corn stalks provide a natural structure for the beans to climb on. 
• The beans climb and are grown out of the way of trailing squash vines. 
• The large squash leaves cover the soil to retain moisture and reduce weeds.

When to Plant:  Plant corn seeds in late spring when the soil begins to warm.  Next, plant bean seeds 2 to 3 weeks later (or when the corn is 4” tall).  Squash seeds are the last to be planted about one week after the beans have emerged. 
 
Be sure that your garden receives a minimum of 6 hours of sun per day (more is better)!  Select seed varieties that do well in your area and choose organic or heirloom varieties if available.  Most importantly, have fun and find a few kids to get involved! 

Companion Plants 
Did you know certain plant combinations will either help or hinder your vegetable garden?  Some of my favorite helpers are Alyssum, Marigolds, and Sage.  

• Alyssum - These annual groundcovers have tiny flowers that come in white, pink, or purple varieties. Alyssum attracts bees for pollination and will help choke out undesirable plants. Tips: Plant alyssum in-between and around the edges of your planting bed. The white varieties look great with purple kale and red-veined chards.  

• Marigolds - These annual flowers are typically yellow or orange or a combination of and flower between spring and fall. Marigolds are good companions for carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes to help control tiny non-beneficial parasites in the soil. Tip: Plant marigolds to attract slugs away from your young vegetable starts.  
• Sage - These easy to grow beauties come in either edible or non-edible varieties. The non-edible varieties often have long purple flower spikes that attract both bees and hummingbirds. Tips: For garden interest and good pollination, plant purple sage intermixed with peppers and tomatoes.

Companion Plants Reference Chart (free download)
For a successful no-fuss edible garden, download our Companion Plants Reference chart for plants that will help or hinder your edible garden. No email required!
Just click or tap this link:  bauercombs_companion_plants.pdf  
​If you find the chart helpful, please let us know by giving us a thumbs-up below. 

Local Food Bank
If you do well, your garden will produce more than you can eat.  Fingers crossed!  Please remember to donate your fabulous fresh vegetables to your local food bank. Fresh veggies are always welcome!
 
About BauerCombs & Associates, Inc. Landscape Architecture
BauerCombs is an award-winning landscape architecture firm specializing in sensory landscape designs for the greater Seattle, Bellevue, and Eastside areas. With our signature sensory design methods, we create captivating landscapes that bring life to outdoor spaces through the artistic balance of color and patterns, scent, touch, taste, and sound. Our work has been published in several magazines and continues to grow in reputation for creating healthy outdoor environments for people and communities. 
 
Author: Susan Combs Bauer, Landscape Architect, Copyright © 2020 BauerCombs & Associates, Inc. www.bauercombs.com (425) 496-7772