(MCT)—The cool season landscape offers wonderful opportunities to keep the edible landscape going, and for the culinary artist in as well as the Monet designer outdoors. In the last few years the edible landscape has skyrocketed in popularity, and with good reason; it is fun, tasty, and may save a buck, too. But to be honest it been mostly reserved for the long warm season and perhaps an afterthought for the cool season ahead.
With cool season just starting, unless you live in South Dakota, now is the time to consider your options, and the leafy crops are certainly the place to start. If you think I am talking about kale and cabbage, I am not. Those are certainly high on the list and offer a lot of cold hardiness.
Colorful foliage for the flower border or mixed container doesn’t have to be relegated to kale and cabbage especially when you have a variety like Red Fire. One of the most beautiful partnerships I have seen in recent years combined Red Fire with the delightfully fragrant Sapphire Gem violas. Of course violas and pansies are also edible, though I also enjoy their color and aroma. With a companion planting like this you will have that ever-present temptation to go out and pick some leaves for a fresh salad, or topper for the tasty burgers.
