- Canada’s Growing Zones Are Changing 2024 - January 12, 2024
- Attracting Wildlife To The Garden - May 16, 2023
- How To Garden Near A Septic Tank - May 9, 2023
How To Design An Edible Flower Planter In Canada
The idea of fresh summer salads or colourful avocado toast is in the back of everyone’s mind. One of the best ways to accomplish this on a budget is by turning classic flower beds and decorative containers into secret edible gardens. This gardening in Canada article looks at exactly how to design an edible flower planter in Canada.
If you are new to this blog welcome my name is Ashley and I am a soil scientist with a love for the garden. In this blog we look at the science of gardening and apply it to all things plants. As a Canadian gardener located in zone 3 I give you the tips and trick for success in a cold climate garden.
Thriller, Filler & Spiller Edible Flower Planter Version
A popular way of potting up plants consists of making pots with thrillers, fillers and spillers. This allows for changes in texture and colour which is important to making a pretty and full appearing pot. For thriller plants you will only want to have one per pot positioned at the back or center. This is going to be the eye catcher of the pot as a whole.
For things like fillers and spillers you will want to get 2-3 per pot. You do not need to have fillers and spillers together in the same pot. If you are working on a tight budget consider using only one or the other in your potting setups. For more on the total quantity of plants per pot check out this video below.
List Of Edible Flowers & Foliage
Edible Thriller Plants:
- Lavender
- Dahlia
- Chives
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Amarantha
- Stevia
- Jumbo Marigold
- Sunflower
- Chrysanthemum
- Peppers
- Okra
Edible Filler Plants:
- Marigolds (Poor Man’s Saffron)
- Basil
- Purple Basil
- Lettuce (all colours)
- Cabbage
- Pansy
- Violets
- Chrysanthemum
- Spearmint
Edible Spiller Plants:
- Nasturtiums
- Mint
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Cucamelons
- Cucumbers
- Watermelon
- Dianthus
- Thyme
The care for edible flowers and decorative containers is very simple. You will want to start with a basic potting soil that you get from the store. If you aren’t familiar with the process of reusing potting soil every year check out my YouTube video on exactly how to do this. The potting soil recipe for outdoor container gardens is very simple and only consists of using potting soil and a slow feed fertilizer.
You will want to water your edible flower pot daily or every second day during cloudy episodes. If you restrict water you will end up with lower yields for both foliage and flowers. From there you will want to make sure you fertilize with an all purpose fertilizer weekly. The best way to remember when to fertilize is by setting a day. For example my fertilizer day is Saturdays and therefore every Saturday the entire garden is fertilized.
There you have it, you are officially set to start your own edible flower planter garden in Canada with a decorative vibe. Keep in mind you want to aim for a thriller and a thriller and/or a filler to give you plenty of different heights, colours & textures. Be sure to try different foliage colours as well such as purple basil and lime green lettuce. Happy planting and be sure to tag me in your arrangements over on instagram @GardeningInCanada.
