Compact greenhouse gardening beckons Americans who appreciate the charm and benefits of home-grown edibles in their minutest forms. Edible flowers, vibrant and flavorsome, are perfect for small greenhouses. Besides adding a pop of color to your backyard, they make for a delightful punch in your salads, desserts, and drinks. Here are six edible flowers suited for confined spaces that unveil an exciting world of playful gardening and imaginative cooking.
Nasturtiums
Consider growing Nasturtiuma delightful edible with exciting peppery notes and vibrant blossoms. Adapting well to greenhouse conditions, these charming flowers bring an aesthetic and gustatory appeal. Nasturtiums are easily sowed into moist soils and require minimum care, thriving best under the full sun to partial shade. According to Healthline, these dietary delights, rich in vitamins and minerals, make for an excellent garnish, especially in salads and pasta dishes, offering a refreshing spice.
Violets
Violets, with their calming scent and compact nature, are another addition worthy of your compact greenhouse. To grow them, plant in well-drained soil, keep the soil moist, and ensure access to partial shade. Their sweet, almost perfumed taste is loved in salads and can prove to be a ‘wow’ factor in drinks and desserts. Apart from the added aromatic appeal, violets also offer a bevy of health benefits.
Marigold ‘Calendula’
Marigold, specifically Calendula, comes with delightful, bright-colored petals that enhance any greenhouses visual appeal. They are quite forgiving to grow; plant in full sun in well-draining soil. The petals bring an almost peppery flavor that proves to be strikingly versatile in culinary applications, being used in teas, salads, soups, or as an attractive garnish for your dishes.
Borage
Borage holds a unique charm with its star-shaped flowers and cucumber-like flavor. This culinary delight grows well in a small greenhouse; provide them a well-drained soil, full sun to light shade, and regular watering. Borage, used in various recipes, brings a refreshing touch to summer drinks and salads. Its vibrant blue flowers have long been used to uplift the visual appeal of gourmet dishes.
Pansies
Sought-after for their culinary and ornamental uses, Pansies are incredibly versatile and make for a fine addition to compact greenhouses. According to Triangle Gardener, well-drained soils and cool sunlight conditions work best for pansies. Their mild minty flavor works well in a range of dishes from fresh salads to desserts, making them a delightful edible flower to grow.
Chives
Rounding off the list are Chive flowers, acting as beautiful garnishes and flavor enhancers. These hardy perennials grow well in compact greenhouses, in full sun to part shade using well-drained soil. Their unique, pungent flavor pairs well with a variety of dishes and can enhance stews, soups, and salads. Not to forget, their pretty, vibrant blush can liven up any dish’s visual allure.
Consider growing these edible flowers in your compact greenhouse. Not only will you elevate your green thumb skills, but you’ll also add a gourmet touch to your kitchen endeavors.