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| The author makes the most of this space by growing both flowers and ornamental vegetables together in this flourishing garden. |
Brussels
Sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
The 'Red Bull' variety's 3' tower of purple miniature cabbages
strung like pearls on a choker make this large plant a showstopper
in the garden. Also try 'Rubine'.
Flowering
Cabbages (B. oleracea var. acephala)
Early in the growing season, purple, pink, white and green
flowering cabbages (or ornamental kale) add flavor to the
table. Late in the season, add them to your winter containers
with evergreen branches and colored twigs. Try the 'Osaka'
series. 'Redbor' and 'Darkibor' are nutritious and add great
texture to your plate. 'Red Russian' overwinters and self-sows
after its pretty yellow flowers turn to seeds.
Carrots
(Daucus carota var. sativus)
If you have kids, they'll love eating bright red, purple,
yellow and white carrots. Grow them as an edger.
Cauliflowers
(B. oleracea var. botrytis)
Try 'Brocoverde' (lime green), 'Veronica' (orange) and 'Violet
Queen' (purple).
Corn
(Zea mays var. rugosa)
Many heirloom varieties of sweet corn have kernels/cobs of
blue, orange and scarlet with colored stems and foliage.
Eggplants
(Solanum melongena var. esculentum)
Commonly dark purple, also come in lighter shades of lilac,
lavender, white and stripes. Mild-flavored 'Rosa Bianca',
'Bride' and 'Ghostbuster' change from white to lilac. Large,
intensely purple flowers accent the leaves. There are also
ornamental Easter eggplants (S. ovigerum), which
grow little white or yellow 'eggs'.
Leeks
(Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum)
Their lovely blue-green strap-like leaves make a great garden
border. Next year, if you have any left, fist-sized flowers
will start opening relatively early in the growing season,
attracting bees and predatory wasps.
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