7 Edibles You Should Be Growing In Your Yard This Year

Your grandparents were on to something when they tucked a tomato plant or a row of beans wherever they could in their backyard Victory gardens. Nowadays, the concept is similar: Why not grow edibles alongside (or instead of) ornamentals in your landscape? It's a technique that's called edible landscaping, or foodscaping, and it's exploded as the hottest gardening trend in years. The best thing is anyone can grow food, and you needn't tear out your lawn or have a big yard to do it. "You don't need lots of space because plant breeders have developed more compact edibles that thrive in small spaces and containers yet don't sacrifice taste and yield," says Diane Blazek, executive director of All-America Selections, which field tests plants for garden performance. "Plus, you'll have bragging rights because you can say you grew it yourself!"

"One of the best things you can do is harvest just half your herbs, then let the rest go to bloom, which attracts pollinators that are beneficial to your garden," says Hayes. Many herbs, such as thyme and sage, are perennials in some climates, so you will only have to plant them once. Plant herbs in mixed planters with ornamentals or as edging or borders throughout your landscape.

Tip: Many herbs such as sage, dill, parsley and rosemary are beautiful, fragrant additions to cut bouquets, combined with other more traditional garden flowers.

Herbs to try:

•Boxwood Basil, compact, bushy plant looks like a boxwood but makes great pesto

•Oregano Cleopatra, silvery-gray trailing foliage has mildly spicy kick

•Cha Cha Chive, greens and flowers are edible with slight onion taste

There's nothing like popping a ripe cherry tomato, warm from the summer sun, into your mouth as you wander around your garden. "There are so many different kinds that you'll find one that suits your tastes," says Hayes. "Use decorative obelisks or rose towers instead of unattractive tomato cages for the vines, or train them up and over an arch for a more aesthetic effect in your landscape."

Tip: Read the package or tag to make sure you'll have space for the mature plant because many of the vines can become huge (7 or 8 feet long).

Tomatoes to try:

•Patio Choice Yellow, bright yellow high-yield cherry type with vines that grow only to 18 inches

•Fantastico, long clusters of grape-shaped fruit that does well in hanging baskets

•Cherokee Purple, heirloom tomato with rich, sweet taste

Newer types have thornless leaves that make them easier to harvest. Many new types grow in more compact sizes so they do well in containers, says Blazek. They look good as accent plants in pots along a sunny patio or driveway.

Tip: They don't like cold. Wait until nighttime temps are consistently above 60 degrees before planting your eggplant outdoors.

Eggplants to try:

•Patio Baby, compact plants that yield purple-black fruit that's 2 to 3"-long

•Fairytale, compact plant that yields tender eggplants that are white with purple stripes

•Rosa Bianca, pink and white heirloom Italian variety that yields best in climates with warm nights