Foodscaping: Greens to Grow in Raised Garden Beds as Food and Landscape Decor

Growing greens in garden beds as food and landscape decor is known as foodscaping.

Foodscaping enables homeowners and communities to grow food alongside decorative plants, enhancing the beauty and functionality of outdoor spaces. This approach supports sustainable gardening by making the most of available space for growing food—no matter how small—which helps enhance local biodiversity and minimizes reliance on store-bought produce.

This strategy satisfies two essential needs for gardeners: growing food and having a stunning garden. In this blog, you'll discover 18 of the most commonly used greens in foodscaping, along with cities that have embraced this trend and are thriving. Here are examples of how various U.S. cities integrate edible greens and foodscaping to transform urban areas.

 

CITIES USING FOODSCAPING

1. New York City, NY

On sidewalks and urban gardens, kale, spinach, collard greens, and Swiss chard are often decorative elements in community garden projects. The city encourages urban agriculture, promoting community gardens where neighborhoods come together to create edible landscapes in spaces otherwise dominated by concrete.

2. San Francisco, CA

Portland is a pioneer in urban gardening, seamlessly integrating greens such as Swiss chard and arugula in foodscaping projects like community garden plots and sidewalks, resulting in a combination of aesthetics and sustainable food production.

3. Portland, OR

Portland is a pioneer in urban gardening, where Swiss chard and arugula are frequently used in foodscaping projects that are seamlessly integrated into community garden plots and sidewalks, creating a blend of aesthetic and sustainable food production.

4. St. Louis, MO

In the Tower Grove neighborhood, edible landscaping includes greens like mustard greens and collards, arranged in urban food forests that focus on biodiversity and climate resilience.

5. Seattle, WA

The city’s public foodscaping initiatives use greens such as kale and mizuna to revamp parks, sidewalk lots and public spaces. Seattle’s P-Patch community gardening program focuses on growing greens that thrive in the Pacific Northwest’s cool climate helping the spread of native plants to improve the soil composition.

6. Kansas City

Foodscaping initiatives in Kansas City incorporate a variety of edible plants known for enhancing urban sustainability and soil health, integrating greens like kale, chard, and other vegetables that thrive in the local climate and contribute to soil regeneration, with these plants often being included in public landscaping and community gardens, fostering local food resilience while supporting sustainable urban agriculture practices.

 

FOODSCAPING GREENS

1. Lettuce

Hardiness Zones: 2-9

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in early spring or late summer and harvest in 30-70 days.

Functions: Provides ground cover for privacy screens and attracts pollinators.

 

 

2. Spinach

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in early spring or fall and harvest in 30-50 days.

Functions: Grows well in shaded areas, creates natural privacy screens and attracts pollinators. 

 

 

3. Swiss Chard

Hardiness Zones: 2-11

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring or fall and harvest in 50-60 days.

Functions: Acts as a colorful decorative screen and deters pests.

 

4. Kale

Hardiness Zones: 2-11

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in early spring or late summer and harvest in 55-75 days.

Functions: Grows tall privacy screens and is an avid pollinator.

 

5. Arugula

Hardiness Zones: 3-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in early spring or fall and harvest in 30-40 days.

Functions: Grows quickly as ground cover, attracts pollinators and can harvest as it grows. 

 

6. Mustard Greens

Hardiness Zones: 5-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring or fall; harvest in 30-60 days.

Functions: Provides a natural barrier against pests, acts as a pollinator magnet, and creates shade. 

 

7. Collard Greens

Hardiness Zones: 6-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring or fall and harvest in 60-90 days.

Functions: Acts as a robust privacy screen, deters pests and provides shade.

 

8. Bok Choy

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in early spring or fall and harvest in 45-60 days.

Functions: Pretty flourish.

 

9. Beet Greens

Hardiness Zones: 2-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in early spring or fall and harvest greens in 30-50 days.

Functions: Creates shade and deters pests. 

 

10. Pea Shoots

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in early spring and harvest in 30-45 days.

Functions: Grows vertically for added privacy; attracts pollinators with its flowers.

 

11. Radish Greens

Hardiness Zones: 2-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring or fall and harvest in 20-30 days.

Functions: Provides ground cover and attracts pollinators.

 

12. Dill

Hardiness Zones: 3-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring and harvest in 40-60 days.

Functions: Attracts pollinators, deters pests, creates shade, harvests as it grows, and beautifies your garden. 

 

13. Chives

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring and harvest in 60 days.

Functions: Acts as a border plant, attract pollinators and harvests as they grow. 

 

14. Sorrel

Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring or fall and harvest in 50-70 days.

Functions: Harvest as it grows, use as ground cover and pollinator. 

 

15. Cilantro

Hardiness Zones: 3-11

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow seeds in spring or fall and harvest in 40-70 days.

Functions: Attract pollinators, deter pests, work as ground cover and harvest as it grows. 

 

16. Lettuce Mixes

Hardiness Zones: 2-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow in spring or fall and harvest in 30-60 days.

Functions: Attracts beneficial insects and is a pretty addition to raised garden beds.

 

17. Bush Beans

Hardiness Zones: 3-10

Sowing and Harvest Time: Sow after the last frost and harvest in 50-60 days.

Functions: Can create a living privacy screen and attract pollinators.

 

18. Sweet Potatoes

Hardiness Zones: 8-11

Sowing and Harvest Time: Plant slips in late spring and harvest in late summer or early fall.

Functions: Acts as a decorative ground cover, provides shade, and improves soil health.

 

Final Thoughts

Foodscaping is becoming a popular trend, especially in urban farming and neighborhoods with small yards. Instead of letting front yards sit empty, homeowners are transforming them into spaces that yield harvests. 

This approach maximizes space by improving the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhood, creating vibrant landscapes, and contributing to local food systems. Foodscaping helps foster a sense of community, promotes sustainable gardening practices and improves the visual harmony of the surroundings.