Edible Landscaping
By Lee Oliphant Master Gardener
Want to grow something edible in the coming seasons without increasing your landscape water requirements? There is an edible crop you can grow right in your perennial beds that you can count on to produce, sweet, delectable produce without straining your water conservation efforts.
Planting alliums like bulb or globe onions (Allium cepa) and garlic (A. sativum) in the fall will allow them to grow through the winter and spring when soil is normally moist. They should mature by June and July when water supplies may be limited.
Growing globe onions and garlic requires nothing more than good, rich soil. If your soil is clay or sand, enrich it with compost for nutrients and improved drainage. Plant seeds directly in the soil from October to December and sets (small immature onions) in January or February. Plant them pointy end up just below the soil surface, leaving 3 to 4 inches between sets.
Onions need a specific number of daylight hours to set bulbs; the requirement varies depending on the variety. Fortunately, we live in an area of California that grows both long-day and short-day onions. Choosing which varieties to grow may depend on whether you prefer sweet onions for salads and sandwiches or strong onions for cooking.
Garlic is planted and cared for in a manner similar to onions. A few feet of planting will provide an ample supply for most families. Plant bulbs between mid-October and mid-February. Purchase garlic bulbs from a nursery and plant each clove blunt end down with the top about one inch below the surface. Harvest both garlic and onions when leaves turn brown.
These easy to grow bulbs fit nicely into any garden bed. Once you're confident in growing traditional onions and garlic among your flowers, you may want to extend your planting to include bunching onions, scallions, shallots, and leeks; all part of the big, happy family of alliums.
Save the Date!!! Saturday September 6, 2014, 10:00 to 2:00, is the UCCE Master Gardeners 8th Annual Tomato Extravaganza. Tomato and basil tasting, guest speakers and lots of fun in the garden! See you there!!!