Peas, Raspberries, Cranberries in a patio garden? “No Way!” Well, think again!
We recently visited the lovely gardens at University of Tennessee in Knoxville to deliver Earth Towers for their Children's Garden, Kitchen Garden and Accessibility Garden.
Holly Jones gave this foodie (me!) a much appreciated tour of the Kitchen Garden and introduced me to dwarf plants I didn't even know existed.
Holly Jones, Manager of Edible Horticulture - University of Tennessee Gardens
Here are three plants that you can, surprisingly, grow in your Earth Tower or other Vertical Garden:
1) PEAS!
Tom Thumb Garden Pea (Pisum sativum)
Unlike most sweet peas that would cover your Earth Tower in a bundled mess of creeping vines, this dwarf variety grows no higher than 6-8" and bares an abundance of peas. Harvest early to enjoy sweet, tender pods and young peas or allow to mature fully for shelled peas.
CLICK HERE for Tom Thumb Garden Pea purchase and plant care:
2) RASPBERRIES!
BrazelBerries Raspberry Shortcake (Rubus idaeus)
These dwarf plants produce sweet, full-sized raspberries. No staking or trellising required … And another cool trait: No Thorns!
CLICK HERE for Raspberry Shortcake berry purchase and plant care:
3) CRANBERRIES!
Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
When provided moist well-drained soil, this cold-tolerant evergreen stays low (6-10") while producing large edible fruit.
CLICK HERE for Stevens Cranberry purchase and plant care:
https://www.agristarts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_ID/89/index.htm
Berries and Garden Peas right from your patio? Who knew? Holly, that's who!
When in Knoxville TN, treat yourself to a tour of UT's extraordinary gardens full of inspiring plants and sculptures! I promise you it will be love at first sight.
~ Dorie Lou
UT Gardens are open free to the public. The growth and development of its programs are almost entirely dependent upon private support from people like you. Your support provides UT Gardens with the resources needed to coordinate wonderful events throughout the year, while further developing and maintaining pristine ornamental gardens and research trials programs.