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Rhubarb

Rhubarb - people seem to love it or hate it.   I enjoy rhubarb crisp, pie, jam, quick bread, cookies, and other desserts.  Rhubarb can be combined with strawberries or pie cherries in pie and jam.  Rhubarb/cherry pie I think is just as good as rhubarb/strawberry pie.  I would think rhubarb fruit leather would be tasty although I have never tried it.  Be sure to never eat the leaves since they are toxic.  Harvest by pulling on a stalk instead of cutting.  Then remove the leaves and compost them.  Rhubarb can be frozen or dried for later use.

Rhubarb is not just for growing out in your garden patch.  I have seen it grown as an ornamental by the front entrance and as a border in front of shrubs in an apartment complex. I have read that if properly fertilized you will not get flower stalks.  During the short time I have tried this it has worked.  I fertilize with straight compost placed around the base of the plants.   If you do get flower stalks cut or break them off right away.

Rhubarb is usually found in the spring in nurseries or by mailorder/internet.  You may also know someone who has a plant which needs dividing so they may be happy to give you a start.  Plant your rhubarb at the depth it was in the pot or in the ground.  I grow mine in 2 x 2 Square Foot Garden boxes.  If growing straight in the ground amend your soil with compost first.  Do not harvest rhubarb the first  year.  The second year you may harvest a few stalks. From then on you may harvest quite a bit being sure to leave several leaves and stalks to keep the plant strong.
Hardiness zone 5 - 9 or 2 - 9 depending who you ask.  It grows very well in various areas of Anchorage, Alaska
Rhubarb recipes
More rhubarb recipes

Blogs

If you haven't already please check out my herb gardening blog: Herb Gardening
I also have a general gardening/landscaping blog on my website: Garden Inspire blog

Lemon Trees

I have no experience growing lemons outdoors but I have grown lemons indoors in pots for several years. One Meyer lemon I have had for over 12 years. In fact when moving from Utah to Alaska I pruned it back to fit in a Priority Mail box for my sister to hold until I arrived. I did the same when moving out of Alaska three years later. I then purchased a second Meyer lemon as well as a navel orange, pink grapefruit, and key lime. Citrus trees are attractive houseplants with lovely scented flowers and delicious fruit.

My first lemon was purchased from a local nursery. My second was purchased from a big box store. My last citrus was purchased online. So, it is not that difficult to find citrus plants. As with other plants do some research and shop around for the variety you want at a good price. Check the condition of the plant if purchasing in person. If buying by mailorder/internet purchase from a reputable company.

My lemon trees were transplanted into a larger pot right away using a good quality potting soil. In the summer I move them outdoors in a full sun to partial shade spot. It is important to help your plants adjust to a change in sunlight. If your plant is in full sun indoors it may be able to handle full sun outdoors. To be safe slowly acclimate it to the amount of sunlight it will be receiving outdoors by placing it in a bit more sun each day or moving it into the amount it will be receiving for short periods each day. After about one week or so it should be adjusted and can be placed in its summer location. Reverse the process when moving it back indoors. Also, spray with horticultural oil before moving back indoors to help prevent pest problems.
Lemon recipes 

Meyer Lemon Tree

Indoor lemon, grapefruit, lime, orange, pineapple,  plus herbs including pineapple sage, bay, and lemon verbena

Plants in My Edible Landscape - Indoors and Out

Perennials currently planted in my landscape include:

Strawberries, gooseberries, sweet cherries, bush cherries, tart cherries, peaches, apples, blueberries, elderberries, oregon grape, juniper berries, rhubarb, grapes, serviceberry, chokecherry, sand cherry, ferns, camas, rosehips, raspberries, blackberries, currants, aronia, mountain ash, hawthorne, asparagus, miners lettuce, sunchokes, saffron, Egyptian onions, high bush cranberries, blue honeysuckle, society garlic, kinnickkinnick, and several perennial herbs.

A few were existing plants but most of these were planted by me so I would have a variety ripening over a period of time. I had not grown bush cherries before and although only one foot tall I harvested a handful of tasty tart cherries. 

Indoors I grow a navel orange, pink grapefruit, key lime, lemongrass, lemon verbena, pineapple sage, pineapple, bay, scented geranium, and two Meyer lemon trees.

I look forward to adding more edibles to my yard and to my indoor environment.

In this blog I will alternate information about what I currently grow and what I am not yet growing.  I hope to teach others about edible landscape and learn more myself. 

I have gardened in Colorado, Utah, and Alaska.  Currently I garden and landscape in Bountiful, Utah so what  you can grow in  your landscape maybe somewhat different.  I think you will still benefit by reading my blog and learning about growing edibles in your yard and/or home.

What edibles have you added to your landscape?

What Is Edible Landscaping

Edible landscaping involves growing edible plants in the landscape but not necessarily in the traditional sense where they are planted in a garden spot. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs including some less familiar types can contribute to an attractive landscape and also provide sources of food. Edible plants can be used as groundcovers, shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals, vines. Some edibles can successfully be grown as houseplants. This is especially nice if you live in a climate where certain plants will not survive outdoors or if you do not have a garden spot.  

Red Currants

Purple Sage