The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) will design, install, and maintain an edible landscape in the median strip on West Street in downtown Reno in front of the City of Reno’s West Street Market for the purpose of providing an urban agriculture demonstration garden.
This demonstration garden will showcase the variety of edible annual and perennial plants that are grown both commercially and privately by growers in northern Nevada. The garden will educate Reno residents and tourists about the types of edible plants that grow well in our region, and showcase an attractive landscape design using edible plants. Contact information: Leslie Allen, UNCE 775-784-4848 Edible Garden Themes
Insectary Garden Planted at the south end of the first garden bed (nearest First Street) is a colorful combination of annuals, perennials and ornamental grasses. These plants provide habitat for beneficial insects. Beneficial insects are important for pollination and natural pest control. Over one-third of the world’s food crops are pollinated by insects! Salsa Garden The north end of the first garden bed is planted with all the makings for fresh salsa. Look carefully and you will see a variety of tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs. All of these vegetables and herbs are easy to grow at home. They require fertile garden soil and regular watering. You can even grow them in pots! They are best transplanted into the garden after the last spring frost. Nothing beats the flavor of homegrown food. Create a space in your landscape for a vegetable garden today! Three Sisters Garden Planted in the south end of the second garden bed (in front of the River Palace) is a Three Sisters garden. The Three Sisters is a unique Native American way of growing corn, pole beans, and squash. These three plants mutually benefit each other as they grow. The corn provides a living trellis for the pole beans, the pole beans provide nitrogen for use by the corn, and the squash provides living mulch. These plants demonstrate companion planting. Companion planting is a method of arranging your garden according to which types of plants are potentially beneficial to one another. Companion planting may reduce competition for water and nutrients, decrease pest and disease problems, and increase vegetable production. Research shows that the Three Sisters create a synergy that produces a greater yield, increased nutrition and more food calories than if only one of the crops was grown alone in the same space. Look closely and you will also see potatoes growing along the edges of the garden. Potatoes are companions to corn and add yet another nutrient-dense vegetable to the garden. Perennial Vegetables Rhubarb, lemongrass and Corsican violets are planted in the north end of the second garden bed. All of these plants are edible. Yes, you can eat the violets! They are a colorful addition to salads. This garden demonstrates perennial vegetables and herbs. The rhubarb and violets will return year after year. The lemongrass is perennial in climate zones with warmer winter temperatures. We are experimenting with it here on West Street because urban development creates a warmer microclimate. Come back next spring to see if the lemongrass survived the winter. Salad and Herb Spiral In front of Beaujolais Bistro are various lettuces and herbs planted densely in a spiral. These plants can tolerate being close neighbors and respond well to regular harvesting. We have placed a few onions here and there, as onions and lettuce are good garden companions. Planting in a spiral is a beautiful way to break away from conventional row planting. Spirals are a common shape found in nature, and when used in garden design, create little niches and microclimates that add diversity and beauty to the garden. Tomatillos and Ground Cherries Planted in the north bed are tomatillos and Aunt Molly’s ground cherries. Both plants are closely related and bear fruit in small paper husks. However, as Aunt Molly’s ground cherries name suggests, the fruits are sweet rather than tart and savory like the tomatillo. Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherries are heirlooms, and were recorded in horticultural literature as early as 1837 in Pennsylvania. Tomatillos are the main ingredient in salsa verde and other delectable Latin American cuisine. The name translates to “little tomato.” Indeed, they belong to the same botanical family as tomatoes. Insectary Garden Planted at the far end of the north garden bed (nearest to Second Street) is another collection of colorful combination of annuals, perennials and ornamental grasses. This insectary garden provides habitat for beneficial insects. Beneficial insects are important for pollination and natural pest control. We rely on benefical insects such as ambush bugs, lady bird beetles and green lacewings to eat aphids and other insect pests.