This NebGuide discusses the use of vegetables as ornamental plants. Many vegetables have ornamental, as well as food value. In fact, when tomatoes were first introduced to Europe, they were believed to be poisonous and were used only as ornamentals. Using vegetables as ornamentals is not just for those without space for a traditional vegetable garden. Incorporating vegetables into the landscape and using them as decorative container plants for porches and patios can make vegetable gardening more fun.
Most vegetables prefer several hours of direct sunlight each day.
If space is not available for a traditional vegetable garden, vegetables can be incorporated into other sunny areas, including flower beds. Imagination is the only limit to what food crops can be grown as ornamentals. Some possibilities are described below, including some selected cultivars which perform satisfactorily in Nebraska. Most traditional vegetable gardens are planted in the backyard, far from the kitchen. When vegetables and herbs are planted closer to the house, they are more easily available for immediate use.