“With outside space being ever more of a premium for many people, it’s not really surprising that edible flowers continue to grow in popularity,” says Hutchings. “Anything that helps create a beautiful outside space, while also offering an abundant harvest of food, is always going to be a winning formula.” Here are some easy-to-grow plants which the pair recommend to provide you with a beautiful harvest of edible blooms to wow your friends and family in the months to come.
1. Violas and pansies The classic edible flowers add colour to salads, garnish desserts and adorn garlic butter, and can be crystallised to decorate cakes. They are really easy to grow from seed and largely perennial, meaning they can be enjoyed for many years.
2. Nasturtiums Arguably the most useful of all edible flowers, not only do these summer blooms add bright pops of vibrant colour, often in shades of zingy yellow and burnt orange, to the garden but the entire plant is edible. The flowers and leaves give a peppery punch of flavour similar to rocket and make a fabulous pesto when used in place of basil.
You can even pickle or brine the seeds while they are still green and use them as an alternative to capers. A particularly beautiful variety is called ‘Bloody Mary’. 3.
Sunflowers “A much-loved flower in many gardens, it is surprising how little is known about all the ways in which this spectacular flower can be eaten,” says Hutchings. “Rather than roasting the seeds and attempting t.