The Grilling Garden

Smokin' Plants to Enhance Your Backyard BBQ

Who says gardening is girly? Add some spice to your backyard entertaining by planting a garden devoted to the grill. It is best to situate this garden bed as close to the BBQ/grill as possible. Of course we will be adding some favourite edibles because there is nothing more impressive than being able to harvest what you need on the spot!  Enhance your traditional herb garden by adding lots of your beloved veggies and don’t be afraid to punch it up with bold plants!  Check out the following to inspire your creative (both horticultural and culinary) juices!

Great Herbs for Grilling

Rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano are four must haves for your Grilling Garden.  These versatile herbs taste great in almost any meat.  A simple way to do so is by placing a combination of these herbs into a slit in the meat.  The flavours will saturate the meat as it cooks.  Another great tip is to use bunches of herbs to baste your meat instead of using a brush.  Parsley is a wonderful garnish and works great in vegetable dishes.  Mint is a must have for your summer beverages (whether it be tea or mojitos!).

All herbs require a sunny location in well drained soil to thrive.  Mint and oregano are perennial garden bullies and should remain potted.  Rosemary, basil and some varieties of sage are not hardy here therefore they too should be potted. **Bonus** they look awesome in mixed containers!  Try Purple Basil and Pineapple Sage to add a punch of colour!

Pass the Veggies

A good majority of garden vegetables are annuals (meaning they complete their life cycle in one growing season meaning you need to buy them each year) therefore leave empty pockets to plant your fav’s in the spring.  Peas, beans and some varieties of cucumbers can be grown on a trellis to utilize vertical structures while adding privacy.

Just for fun...Here are some inspirational plants to excite!

• Tomato Soup Echinacea

• Red Hot Poker Kniphofia

• Guacamole Hosta (for Mexican night!  Olé!)

• Golden Hops Vine Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’ (That’s right, the key ingredient in beer!)

• Smoke Bush Cotinus coggygria

• Burning Bush Euonymus alatus

I hope these last two are non-applicable ;)

And don’t forget Hosta ‘Big Daddy’, Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’ and Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ to inspire the cook for greatness with every attempt at culinary perfection!