If you have followed by blog or newsletter for any length of time, you know I focus heavily on using herbs and flowers in your vegetable garden for pest control. And they just make your garden pretty too!
After adding flowers to your garden, you may look out and think, wow, those flowers look pretty enough to eat, well you may just be able to. Some flowers are more than just pretty faces. They add color, flavor, and a little extra magic to your meals. Two of my favorites are chive blossoms and nasturtiums. These flowers are easy to grow, fun to use, and pack a flavorful punch.
But first, not all flowers are safe to eat! Learn which ones you can and if you’re not growing them yourself, make sure they come from a pesticide-free source. Nobody wants a side of chemicals with their salad.
Chive Blossoms:
I have 6 raised garden beds and chives find their way into the corner of each one. They are a hardworking, low maintenance, pest controlling friends of your vegetable garden. Not only are the leaves edible, but also the pretty purple blossoms.
How to Grow Chives:
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Sun: Full sun, but they’ll tolerate a bit of shade.
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Soil: Well-drained with a little compost mixed in for extra nutrients.
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Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Harvesting Chive Blossoms
Chive flowers usually appear in late spring to early summer. To harvest, simply snip them off at the base of the flower stem. The blossoms are best when they’re fresh and fully open—but before they start to dry out.
What Do They Taste Like?
Chive blossoms taste like—you guessed it—chives! They have a mild onion flavor with a hint of garlic, but with a bit of crunch and a softer, almost floral note.
How to Use Them
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Sprinkle them over salads for a pop of color and flavor.
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Mix them into butter or soft cheese for a fancy spread.
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Toss them into vinegar for a homemade chive blossom-infused vinegar (it turns a gorgeous pink!).
Bonus: They’re Nutritious, too!
Chive blossoms contain vitamins A and C, along with antioxidants. They also support digestion—so basically, they make your meal look good and do good things for your body.
Nasturtiums: The Show-Offs of the Edible Flower World
If you want a flower that’s easy to grow, looks stunning, and is entirely edible (leaves, stems, flowers—the whole plant!), nasturtiums are the way to go. I grow several in my vegetable garden for pest control. Nasturtiums attract aphids away from your vegetables, repels certain pests like squash bugs, and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs. They are vining, so you can either allow them to “wander around in the garden among your plants” or grow them up a trellis or obelisk. These nasturtiums are mixed in with salad greens and the pretty blue flower of borage from my garden a few years ago.
Growing Nasturtiums
- Seeds or Plants? You can grow nasturtiums by plants or seeds. I usually plant seeds. The seeds are very hard and should soaked in water overnight before planting directly in the garden.
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Sun: Full sun to partial shade.
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Soil: They actually prefer poorer soil—too much fertilizer, and you’ll get more leaves than flowers.
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Watering: Light watering; let the soil dry out a little between drinks.
Harvesting Nasturtiums
Pick the flowers as soon as they’re fully open. The leaves are also edible, with a slightly milder flavor. Both should be used fresh for the best taste.
What Do They Taste Like?
Imagine a peppery kick, somewhere between arugula and radish, but with a delicate floral hint. They add a spicy twist to salads and other dishes.
How to Use Them
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Scatter the flowers over salads for a bright, peppery bite.
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Stuff the blossoms with herbed cheese for an easy, impressive appetizer.
Are Nasturtiums Healthy?
Nasturtiums are packed with vitamin C and have antibacterial properties. They belong in every garden for a variety of reasons.
Other Edible Flowers to Try
Want to branch out even more? Here are a few other common edible flowers worth experimenting with:
🌼 Calendula (mild, slightly peppery): Attracts beneficial insects.
🌸 Borage (light cucumber flavor)
🌻 Sunflowers (yes, the petals and buds are edible!)
🥀 Pansies (mildly sweet and grassy)
💜 Lavender (floral, slightly sweet, and strong—use sparingly!)
A Few Safety Tips Before You Start Snacking on Flowers
Before you go all-in on eating flowers, keep these safety tips in mind:
Grow organically. No pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers.
Know what you’re eating. If you’re not sure a flower is edible, don’t eat it.
Rinse before use. Even homegrown flowers can collect dust and tiny critters.
Start small. Some flowers are strong-flavored—taste-test before dumping a bunch into your food.
Creative Ways to Use Chive Blossoms and Nasturtiums
Now that you know how to grow and harvest them, here are some fun ways to bring chive blossoms and nasturtiums into your kitchen:
🥗 Toss into salads for an instant upgrade in both flavor and presentation.
🥂 Freeze into ice cubes to add a floral touch to drinks.
🍶 Infuse vinegar or oil for a unique, homemade kitchen staple.
🧈 Make an herbed butter with chopped chive blossoms and nasturtium petals.
🍛 Garnish soups, eggs, or pasta for a restaurant-quality look.
Whether you’re growing them for fun, for pest control, flavor, or just to impress your dinner guests, chive blossoms and nasturtiums are an easy way to bring your garden straight to your plate.
Happy Gardening,
Karen
Want to know more about how to transform your vegetable garden with natural pest control. No icky pesticides or dangerous chemicals required here – just natural herbs and flowers!
Say goodbye to chemicals and hello to organic solutions. Garden Allies shows you how to interplant herbs and flowers to keep pests at bay while attracting beneficial insects. With easy-to-follow advice and a bonus Bug Patrol Journal, this is the perfect guide for any gardener looking to go chemical-free. Grab your copy now and grow an (almost) pest free vegetable garden.
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