Before you start planting, choose the right location for your vegetable garden. Ideally, the garden should be in a spot that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. You should also consider the soil type and drainage in the area. Most vegetables prefer well-draining soil with a pH level of 6.0 to 7.0. If your soil is too sandy or too heavy, you may need to amend it with organic matter or compost.

When planting a garden for decoration as well as food, you’ll want your hard work to be noticeable! Go all out with a front yard garden, a beautiful container garden on a porch, or make an elongated garden along the sunny side of your home. Make sure it is visible to people walking by!

Designing your vegetable garden is the next step. Consider the layout of your garden, including the size, shape, and arrangement of the beds. You may want to create raised beds, which can help improve drainage and soil quality. You can also add paths or walkways to make it easier to access your plants.

When choosing your showy vegetable plants, consider how they will look in your garden. You can create a stunning visual display by grouping different colors and textures together. For example, red kale and purple basil look beautiful when planted together, as do colorful peppers and cherry tomatoes.

One of the best ways to make your vegetable garden more decorative is to choose showy vegetable plants that are both beautiful and edible. Here are some of the best showy vegetable plants to include in your garden:

1. Red Kale: Red kale is a stunning vegetable plant that can add a pop of color to your garden. Its deep red leaves look beautiful when planted in groups, and it is also a nutritious leafy green that is packed with vitamins and minerals.
2. Rainbow Swiss Chard: Rainbow Swiss chard is another colorful vegetable plant that can add a splash of color to your garden. Its leaves come in a range of colors, from deep red to bright yellow, and it is a delicious and healthy vegetable to add to salads or sautéed dishes.
3. Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are a popular vegetable plant that are easy to grow and add a burst of color to your garden. They come in a range of colors, from red and yellow to orange and green, and are delicious eaten fresh off the vine or added to salads.
4. Colorful Peppers: Colorful peppers, such as bell peppers, come in a range of colors, including red, orange, yellow, and green. They are a beautiful addition to any garden and are also a great source of vitamins and minerals.
5. Purple Basil: Purple basil is a beautiful herb that has deep purple leaves and a slightly spicy flavor. It looks stunning when planted next to green basil or red kale and can also be used to add color and flavor to salads or pesto.

Don’t forget about fruit! Berry bushes can make a striking addition to any decorative garden, and will provide harvests for years to come. Try to plant berry bushes along the back edge of your garden so their roots are not disturbed during the annual turning of the soil for your veggie plants.

Once you have chosen your showy vegetable plants and designed your garden, it’s time to plant. Follow the instructions on your seed packets or starter plants for the best results. You may want to consider companion planting, which involves planting different plants together that benefit each other. For example, planting marigolds next to your vegetables can help repel pests and improve soil quality. 

Starting with seedlings gives you a better idea of spacing when trying to arrange your plants. Seedlings also tend to do better in areas with shorter growing seasons, like Northern Michigan. Lay out your plants on top of the soil to get an idea of what your arrangement will look like prior to actually planting them in the ground.

Maintaining your vegetable garden is essential to keeping it healthy and beautiful. This includes watering your plants regularly, fertilizing them as needed, and pruning them to promote growth and prevent disease. You should also monitor your plants for signs of pests or disease and take action immediately. 

Regular pruning, harvesting, and watering can help keep your garden looking colorful and fresh. Bright colors and healthy plans can add a lot of curb appeal and decoration to your home.