I am a new convert to chaos gardening. I used to follow a much more rigid set of rules about what could be planted where in my container garden. Seeds were planted in tidy rows. Vegetables and flowers did not mix. However, recently, I’ve seen some amazing examples of vibrant raised beds and natural-looking in-ground plantings that have benefited dramatically from chaos gardening. Read on if you think chaos gardening might be for you.
What is Chaos Gardening?
Chaos gardening strives for a natural look. Your raised beds or in-ground growing patches may even look wild. Gone are the straight rows of meticulously sown seeds. Instead, chaos gardening literally entails the scattering of seeds in organic soil that is light, fluffy, and prepared for planting.
Can You Scatter Any Seed Anywhere?
You should still keep some companion planting guidelines in mind. For example, alliums still shouldn’t be planted near peas or beans because they can stunt those vegetables. Instead, if you already have beans or peas growing, scatter radish or carrot seeds in early fall for an abundant harvest. Because we have a new crop of peas sprouting in our trellised, raised garden bed, we’ll be tossing in radish and carrot seeds this week to see what happens.
Also, try to keep seeds with vastly different water requirements separate. If you have succulents in the ground, you don’t want to scatter cucumbers, broccoli, or spinach seeds among them. Those vegetable plants will need a lot of water, particularly in warmer months, and you’ll drown your succulents.
What are the Advantages of Chaos Gardening?
For me, the most significant advantage of chaos gardening is the biodiversity it offers. Scattering seeds native to your region supports the local ecosystem. They respond well to the agricultural zone’s climate (at least for the moment), and pollinators will be delighted to visit.
It’s somewhat cheaper to grow wild gardens this way. You’ll spend less on fertilizers and significantly less time maintaining your planting area. This approach doesn’t require a lot of land. Our front yard is small and combines sideline, in-ground plantings, and raised beds. Scattering works in both areas. I’d even try it if you have large pots. Feel free to experiment with different container gardens or plots to see what works best.
Should Flower Seeds and Vegetable Seeds be Scattered Together?
Yes! You don’t have to do it, but you can. We love the colors of Nasturtium. They are great friends to pollinators and can help the soil retain moisture. They are gorgeous and effective at keeping away certain pests, like beetles. Also, they are edible! We are going to scatter Nasturtium seeds with our radish seeds to see what happens. If they grow at all, we should see an extraordinary riot of wild colors. Can’t wait!
Visit us here for more gardening tips!