Edible Water Garden Idea

{image via Gardening in Containers by Ortho Books,
page 19 of 1984 edition}

This looks like it could be a fun project to enhance your garden with a beautiful {and edible} water feature. Here are a few of the basics mentioned in the book:

A 25-gallon container will yield approximately the following crops:

Lotus~~plant in April, it will produce 5-6 edible roots when harvested during October or November of the second year during its dormant season. Roots of lotus can be french fried like potatoes.

Chinese water chestnuts~~ plant 30-40 of these will grow numerous sedgelike, hollow stems to 2 feet or more from bulbs in the first year. Then when dormant you can harvest about a hundered chestnuts. Save a few to plant the next year.

Violet-stemmed taro~~ Only the tubers are edible. Plant in April 5-6 of these. They grow 5-7 inch leaves on violet stems about 2 feet high that go dormant about six months later. Harvest during dormancy and you can get enough for about two dishes of poi.

Watercress~~practically an instant crop. Pinch off leaves and tips but leave enough stems, roots and leaves that they will continue to grow rapidly.

The book suggests an ecosystem for this type of container garden that keeps everything in harmony. It includes:

1. Oxygenating plants~~to replenish the oxygen. Choose from various species of Elodea (sometimes called Anacharis) which are best for most containers.

2. Water lilies~~the pads provide surface coverage that prevents loss of oxygen and helps keep the water cool.

3. Snails~~they eat algae, fish waste and decaying matter to discourage algae growth

4. Fish~~they eat pests such as aphids, flies, mosquito larvae and other insects. But don't overfeed with commercial fish food as it will change the water balance too much.

[Picture insert] For each square yard of surface area your water garden should contain:

Oxygenating plants: 2 bunches of 6 stems each
Water lily: 1 medium to large plant
Snails: 12 ramshorn or trapdoor water snails
Fish: 2 fish, each 4-5 inches long

And as always, please be careful with children and pets around water.