At the State Fair’s Farm, see food grow beautifully

The Farm at the State Fair showcases double-duty plants in bright, attractive landscaping. (Photos: Debbie Arrington)

Edible ornamentals are scene stealers in this Sacramento showcase at Cal Expo

By Debbie Arrington  

What’s happening down on The Farm? Food plants that are as beautiful as their crops are delicious.

The State Fair’s agricultural showcase, The Farm reopened to the public Friday, July 13, for the fair’s 17-day run at Cal Expo. Recent heat brought on a growth spurt as many fruit trees and vegetable plants brimmed with produce ready to pick.     

But the scene stealers were plants doing double duty, serving as attractive landscaping with appetizing benefits.  

A continuing hot trend, edible ornamentals (or ornamental edibles) bring food production into the garden spotlight usually reserved for purely pretty plants such as annual flowers and blooming shrubs. They grow food while also beautifying spaces.

Rows of colorful sages, marigolds, sweet potatoes, garlic and peppers greet visitors to The Farm’s entrance.  It’s a look that can be easily duplicated at home, spicing up the garden as well as meals.

Near the entrance, dwarf pomegranates form a backdrop of bright orange silken flowers, surrounded by glossy foliage. On these attractive shrubs, baby pomegranates already are starting to form; in a few weeks, they’ll start turning shades of red. That’s a great landscape shrub with a bonus: Tart and tasty fall fruit.

In one of the biggest displays, emerald green hops cover a nearby arbor; that cool shade is beer on the vine.

Espaliered on fences or dwarfed in containers, Gala apples grow in tight spaces -- mini-trees with full-size fruit. Bushels of grapes drape from trellised vines like little green jewels.

Another arbor is covered with thick green foliage and big fuzzy “eggs” – kiwifruit. These odd berries dangle from the arbor for easy picking (but not right now).

Tower gardens demonstrate that a lot of food (salads for months!) can grow in a very limited space with less water. They’re fun to grow and look at, too.

Located next to the Cal Expo water tower, The Farm is also home to the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners help booth, a farmers market and daily cooking demonstrations featuring produce from this special Sacramento garden.

The Farm is open daily during the State Fair, starting at 11 a.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. Fridays-Sundays. The Farm closes at 7 p.m. each day.

Cal Expo is located at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. For tickets and more details: www.castatefair.org.