1) Flax seed: Yes, those tiny little brown seeds that speckle the top of breads can be tossed out into the garden for a stunning display and a nice little harvest. Once you've tossed them out, maybe just rake the surface of the soil a bit, water them in, and then just sit back and watch the show! Their healthy oil content is impressive and so is their inch-wide flower! Additionally, the brilliant blue hue will attract bees to pollinate your other plants and increase yields. At the end of the season, you'll see the seed pods drying out. Just rub them with your fingers and a few seeds will fall out of each pod. Magic!
2) Artichokes: I recommend buying a plant from the nursery. It will save you time and a whole lot of trouble instead of growing them from seed. Artichokes are especially known for helping the body detox and also aid in digestion. Plant artichokes in a sunny location with plenty of space. There are two reasons for this. First, especially if they survive a winter and live into the second season, artichokes will take up a LOT of space. They can grow five feet tall and six feet in diameter. Second, artichokes command some good real estate in the garden because they are SO beautiful and will stun your neighbors with their beauty. You'll harvest one big artichoke from the main stem and a few "baby" artichokes from side stems. Be aware, if you plan on eating them, cut them off the stalk before they start to open up as they are not edible once they've opened into showy, thistle-like flowers!
3) Salad greens: Salad greens are a good way to introduce kids to eating veggies when they usually shun anything green. They do quite well in pots and can grow without full sun if you find your garden limited on space or sun. It doesn't take but a month or two to grow them, so they're what I call "short attention span" plants. Letting kids plant the seeds, water them occasionally, and oversee the harvest is a good way to let kids experience the garden. If you have a child that refuses salad on a normal basis, this is your ticket right here.
Have fun!
