A kitchen garden — sometimes called a potager — combines vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers in a design that is both productive and good-looking.
Planning the layout well saves effort for years.
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Pick the right spot
Most fruit and vegetables need at least six hours of sun a day. Choose a sheltered spot close to the kitchen and a water supply, so watering and harvesting are easy.
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Raised beds
Beds around 1.2 metres wide let you reach the centre without stepping on soil. Raised beds warm up faster in spring and drain well. Paths at least 60 cm wide allow for a wheelbarrow.
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What to include
- ✿Salad crops and herbs close to the house
- ✿Perennial crops like rhubarb and asparagus in a permanent bed
- ✿Fruit bushes and trained fruit trees along edges
- ✿Companion flowers such as marigolds and nasturtiums
- ✿A compost area and water butts
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Plan for rotation
Divide beds into groups — such as legumes, brassicas, roots, and others — and rotate each year to reduce pests and diseases. See our companion planting guide.
This is general landscaping and garden information, not professional advice. Costs, regulations, and plant suitability vary by location. Call before you dig to locate buried utilities, and consult a licensed landscaper or engineer for retaining walls, drainage, and structural work.