The Principles of Potager Design (& Various Lists)

1. Consider Technicalities
Sunlight
Water

2. Maximize the kitchen-garden relationship
Near the kitchen is best

3. Consider the bird’s eye view
How will the garden be viewed?
Divide into units
Repeat patterns and colors over a theme as much as possible

4. Enclose the garden
Fancifully, or conventionally, but with practical applications
Creates a special place; a sanctuary
Use existing walls and complement with fencing and/or planting to separate.

5. Design the garden like a room, invoking texture, color and mood
A place to sit and view it
Use color and texture from adjoining walls
Keep in synch with the building’s styling


6. Create an edge with raised beds
Raise them with or without wood/bricks etc.

7. Design for counterpoint
Chaos vs. control
Color opposites

8. Go vertical
Structures add dimension to the garden
Grow plants that climb extending the harvestable square footage

9. Consider year round use
Schedule plantings to go in and come out as the seasons changed to allow for maximum year round use; design for four seasons in mind.


Plants You Can Use As Edging

Arugula
Beets
Carrots
Johnny-jump-ups
Marjoram
Mint (p)
Nasturtium
Oregano (p)
Parsley
Radishes
Sorrel (p)
Spinach
Strawberries (p)
Thyme (p)
Turnips
Violets

Plants for Color in the Winter

Beets
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Johnny-jump-up
Kale
Kohlrabi
Mustard
Nasturtium
Purple broccoli
Swiss chard
Violets

Edibles That Are Shade Tolerant

Arugula
Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Chard
Chicory
Chinese cabbage
Collards
Cornsalad (Mâche)
Cresses
Escarole
Fennel
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce
Mustard
Pak Choi
Radishes
Sorrel
Spinach
Turnips


Plants for Height in Winter

Artichoke or Cardoon (p)
Blueberry (p)
Brussels sprouts
Climbing Peas
Fava beans
Ginger (p)
Radicchio
Walking stick kale
Wheat



Plants for Color in Summer

Beans (some climb, some bush)
Eggplants
Okra
Peppers
Squashes
Tomatoes

Plants for Height in Summer

Corn (sweet and popcorn)
Cucumbers (on trellis)
Beans (on trellis)
Melons (on trellis)
Okra
Sunflowers
Tomatoes (in cages)

Edible Flowers

Borage
Calendula
Johnny-jump-ups
Nasturtiums
Pansies
Sunflowers
Violets

Fast Fillers

Arugula
Beets
Carrots
Cress
Green onions
Lettuce
Mustard
Radishes
Spinach
Turnips

Sowing Schedule in Zone 24

Crop Sow On
Basil February 15
Beets Y/R *
Broccoli September 15
Cabbage September 30
Cauliflower September 15
Collards Y/R*
Corn April 1
Cucumber March 1
Eggplant March 15
Kale Y/R*
Lettuce September 1
Melons March 15
Mustard September 1
Okra March 15
Onions September 1
Parsley September 15
Peas September 1
Peppers March 15
Pumpkins May 1
Spinach September 15
Squash (summer) March 1
Squash (winter) March 15
Swiss Chard Y/R
Tomatoes February 15

* except in mid-summer

david