Kitchen Gardens

Gardener's Supply

The French have been combining flowers and vegetables in their gardens since medieval days. The kitchen garden or "potager" continues to be popular in France as evidenced by a recent government survey which revealed that almost a fourth of the fruit and vegetables consumed by the French were home-grown.

Americans seem to be following suit, because in the last few years kitchen gardening has really taken off. For those of you wondering what a kitchen garden is; the best description is that it is a place to grow the things you bring into the kitchen--herbs, vegetables, fruits and berries, and even the cutting flowers for your table.

If I had to choose to keep only one of my gardens (heaven forbid!)--it would be my kitchen garden. The funny thing is that for many years I scoffed at the idea of having a vegetable garden. I was quick to point out that I am a flower gardener so why waste space on mundane vegetables that are readily available at the Farmer's Market? But that's the beauty of the kitchen garden--it's vegetable gardening with style!

My own kitchen garden is basically an herb and salad garden. I chose to use the traditional four-square layout, which is simply a rectangle split into four equal parts. Where the parts meet in the center, I've added a circle to frame the large iron tree sculpture that holds my kitchen garden knick knacks. Other garden art you may want to use as a focal point in your own four-square garden might be a woven bee skep, a beautiful rosemary topiary or a metal armillary or sundial. but please--don't use a bird bath. I like the birds as much as anyone, but growing your edibles where they bath, (etc. etc.) just is not a good idea.

Colorful Heirloom Vegetables for your Potager