How to Start a Vegetable or Herb Garden (Potager) the Living Beautifully Way

Starting a vegetable or herb garden, also known as a potager, is a delightful and rewarding way to enhance your home while growing fresh, organic produce. A potager is more than just a functional kitchen garden; it’s a beautiful, artfully designed space where vegetables, herbs, and flowers are planted together to create a charming, productive garden.

Whether you have a large yard or a small balcony, you can create a potager that fits your lifestyle and brings beauty and bounty to your home. Here’s how Mrs. Mayfair suggests getting started, embracing both elegance and sustainability in your own backyard (or patio).

---

1. Choose Your Location

The success of your potager depends on its location. Ideally, it should be in a spot that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day, as most vegetables and herbs thrive in full sun.

• Space Considerations: If you’re working with a small space, consider raised beds, window boxes, or pots. Vertical gardening is also a smart solution for growing upward, using trellises for vining plants like tomatoes or beans.
• Aesthetics: Remember, a potager is as much about beauty as it is about function. Choose a location where the garden can be an attractive part of your outdoor living space, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

Pro Tip: Place your garden close to your kitchen for easy access to fresh herbs and vegetables when cooking. It is also a great idea to have an area with an outdoor dining table as this is perfect for entertaining.

---

2. Plan Your Layout

A well-designed potager incorporates symmetry, balance, and variety. Traditional potagers often feature geometric patterns with neat rows or raised beds that create an organized yet visually pleasing space. You can design your garden to reflect your personal style, whether that’s formal and structured or whimsical and free-flowing.

• Beds and Borders: Raised beds are a great option, as they not only look tidy but also improve drainage and make it easier to manage soil quality. You can frame your beds with wood or stone for a finished look.
• Pathways: Leave space for pathways between beds to ensure easy access for planting, watering, and harvesting. Mrs. Mayfair loves using gravel or brick paths to enhance the beauty of her potager.

Pro Tip: Consider integrating flowers into your potager, such as marigolds or nasturtiums, which not only add color but also help repel pests naturally.

---

3. Select Your Vegetables and Herbs

Choosing what to grow in your potager depends on your tastes, the space you have, and the growing conditions in your area. A mix of vegetables, herbs, and flowers adds both productivity and beauty to your garden.

Herbs

Herbs are a must in any potager, and they’re ideal for small spaces as well. Popular choices include:

• Basil: Perfect for summer salads, pesto, and garnishing.
• Thyme: A versatile herb that pairs well with a variety of dishes.
• Rosemary: This woody herb adds fragrance and flavor to roasted vegetables and meats.
• Mint: Easy to grow, mint is wonderful for teas and cocktails. Just be sure to plant it in a container, as it spreads quickly.

Vegetables

For a productive potager, include a variety of easy-to-grow vegetables:

• Tomatoes: Cherry or heirloom varieties grow beautifully in pots or raised beds.
• Lettuce: Quick to grow, leafy greens like romaine, spinach, and arugula are perfect for fresh salads.
• Zucchini: A versatile summer vegetable that yields abundantly.
• Carrots: A favorite root vegetable that thrives in well-drained soil.

Pro Tip: Mix edible flowers like violas or calendula among your vegetables for a pop of color and additional pollinators.

---

4. Prepare Your Soil

Healthy, nutrient-rich soil is the foundation of any successful garden. Mrs. Mayfair recommends enriching your soil with compost before planting. Compost improves soil structure, provides essential nutrients, and enhances water retention.

• Test Your Soil: It’s a good idea to test your soil’s pH levels and nutrient content. Most vegetables prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
• Add Organic Matter: Mix compost, well-rotted manure, or organic matter into your soil to ensure it’s packed with nutrients that will help your plants grow.

Pro Tip: If you’re using raised beds, opt for a high-quality soil mix designed for vegetables and herbs. It’s an easy way to ensure your plants have the best start.

---

5. Plant with Care

Once your soil is ready, it’s time to plant! Here’s how to ensure your plants have the best chance of thriving:

• Spacing: Pay attention to the spacing recommendations for each plant. While it’s tempting to plant densely, giving your vegetables room to grow will result in better yields.
• Companion Planting: Certain plants grow better when planted together. For example, tomatoes thrive next to basil, which helps repel harmful insects. Research companion planting to maximize your garden’s potential.
• Stagger Your Plantings: To enjoy a continual harvest throughout the season, stagger your plantings by sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings every few weeks.

Pro Tip: Water your plants early in the morning to minimize evaporation and allow the foliage to dry throughout the day, reducing the risk of disease.

---

6. Maintain Your Garden

A potager requires regular attention to ensure it remains healthy and productive throughout the growing season.

• Watering: Keep your soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Most vegetables and herbs need about one inch of water per week.
• Weeding: Regularly weed your garden to prevent competition for nutrients and water. A layer of mulch will help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
• Feeding: Once your plants are established, feed them with a balanced organic fertilizer to encourage healthy growth.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for pests and diseases. Using organic pest control methods like neem oil or introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs can help keep your plants healthy without harsh chemicals.

---

7. Enjoy Your Harvest

There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of harvesting your own homegrown vegetables and herbs. Mrs. Mayfair loves using her potager’s bounty in her kitchen, preparing fresh salads, herb-infused oils, and flavorful dishes straight from the garden.

Pro Tip: Keep a basket or trug handy for easy harvesting. You’ll always have fresh flowers, herbs and vegetables within reach, ready to add a burst of beauty and flavor to any meal.

---

Mrs. Mayfair’s Potager Tip

Remember, a potager is as much about creating a beautiful space as it is about growing your own food. Take the time to design your garden thoughtfully, incorporating decorative elements like bird baths, trellises, or even a small seating area where you can relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

---

With these steps, you’re well on your way to creating a potager that will provide you with both beauty and nourishment. Whether you’re growing vibrant herbs for summer meals or hearty vegetables for autumn dishes, a potager is a wonderful way to embrace the joys of gardening and living beautifully.

Happy gardening!