THE DIRT CHEAP GARDENER
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Kitchen Gardens-
photo: Free Digital Photos.net
Kitchen Gardens
The kitchen garden (or "potager") originated in France in midieval times. The main "difference" between a kitchen garden and a standard vegetable garden is that typically a kitchen garden also includes herbs and flowers.
A traditional kitchen garden includes basically anthing you bring into the kitchen:
- herbs
- vegetables
- fruits
- berries
- edible flowers
- flowers for the table
Keep in mind when designing your kitchen garden that most herbs and vegetables need full sun and good drainage. Kitchen gardens are also usually designed symmetrically, with vertical structures such as trellises and topiaries are included for visual interest. Kitchen gardens are designed for both practically and beauty.
Kitchen gardens are usually planted in raised beds. Once they are in place, raised beds are more efficient and economical to maintain-- allow you to better control your soil conditions, are easier to weed and also warm up more quickly in the spring, extending your growing season. You can also line the bottom of your raised bed with a tight-looped chicken wire to discourage burrowing pests such as moles, gophers and rabbits.
Location of your Kitchen Garden
Most vegetables need at least 6 hours or more of full sun. This is probably the most critical element to consider when selecting site for your garden.
Soil Conditions
A good soil mixture is an essential foundation for a healthy garden. Vegetables need a home of rich soil to grow and thrive. They need fairly large amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. A ratio of ingredients that will provide these nutrients is:
50% soil
25% rotted manure
25% compost
