Optimal Location for Your Kitchen Garden

PICK YOUR PLANTS

The easiest way to decide what you want to grow in your potager is to think about what you like to cook.

For example, if you use a lot of fresh herbs, you’ll want to keep a big pot of your favorite varieties on hand.

Kids can’t get enough of your homemade salsa?

Plan to have a steady supply of fresh cilantro and juicy tomatoes nearby.

In other words, you want to stock your kitchen garden with the fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers you use in your day-to-day cooking.

These are the items you will want to have convenient access to throughout the growing season.

Items you plan freeze, can or otherwise preserve for later use are ideal for your regular vegetable garden.

MAKE THE MOST OF THE SPACE YOU HAVE

Due to their proximity to the house, many kitchen gardens are confined to a relatively small space.

If your proposed potager has a small overall footprint, don’t get discouraged. Instead – look up!

Take advantage of as much vertical space as possible to maximize your growing area.

Consider growing juicy yellow pear tomatoes surrounded by creeping thyme in a vertical container or use hanging baskets suspended on shepherd hooks for your favorite herbs.

Just make sure you keep them well watered as hanging baskets tend to dry out more quickly.

You could also add a trellis or incorporate a fence into your design to provide support for climbing plants, such as pole beans or cucumbers.

If your potager has a blank wall with good sun exposure, you could add a ladder-like series of shelves to house a lot more plants than you could fit into the ground you have available.

MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL

Although some may argue that beauty for its own sake is neither productive nor practical, I disagree.

Your kitchen garden is an extension of your home and will likely be visible to your family and guests.

So, making the area as attractive as possible just makes good sense.

Balance, symmetry and repetition are components of any good garden design.

To incorporate balance and symmetry into your potager, try adding two matching brightly colored containers filled with herbs and place them on each side of the entrance.

For repetition, add multiples of the same plants throughout the garden.

For example, a group of 3 cherry tomato plants in attractive containers will have a stronger visual impact than a single plant.

You can also create a sense of order by planting lovely borders of edible flowers or fragrant herbs along walkways.

One great thing about incorporating ornamental aspects into your potager is you may find you want to spend more time in an area that nourishes both your body and soul.

Referred source: SAVING DOLLARS & SENSE

Creating the perfect kitchen garden location is easier than you might think, and we highly recommend taking the time to get it right from the start. The good news? You don't need to be an expert to succeed.

Start with proximity and sunlight. Position your kitchen garden as close to your kitchen door as possible—this makes harvesting herbs and vegetables during meal prep incredibly convenient. Your plants will thrive with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If you're in a hot climate, a bit of afternoon shade can actually help prevent stress on your plants.

Water access matters more than you'd think. Choose a location near a water source so you're not hauling heavy hoses or buckets across your yard. Easy watering means healthier plants and less frustration on your part.

Grow what you actually cook with. This is the secret to a kitchen garden that truly serves you. Love fresh herbs? Dedicate space to your favorites. Make salsa regularly? Plant cilantro and tomatoes. Stock your garden with the produce, herbs, and edible flowers you use in everyday cooking. This approach ensures you'll harvest and use everything you grow.

Maximize small spaces vertically. Limited ground space? Look up! Vertical containers, hanging baskets, trellises, and wall-mounted shelving can dramatically increase your growing area. Climbing plants like pole beans and cucumbers are perfect for trellises, while herbs thrive in hanging baskets—just remember they dry out faster.

Make it visually appealing. Your kitchen garden is part of your home's landscape. Use design principles like balance, symmetry, and repetition. Pair matching herb containers on either side of an entrance, or plant groups of three cherry tomato plants for stronger visual impact than single specimens. Edible flower borders along walkways add both beauty and function.

A well-planned kitchen garden becomes a space you'll want to spend time in—one that nourishes both your meals and your spirit.