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Creating a Potager:. A Kitchen Garden Hideaway Lois Royer - [email protected]. What is a Potager?. French term for a kitchen garden A place for beauty, relaxation, and edibles (Don’t worry about the pronunciation). Basic Vegetable Gardening. Site 1. Type of garden 2. Size and costs - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Creating a Potager:A Kitchen Garden Hideaway
Lois Royer
College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources
What is a Potager?
• French term for a kitchen garden
• A place for beauty, relaxation, and edibles
• (Don’t worry about the pronunciation)
Basic Vegetable Gardening
Site1. Type of garden2. Size and costs3. Location
Soil4. Testing5. Preparing6. Improving
Seeds7. Best crops8. How to plant9. Using transplants
Sustain10. Feed and water11. Weeds12. Harvest!
Creating your potager
• Dream what you want• Assess what you have• Then think realistically
Start Small and Flexible
• Close to house is best• Must have sun for
veggies• Water available• All gardens need care
costing time or money (often both)
Make a written plan
• Start with graph of existing plot
• Take photographs and measurements
• If desired begin a journal or notebook
• Make a 3-5 year plan• Learn more every year
Pattern• Geometric patterns are
great when viewed from above
• Endless possibilities • Use center stake and rope
to make circles• Check for square when
making rectangles, corner to corner measurement should match
Theme and Mood• Formal hardscape can still
create a relaxed garden• Rigid themes can be
confining or fun• Consider the
surroundings, especially your house
• Remember it is your garden, do what you like
Cottage style is forgiving but not maintenance free
Try a modular approach
• Start with the center area or one section
• Build a few beds each year
• Don’t add beds unless you easily maintained your current areas
Enclosure for Protection and Privacy
• Keep out Critters- especially deer
• Design feature • Blend with feel of your
location• Create a world apart
PATHWAYS
• Room for cart• Grass or mulch• Add stone or brick in
the future• Keep sharp edges
Building your Beds
• Consider your reach• Watch corners and round
areas• Think where you will
stand and have stones ready
• Raised beds have pros and cons
• Sheet composting makes easy bed prep
COLOR & TEXTURE
• Flowers add color and interest all season• Principals used in flower gardens work well• Vegetables have a wide range of textures• Don’t forget the variety of HERBS to use
Create Focal Point & Go Vertical
• A focal point draws attention to the garden• Use plants or structures• Vertical supports will greatly increase use of
square footage
PLAN FOR CHANGES
• Vegetables are mostly annuals• Some are harvested before end of season• Some take all season to grow and mature• Prep for these ongoing changes • Expect to need to fill holes, maybe with flowers, containers, or mulch
Refine your practices in the future as you gain experience
• Crop rotation• Succession planting• Larger garden• Start seeds indoors• Try new plant varieties• Extend the season• Plant for winter visual interest
Find inspiration
Appreciate Simplicity
Make the garden your own
My garden so far
Resources
• Grow It! Eat It!http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit
– We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog!
• Home and Garden Information Centerhttp://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic
– Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter.
– We answer gardening questions 24/7…just click “Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts”
• Maryland Master Gardener Programhttp://www.extension.umd.edu/mg
– Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!
This program was brought to you by the Maryland Master Gardener Program
Howard CountyUniversity of Maryland Extension