Planting the Potager
Unlike cottage flower gardens, which thrive on chaos and abandon, vegetable gardens like their denizens growing in neat rows to control weeds and prevent overcrowding.
The always hungry veggies need regular fertilization and sturdy supports to protect the tender stems from damage.
Leave foot paths between the rows which should not be wider than 5 feet, to make it easy to reach every spot without stepping on the growing medium.
Respect the rules of companion planting: some vegetables, like asparagus and fennel, beans and onions, tomatoes and corn, just don’t get along.
Alternate colors and textures in the herb wheel for visual appeal and to keep the herbs from getting mixed up.
All annuals can be planted in containers if need be, but they’re happier and produce more if grown directly in the garden.
The nightshade family germinates reliably and reacts well to transplanting, so tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are great vegetables to start from seed indoors six weeks before the last frost.
Plants with woody seeds, like cucumbers, squashes, melons, and beans dislike having their roots disturbed and grow fast, so they’re best started directly outside after the last frost has passed in nests of five or six seeds.
Cold lovers like radishes, parsley, spinach, carrots, salad, kale, snow peas and chards should be sown directly in the garden in continuous rows as soon as the soil can be worked.
Previous Post
Next Post
