The Art of the Potager

[Jaxom]

Once more I find myself reading a vegetable book late at night, wishing it was a different date in the year so that I could have a go at growing what I am currently reading about. In the current book it sometimes says "ideal plant for the Potager" now I never was very good at french at school but I did enjoy the cabbage and gravy for lunch. ( OK I was an odd kid who enjoyed school meals ) so I know enough to know that Potage is french for soup or thick vegetable stew.
If in dought "Google it" has always been of help in the past but this time my lack of French is the problem! In the english hits it tended to just be houses that had a potager garden so stated in the blurb about the house.
Next went on to Amazon to look up books only to find a small selection with out any Reviews that helped a great deal. Most seemed to dwell on the wonderful pictures that were to be found in each. or have no review at all.
What I would like to know is ... is a Potager garden just an old fasioned british cottage garden where the flowers and vegetables are intermixed to get the best of both worlds or something else entirely?
Jax

[andrewo]

Potage

This is similar to the kind of gardening I work with, due to the small garden I have. It is similar to a cottage garden but had unique differences. Potage gardens tend to be directly outside the kitchen and have four beds (for rotation), the beds tend to be slightly raised. For example:



You can choose to do crop rotations, normally the crops in each bed are planted not just for taste but for similar colours. The 'hedges' tend to be herbs or lavender or box.

BUT it is in essence a small veg garden. You use fruit trees as ornamental, they still crop but can be a central focus.

You plant in a smaller space with less distance between the crops, so you need to utillise every inch and feed well.

Simply, it is a decorative kitchen garden.

Andrewo

[Jaxom]

Thanks Andrewo, for helping out. The photo you posted is fantastic. Is this your front garden?
Jax

[andrewo]

I wish

Jax,
I wish this was my front garden and had that size of garden! No found it on a website, and it's easier to show potage than try and describe it. When I figure it out, I will post up and image of my garden but will have to wait to summer!

Andrewo

[nick the grief]

I think I'm right in saying that Geoff hamilton did a book on the ornamental kitchen garden which would no doubt answer the needs. I still read his books as I find he was so enthusiastic, that you couldn't wait to try it out ... My wife says he has a lot to answer! Bless you Geoff where ever you are.

[janie]

Hi, Joy Larkcom covers potagers in one of her books "Creative Vegetable Gardening (new edition)". A chapter or so on Layout /plants/ winter produce etc. I got it from my local library, and it is full of lovely pictures too.
Wish mine looked like that! Ah well back to it!!

[poultrychat]

I thought a potager was also meant to have step over hedges round the beds as well but i could be wrong

[smallblueplanet]

Art of Potager

2ndhand copy

Was this the book you were reading Jax? Its very good and has stuff about the history of potagers.

I sometimes buy magazines from both of these companies (from the links below), both accept credit cards and post to the UK. You can work out the amount of postage before buying - 1 or 2 mags cost not too much. I can't read much French, but I read pictures in any language! Also we have a small electronic French/English dictionary (by Franklin) which is very handy on holiday too).

Potager Bio

Plaisir du Potager