How to Design a Beautiful Potager Garden: Edible Elegance in Your Own Back Garden
Grow Food and Beauty Side by Side
Imagine stepping into your garden and being greeted by the scent of herbs, the vibrant colour of edible flowers, and the structure of perfectly placed vegetable beds. That’s the charm of a potager garden—a French-inspired layout where form meets function.
With spring in full swing, now is the ideal time to plan and plant a potager garden that thrives through summer and beyond.
What is a Potager Garden?
A potager (pronounced pot-ah-zhay) is a decorative kitchen garden that blends edibles and ornamentals in an organised, often symmetrical design. Unlike a traditional veg patch, potagers focus on beauty and productivity in equal measure.
You’ll often see:
Raised beds arranged in geometric shapes
Paths of gravel or reclaimed brick for access and character
Companion planting for visual and botanical harmony
A central feature—like a fruit tree, obelisk, or water feature
Best Plants for a UK Potager Garden
Mix colours, textures, and heights using:
🥕 Vegetables:
Rainbow chard
Dwarf French beans
Courgettes
Red and green lettuces
Kale varieties
🌿 Herbs:
Rosemary, thyme, and sage for structure
Basil and parsley for lush ground cover
Chives for both flower and flavour
🌸 Flowers:
Nasturtiums (edible, pest-repellent, colourful)
Marigolds (great for pollinators)
Calendula and borage for a pop of orange and blue
Design Tips for a Stunning Layout
Keep it symmetrical: Use square or circular patterns for a formal look.
Use edging: Low box hedging or brick borders give it a polished feel.
Vary heights: Plant taller crops in the centre or against supports, with smaller herbs and flowers along the edges.
Think succession: Choose crops that mature at different times to keep the space looking full.
Benefits Beyond the Beauty
Harvest fresh produce right outside your door
Attract pollinators with mixed planting
Enjoy seasonal colour and texture
Reduce grocery bills with homegrown goodness
Impress visitors with your stylish kitchen garden
Let’s Design Your Dream Potager
Whether you want a small raised-bed potager or a larger kitchen garden makeover, we’re here to help. At Millhouse Landscapes, we specialise in garden designs that are as practical as they are picturesque.
👩🌾 Book a consultation and let’s turn your outdoor space into an edible work of art.