Who says a kitchen garden can't be beautiful?

Somewhere in our garden history, veggie gardens got the short end of the stick. They’ve been typecast as the ugly ducklings of gardening, while ornamental plantings are touted as the swans. Maybe this is due to our American agricultural heritage of mundane, monocultural straight lines: a row of corn here, two rows of beans there. There is no rule book, however, that says our edible gardens can’t be beautiful and a showcase of the neighborhood. By borrowing design strategies used in ornamental gardening, these goals are easily attainable. Colorful flowering plants, attractive enclosures, and crisp edges are just a few of the details that can transform an ordinary kitchen garden into a masterpiece.

Plant in blocks of color

The idea of bringing edible and ornamental gardening together certainly isn’t a new concept. The French have been doing it in their potagers (vege­table gardens) for centuries, providing beauty and bounty in the form of flowers, vege­tables, fruits, and herbs that enrich their gardens and tables throughout the seasons. One of the easiest ways to dazzle the eye in this setting is to throw flowering ornamentals into the mix and play with color.

When choosing a mix of plants, I go for options that offer a wide range of colors and textures. I love to cover the ground with colorful edibles that are also ornamental, like blue-green cabbage, purple basil, and golden sage. Planting organization is the most practical way to approach edibles, so I plant these colorful selections in blocks to create a beau­tiful, quiltlike tapestry.

Create decorative boundaries

Just as color was a part of early kitchen gardens so was the element of enclosure. Medieval gardens were often created with a simple wattle fence to distinguish the basic boundaries of the garden. At the same time, cloister gardens were enclosed to signify a place of beauty, meaning, and meditation. By borrowing this ancient design strategy, you can turn your own kitchen garden into an outdoor sanctuary. Enclosure creates an intimate scale for the garden, establishing a sense of privacy and respite while also setting a boundary and keeping focus within the garden.

The best enclosures work with their surroundings. A wrought-iron fence would be appropriate for a front-yard kitchen garden in an urban setting, while a picket fence would blend well with many styles, from New England colonial to rustic. When constructing a stone wall, choose local materials—like limestone in the Midwest or granite in the East—for a timeless, permanent kitchen-garden enclosure.
The options are endless when it comes to using plants for boundaries. Espaliered apple or pear trees can be trained to grow on a brick wall or on wire fences for a see-through effect. A boxwood hedge, a mass of blueberries, and a row of currants are just a few of the other living-fence possibilities. I find that tall perennials and annuals, such as ornamental grasses or cosmos, are excellent for creating privacy screens with seasonal interest. Just be sure to keep annuals and perennials separate in the kitchen garden to make it easier to till and amend your annual beds.

Primp bed edges and pathways

For kitchen gardeners who plant in raised beds, edging or soil-retaining material is an essential element for keeping soil in place. Even if you don’t plant in raised beds, however, edging is a great way to add a polished look to ground-level plantings. It establishes where the bed begins and ends, and it gives the scene a crisp, neat appearance. Edges can be made from brick, granite cobbles, wood, or steel. Use your imagi­nation; consider, for example, rustic logs laid on end for a whimsical effect.
Primped pathways are another feature that can give the garden an attractive look. Laying down wood chips or crushed-gravel paths will freshen the scene and make visitors feel invited to come in and explore. Granite and brick not only are good for edges but also can dress up your pathways. Make sure your passageways are wide enough for a wheelbarrow. Beyond that, the sky is the limit.

Whatever edging and pathway materials you choose, be sure they complement your house and the rest of the garden. Stone or pavers are a good choice for formal architecture, while wood works well with informal styles and settings.

 Color plays an important role, too. Don’t forget to select materials that harmonize with the color scheme of your home.

Plant them close together

I’ll be the first to admit that I am an impatient gar­dener. When I plant my summer containers, for example, I space the plants close together to give me instant impact. Planting beds in a kitchen garden are like large containers, so don’t be afraid to plant closer than the seed packets recommend to minimize gaps. I space plants so that the tips of the leaves will almost touch those of the next plant at maturity. This approach employs the plants themselves as a living mulch to choke out weeds. It makes the garden look more lush and beautiful because you see more color and less bare soil.

 In addition to planting tightly, consider adjusting your planting pattern. Instead of lining up crops in perfect rows, stagger the seedlings in a triangular pattern so that the bed fills in with a mass of color. Carrots, beets, lettuces, leeks, onions, and garlic can all be planted close together. As plants mature, I thin out every other one to eat at the baby stage and leave the rest to grow to full size. Inevitably, you will want to eat the edibles in your garden, which will leave unsightly holes. To fill the gaps, sow seed for fast-growing crops, like radishes, lettuces, and basils. The garden will be full and lush again in no time