7 best vegetable garden layout ideas on soil, sun orientations, spacing, varieties, plans & design secrets to create productive & beautiful kitchen gardens.
Before this blog took over, I worked as a garden designer for over 10 years. My favorite gardens always had an edible garden in them!
I found that the best vegetable garden layout & designs invariably have a lot of things in common. They are all well planned, easily accessible, very productive, inviting, and beautiful .
Today I am super excited to share with you 7 secrets to create great vegetable garden layout & designs and practical tips you can implement in your own garden right away! For more, here are , and our complete guide to vegetable gardening for beginners.
1. Start with sun and shade when creating vegetable garden layout and designs
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Most vegetables grow best in full sun. Not all open areas in a garden will be sunny. A tall tree or building can cast several hundred feet of shade when the sun is lower in the year from late fall through early spring. ( Via Pine House Gardens )
Always choose the most sunny location you can for a kitchen garden, where plants can get at least 5-6 hours of direct sun per day, especially between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Usually the south, south west, or south east side of a house is great for a veggie garden on northern hemisphere. ( Via NW Bloom )
What direction should vegetable garden rows run? Typically the garden gets more sun exposure when rows are running north south direction.
Sometimes we can not do so, such as in this sloped garden. A good alternative is to plant shorter plants such as cabbage, onion, or zucchini on the south side of a garden bed, and taller plants such as pole bean, fava bean, tomato etc on the north side so the taller plants won’t shade the shorter plants.
2. Well designed beds and paths in vegetable garden layout
Good soil is key. Here are some of the best ways to make compost for your garden, and 35 great DIY compost bin ideas.
A well designed vegetable garden layout needs to have good circulation paths. A main path should be at least 30 inch wide for ease of circulation. You can have narrower paths or stepping stones through garden bed as well. ( Via Magnolia )
Garden beds should be less than 4′ wide to easily reach any plants in the center without stepping onto the soil.
Check out this detailed guide on easy 25 DIY garden paths with inexpensive materials.
If you want more edible garden beds ideas, check out this reader favorite article on how to build 28 easy and productive raised beds!
3. How to space vegetables in a garden
When you are designing what to plant in your vegetable garden, it’s important to know how far to space vegetables in a garden bed.
You can find the spacing requirements of different plants on a seed packet, or use this spacing chart above. This is for intensive plantings with good soil in small space or raised beds. Increase the spacing by x1.5 or x2 if you have a bigger garden area.
Another popular edible garden design is the square foot garden. Square foot gardening system is the practice of dividing the growing area into 1 foot square sections for better planning of an intensive vegetable garden. ( Via Almanac )
We also have a free printable gardening calendar you can download here, which will help you plan which vegetables to plant each month in your climate zone.
Spacing is pretty much fool-proof when it comes to container gardens. Just choose the right size planters for the veggies you want to grow! Here are 20+ best vegetable to grow in planters, and 35 creative container vegetable garden ideas!
4. Learn from beautiful kitchen garden designs
There are so many beautifully designed kitchen gardens and potagers throughout history to draw inspirations from. The majestic vegetable garden above was designed by George Washington at Mt Vernon.
We can use these timeless garden layout designs in our own gardens. Keep in mind that garden beds do not have to be rectangles and squares. You can use curved shapes in your garden designs like in this garden above.
5. Use trellis & structures in a vegetable garden layout
Another garden structure to consider is garden fencing, which can keep out deer and rabbits, and act as a trellis for climbing plants like beans and cucumbers.
This simple and attractive raised bed garden is by Homefront Farmers.
rellises are functional garden structures that make a garden more productive. They can also be really beautiful in an edible garden. Check out these 24 best DIY garden trellis ideas and tutorials here!
6. Front yard vegetable garden layout and design
Once upon a time, the idea of a front yard vegetable garden seemed ridiculous. Now as urban farms and beautiful edible gardens are popping up everywhere, we are no longer limited to only the backyard for vegetable gardening.
This front yard vegetable garden is so beautifully designed and absolutely inspiring!
7. Biodiversity and companion planting
When planning your garden, it’s a good idea to incorporate companion planting. It is a system of which plants go together and how to create more beneficial relationships among plants to increase productivity and to repel pests naturally.
By planting certain vegetables, herbs and flowers together, you can allow them to help one another to grow a healthier and more beautiful and abundant garden. ( Via Helen Philips )
This companion planting chart by afristar is a wonderful guide to start with. If you want to dig deeper, there are some great books on companion planting. We have this one: Carrots Love Tomatoes !
Stay tuned for more in our vegetable gardening series.
Happy gardening friends! See you soon! 🙂
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in vegetable gardening, I have extensive knowledge and experience in creating productive and beautiful kitchen gardens. I have worked as a garden designer for over 10 years, and my favorite gardens always included an edible garden. I believe that the best vegetable garden layouts and designs have several key elements in common: they are well planned, easily accessible, highly productive, inviting, and aesthetically pleasing.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article:
1. Sun and Shade Orientation
Most vegetables thrive in full sun, so it's important to choose a sunny location for your kitchen garden. Ideally, the plants should receive at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, especially between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. In the northern hemisphere, the south, southwest, or southeast side of a house is usually great for a vegetable garden. However, if your garden has areas with shade, you can still make use of them by planting shorter plants on the south side and taller plants on the north side to prevent shading.
2. Well-Designed Beds and Paths
Good soil is essential for a successful vegetable garden. When designing your garden layout, it's important to consider the circulation paths. A main path should be at least 30 inches wide to allow for easy movement. Additionally, garden beds should be less than 4 feet wide to ensure that you can reach the center without stepping on the soil. Narrower paths or stepping stones can also be incorporated within the garden beds for accessibility.
3. Spacing of Vegetables
Proper spacing is crucial for the healthy growth of vegetables. The spacing requirements for different plants can be found on seed packets or in spacing charts. In intensive plantings with good soil or raised beds, you can follow the spacing recommendations provided. If you have a larger garden area, you may need to increase the spacing by 1.5 or 2 times. Another popular approach is square foot gardening, where the growing area is divided into 1-foot square sections for better planning and utilization of space .
4. Beautiful Kitchen Garden Designs
Drawing inspiration from beautifully designed kitchen gardens and potagers throughout history can help you create your own unique garden layout. These designs often incorporate curved shapes and creative arrangements, showcasing the versatility of garden beds. Remember, garden beds do not have to be limited to rectangles and squares.
5. Use of Trellises and Structures
Trellises and structures not only add visual interest to a vegetable garden but also increase productivity. They can be used to support climbing plants like beans and cucumbers, as well as act as garden fencing to keep out pests. There are numerous DIY trellis ideas available that can be tailored to your garden's needs .
6. Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
Front yard vegetable gardens are becoming increasingly popular as urban farms and edible gardens gain traction. With thoughtful design, a front yard can be transformed into a beautiful and productive vegetable garden. Don't limit yourself to the backyard when it comes to vegetable gardening.
7. Biodiversity and Companion Planting
Incorporating companion planting in your garden can enhance productivity and naturally repel pests. Companion planting involves strategically placing plants together to create beneficial relationships. By planting certain vegetables, herbs, and flowers together, you can promote healthier growth and increase the beauty and abundance of your garden. There are various resources available, such as companion planting charts and books, to guide you in this practice.
I hope these insights and tips help you create a productive and beautiful vegetable garden. Happy gardening!
