The brief was to create a formal kitchen garden design in the ‘formal kitchen garden’ style. It was to have a strong decorative element, but also the ability to grow edible produce.
The Brief
Situation: Large rear, urban garden.
Area: approximately 70m2
Aspect: South facing.
Environmental conditions: Fully enclosed rear garden with timber fences exposed sides. Direct sun on every part of the garden at some point through the day.
Garden uses/users: Self and partner. A garden to sit and spend more time in/relaxation. Used evenings/weekends in the warmer months.
We proceeded through our usual design process. This involves submitting mood boards and initial concepts. Once we were sure the client was happy with our ideas we could form a contract and move onto the next stage.
This involved site survey and soil analysis. Once this was done we could start the concept drawings, final scale design drawings, construction details and planting plans. As well as a care package for the ongoing maintenance of the garden.
Formal Kitchen Garden Design Ornamentals
Our clients budget required that we remain mindful of choosing plants at the right stage of development. This meant planting more immature fruit trees. Which is actually preferable anyway. Because they have a higher success rate.
Here are just some of the plants we chose for the ornamental aspects of the kitchen garden beds:
- Salvia officinalis ‘Purpuracens’
- Nepeta racemosa ‘Walkers Low’ has deep blue-mauve flowers. Which are long lasting and sit on silvery aromatic leaves, with dark stems . It comes into flower in the early summer. Not only this but it will continue into autumn if flushes are dead-headed. It has a variable habit according to growing conditions.
- Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
- Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ a bushy dwarf evergreen shrub, with narrow, silvery-grey leaves. It also has small deep violet-purple flowers. Which form in dense, aromatic spikes.
- Allium tuberosum ‘Garlic Chives’.
- Dianthus ‘Mojito’.
- Gaura lindheimeri ‘The Bride’ flowers from midsummer through autumn when there is nothing else like it. White flowers with a pink flushed. They last for weeks on top of graceful branches. These are set with small willow-like leaves.
- Rosa Shrub rose ‘Little White Pet’ is a dwarf variety with perpetual flowering. That spreads vigorously. The flowers have a lovely fragrance.
Formal Kitchen Garden Design Edibles
Here is a selection of the edibles we planted in order to get the kitchen garden going, until the client plants up the centres with more:
- Ribes Rubrum ‘Versaille Blanc’ whitecurrants.
- Pragraria X ananassa ‘Rhapsody’ strawberry is a late season fruiting variety. As well as this it has medium to large fruit. Also with a good flavour.
- Malus domestica ‘Red Sleeves’ apple.
- Pyrus communis ‘Invincible’ pear are a Tough and reliable variety. They can be cooked or eaten fresh.
- Prunus avium ‘Stella’ cherry.
Formal Kitchen Garden Climbers
We also planted climbers at the fences, on the obelisks and entrance arch of the formal kitchen garden design:
- Tracheospermum jasminoides.
- Lonicera japonica is a vigorous climber that produce a mass of trailing leaves. It has stems covered with a profusion of white and yellow flowers. This happens from late spring onwards. It has bright green oval shaped leaves and young twining stems turn a rich purplish red. Gives a wonderful attractive display. At other times the evergreen leaves provide excellent all year round cover.
- Lathyrus latifolius everlasting peas are a vigorous climbing herbaceous perennial. They will grow up to 2m, and have winged stems. Paired with grey-green leaflets bearing tendrils. Their flowers are 2-3cm in width, and vivid purplish-pink.
