Vegetable Garden Lessons from Longwood Gardens

Join me for a trip to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, to visit one of the world's great gardens — Longwood Gardens, Pierce du Pont's showpiece. It's not just an exhibition garden; it's a teaching and experimental garden. Case in point: the vegetable gardens. Beautifully tended plots with perennial vegetables and prepped annual beds lie in wait. Weathered wood structures blend seamlessly while offering architectural interest and practical support.

Get ideas for your own yard from Longwood's trellising, fencing, and spacing techniques.

Amy Renea: The vegetable garden sits near an out-of-the-way walkway at the back, yet could be the showpiece. Fencing on all sides keeps predators out. Gently weathered wood theme begins — notice how arbor sight lines and interior stakes run perfectly parallel.

Amy Renea: Inside, closely cut grass, freshly turned soil, and perfectly cut edges. A narrow angled trench between grass and soil is the classic edging — keeps weeds out, creates clean lines. Needs cutting at least once yearly to maintain.

Amy Renea: Living twig fences — plant flexible, easily-rooted willow, tuck tops into ground. The plant grows with both ends anchored.

Amy Renea: Turn the corner to the asparagus bed. Spears appear in spring, then ferny foliage grows all summer. Simple bamboo stake fences restrain ferns from falling into walkways.

Amy Renea: Across from asparagus, an angled trellis for climbing plants — good for heavier climbers like squash and watermelon due to thickness and strength. Vines provide shade for lettuces underneath.

Amy Renea: The centerpiece structure works on the same premise — creating structure and shade simultaneously. Climbing twiners like peas and beans scamper up sides, creating room inside for shade-loving veggies.

Amy Renea: All beds and pathways radiate from the centerpiece. In your garden, orient around a sundial, branch tepee with morning glories, or a round planting bed full of annuals.

Amy Renea: Far side holds more freshly dug beds. Trenches separate beds within beds; obelisks provide vertical lines to horizontal beds and offer opportunities for ornamentals like clematis or climbing hydrangea to break up cabbage and kohlrabi boxes.

Amy Renea: Whether planning a simple veggie plot or a minifarm, borrow design techniques from the masters. Cut trenches in onion beds? Add vertical elements for interest or shade? Create your own grand structure making veggie beds the true centerpiece?