THE FARM GARDEN
Even though I've painted the cottage garden on my forehead, it's not that far removed from the farmer's garden. They have a lot in common, and you can, and perhaps don't even need to, draw a clear dividing line.
Photo: @evelin81243_bayern
Perhaps the cottage garden is a bit more focused on actual crops, is usually fenced in, and is more commonly found in rural areas. And if you want to know what a cottage garden is to me, just read here .
But since the farmer's garden is now a more common term in our latitudes (than the cottage garden), I should definitely pay tribute to it with an article.
The cottage garden
Homegrown vegetables, delicious berries, the scent of herbs. And, of course, the bouquet of flowers—all directly from the garden to the kitchen and onto the table.
Pure pleasure. It's almost childlike joy to be able to harvest and enjoy the fruits of one's garden.
Photo: Stefan Körber, Fotolia.
Originally, the farmer's garden—like the cottage garden—was a vegetable garden planted by the rural population to fill stomachs and pantries. It was fenced in to prevent animals from nibbling on the vegetables.
Other useful and medicinal plants as well as herbs and dye plants were also cultivated.
Although the cottage garden no longer has the same significance as it did back then, it is a garden style that pleases the eye and, above all, corresponds to the “new” awareness of nature, the desire for originality, and combines the useful with the beautiful.
Lushly blooming and natural
Just as with a cottage garden, the same applies to a farmer's garden: It can (and should) be romantic and natural, perhaps not necessarily neat and tidy. It's better to be lush and generous.
Nevertheless, you shouldn't act completely arbitrarily, but rather think about paths, borders, fences and planting beforehand - a well-thought-out plan with a coherent concept can be very helpful.
Planning: location, floor plan and boundaries
It is best to choose a sunny spot for the cottage garden, as most of the plants that will grow there need a lot of sun.
Once the space has been found, the next step is to define the floor plan with clear boundaries. A rectangular layout with a fence made of natural materials—such as a rustic picket fence or a white-painted picket fence—is ideal. Wrought iron fences also work well here.
When planning, consider reserving space in your flowerbeds for any climbing plants or vines. Sweet peas and/or perennial sweet peas, clematis, or shorter ramblers (I have Super Excelsa and Perennial Blush on my fence) are ideal.
Structure : Creating paths and flowerbeds
Rectangular cottage gardens are usually divided into four quarters by a crossroads. Romantics can indulge here, too. A fountain, a table, or even a few beautifully arranged pots can fit in the center. Stones, woven hazel fences, or wicker are beautiful for edging the beds. Plants such as chives, lavender, honeysuckle, saffron, lady's mantle, hyssop, curry plant, and woolly yarrow are also suitable.
Photo: @fraeuleinemmama
Gravel, irregular paving, wood chips or even just grass are suitable for the paths.
Beautifully designed raised beds always fit in well. You can find tips on how to best fill raised beds in this video .
A cottage garden also requires appropriate decorations. In the past, rose balls, also called "lucky balls," were placed in traditional cottage gardens. They were said to possess secret powers and, with their reflective surface, deterred birds of prey.
planting
It's all in the mix. Wild farm gardens contain a mix of flowers, vegetables, and medicinal and culinary herbs.
In my garden, hand in hand and head to head, alongside vegetables and herbs, grow roses, columbines, asters, peonies, phlox, catnip, autumn anemones, a low butterfly bush, an ornamental apple tree (also small, about 1.60 m high), the blue rattle flower, cosmos, borage, lady's mantle, tulips, delphiniums, yarrow, ornamental sage, night violets and horned violets.
Other typical cottage garden plants include hollyhocks, lupins, bluebells, mallows, marigolds, nasturtiums, dahlias, daisies, snapdragons, purple coneflowers, poppies, soapwort, irises, gladiolas, zinnias, stocks, chanterelles, clary sage, violets, feverfew…
Bulb plants or herbs such as mint and thyme, planted in old clay pots, can be used to create a lovely accent, while a rose arch at the entrance, ideally covered with hops or ivy, creates a special atmosphere.
All types of berries are easy to care for and absolute family favorites. Strawberries, currants, raspberries, and gooseberries are ideal.
The crops themselves also enjoy a colorful mix. This prevents the spread of pests. Dill, for example, promotes the germination of carrots, marigolds keep nematodes at bay, marigolds protect against diseases in cabbage, beans, and tomatoes, sage deters the cabbage white butterfly, and basil combats powdery mildew. Garlic should also be included between the strawberries.
Tips for small gardens or balcony planting
If you don't have much space, you can also create a mini-cottage garden – like my friend Susie. It's only a few square meters in size and consists of a raised bed, planted zinc tubs, and a few pots.
Vegetables also grow well in pots (it doesn't have to be pumpkin), but cocktail tomatoes, snack cucumbers and radishes really fit in anywhere.
Pots of various sizes, some filled with vegetables, some with flowers, window boxes that fit the cottage garden style, and perhaps a privacy screen made of hazel branches. A piece of picket fence leaning against the wall or railing also gives the balcony the right flair.
Photo: Dora Zett, Fotolia
Would you like a cottage garden? Or perhaps you already have one?
I look forward to receiving your photos at blumenglueck@mycottagegarden.de
