potager

vegetable garden

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

A potager is a French term for a vegetable garden that is both functional and decorative. Unlike a typical vegetable plot, a potager is cultivated with a high standard of care and often features short rows bordered by small hedges, creating an aesthetically pleasing display. The term "potagerie" can also refer to the vegetables and herbs grown in such a garden. These gardens require sunny locations and well-prepared soil, with crop rotation being beneficial for successful growth and pest management. The elaborate potager at the Château de Villandry is cited as a prime example of this decorative approach to vegetable gardening.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

gardening
Herb and vegetable gardens
The old French potager, the prized vegetable garden, was grown to be decorative as well as useful; the short rows with little hedges around and the high standard of cultivation represent a model of the art of vegetable growing. The elaborate parterre vegetable garden at the Château de…
Read More
The old French potager, the prized vegetable garden, was grown to be decorative as well as useful; the short rows with little hedges around and the high standard of cultivation represent a model of the art of vegetable growing. The elaborate parterre vegetable garden at the Château de…
Read More