If you’ve been following along with my garden journey, you know this little corner of my yard has come a long way. What started as a forgotten patch behind my She Shed Office is now officially in year three—and thriving.

This year’s potager garden update includes a few thoughtful upgrades, a slightly overenthusiastic amount of planting, and one very necessary addition thanks to a certain mischievous puppy.

If you’re new here, check out My Potager Garden + The Story Behind the ‘Secret Garden’ Sign so you can see where this all started—and I’ll also share a few recent videos if you want a closer look at everything in action.

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What Is a Potager Garden?

(And Why I Love It)

A potager garden—also known as a kitchen garden—is designed to be both beautiful and functional. It blends vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a way that feels intentional rather than purely practical.

That balance is exactly why I love it. It doesn’t feel like a backyard chore—it feels like part of my historic home.

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Year One: Building the Foundation

Back in 2024, this space was mostly ignored. It sat behind my She Shed office, partially enclosed on two sides, which made it the perfect candidate for a potager garden.

I added:

• A white picket fence to enclose the space
• Four raised garden beds
• Pea gravel paths in between
• A mix of vegetables, herbs, and a few flowers

It was simple, structured, and a solid starting point.

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Year Two: More Sun, More Flowers, More Everything

Then came Helene.

Oddly enough, the one silver lining was that a large tree came down—completely missing the garden—but opening the area up to significantly more sunlight.

So in 2025, I leaned in.

I expanded into a fresh cut garden filled with:

• Sunflowers
• Zinnias
• Cosmos

And I genuinely could not believe the number of blooms I had—well into fall. The zinnias, especially, completely stole the show (we’ll get back to those in a minute).

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Year Three: Thoughtful Updates That Changed Everything

This year wasn’t about expanding—it was about refining. I made three key updates to my potager garden that made a bigger impact than I expected.

1. A Garden Gate (Because of a Very Cute Puppy)

After catching a certain very cute puppy digging in my beds one too many times, I added a garden gate.

I built it using scrap wood and designed it to mimic the existing picket fence so it feels cohesive with the rest of the garden. I stained it white using the same method I shared in a previous post (I’ll link that here if you missed it).

It’s functional, but it also finishes the space in a way that makes it feel complete.

2. Adding Character with Reversed Arched Pickets

The original picket fence did its job—but visually, it felt a little flat.

So I added a reversed arch detail across the panels (and carried it through to the gate). I used a simple string line to map out the curve, marked each picket, cut them with a jigsaw, then sanded and stained.

Because the yard slopes downhill, the arches actually enhance that change in elevation instead of fighting it. It’s one of those small design decisions that quietly makes everything look more intentional.

3. Building a Lettuce Table

Opposite the gate, I needed a focal point—something that felt both useful and visually interesting.

I had seen a lettuce table last year and couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I built one using cedar I already had and 4×4 posts.

It was a simple build, but it added:

• Vertical interest
• Easy access for harvesting
• A dedicated space for lettuce, spinach, and arugula

And it’s already growing in beautifully.

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What I’m Growing This Year

This year’s potager garden is full—arguably overfull—but I’m not interested in restraint at this point.

In the raised beds:

• So many vegetables and a few fruits including tomatoes (with new trellises for support), peppers, peas, beans, cucumbers, strawberries, carrots, blueberries, and more.
• A broad mix of herbs including some of my favorites – lavender, rosemary, and basil.
• A mix of Marigolds and Zinnias throughout the beds

In the fresh cut garden:

• Sunflowers
• Cosmos
• Corn
• Zinnias

I’ve also added potatoes and peanuts in containers, which I’m excited to experiment. Along the back of the garden I planted two hydrangeas and one yellow forsythia, both plants I propagated years earlier.

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The Zinnias That Took Over

(In the Best Way)

Let’s talk about the zinnias.

Last year, they completely stole the show. The color, the volume, the fact that they just kept producing—it was enough to convince me to go all in this year.

So naturally, I planted about three times as many.

Is it overcrowded? Probably. Do I regret it? Not even a little.

These are the zinnia seeds I’ve now ordered twice and will absolutely keep using:
👉 California Giants Zinnia Seeds

If you’re building your own potager garden or even just want a reliable, high-impact flower, I can’t recommend them enough.

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My Go-To Potager Garden Tools

Over time, I’ve found a few tools and accessories that I keep reaching for in the garden. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Seed Starter Tray Kit
• Watering Can
• Orbit Sprinkler Timer
• Heavy Duty Gardening Tool Set
• Three Pack Pruning Set

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What’s Next

At this point, everything is planted and starting to grow. I’m setting up timed sprinklers to keep things consistent, and now it’s just a matter of waiting (and trying not to interfere too much).

If you want to see more of the layout, the updates, and how everything comes together, I’ve shared a few videos you can watch by clicking on the pictures below.

And if you missed the original build of this potager garden, you can start here: My Potager Garden + The Story Behind the ‘Secret Garden’ Sign

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Final Thoughts

This garden has become one of my favorite spaces—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s evolving.

Each year, it gets a little better, a little more thoughtful, and a little more “lived in.”

And honestly, that’s the goal.