I'm an experienced flower gardener, but I'm not as knowledgeable with vegetables. After years of sneaking tomatoes and peppers in between my flowers, I'm making a new separate vegetable bed. Given my dimensions, I can do several rows. For those of you with experience, which do you think would be better:
6 foot beds and 3 foot paths?
4 foot beds and 2 foot paths?
I thought that maybe 4 foot beds would allow me better access from both sides without having to step in the bed and compact the soil.

But maybe 6 foot beds would give me a more lush look, more room to sprawl and I could sneak more flowers in there.

I plan on growing tomatoes, beans, peppers, cucumbers, lettuces, etc. I want to lay it out just once, then rotate the crops every year, so the beds need to be general purpose.

I'd like to hear from those with experience whether 4 foot or 6 foot widths are better? Did you ever wish your beds were just a bit wider? Did you ever think your beds were too wide and you couldnt get in the middle well?

I'd love to hear what you experts have to say. Thanks in advance!

I, like you, am familiar with flowers but lack experience growing vegetables. In the fall of '04 my hubby built me 6 raised boxes 4' x 8' with 3' wide paths between them.

I had read that 3' paths were easier to move around on with wheel barrels and mowers. I think the beds are a good size but I do regret the paths. We should have made them wider. I am 5'5" tall and 4' wide beds are barely comfortable to reach the center. I personally would not go wider than 4' for the boxes and I'd go wider on the paths. Just my two cents:)

Michelle

Are you saying 3' paths weren't wide enough for your wheel barrow? How wide would you make them?

Loved your photo, that is quite a nice setup you have! You are good to go now with this weather! Thanks

GGG

As for paths, I have 4-foot wide paths too, and while I like the roominess, I sometimes wish I had reconfigured things with slightly smaller paths, so that I could get slightly MORE bed space. So I guess I'd say that if you have sufficient room, then by all means, go with 4 foot paths. If space is short in your potager, then 3-foot paths are the way to go.

-Diggity

GGG

Most of the beds in my potager are about 2' wide. They are the ones that line the perimeter of the inside. The other three are wider, ~3' with teepee type trellises for beans and peas so they're manageable. My paths are dirt which I find works here just fine. We don't get a lot of rain from April until Oct. so not a lot of weeds to contend with.

Good luck with your new beds! And have fun! : )

Diana

I have a garden that is approximately 18x20 in a Community garden. Just trying to figure out the best use of space since my spot is so small. I am 5'1" but a bit of a klutz. I am thinking no more than 3' for beds...but should I do 3 or 4 for paths? Four sounds comfortable, but it will eat up a lot of real estate.

I say generally, because there are freaks like me who's arms are too short or long. Mine are long. I'm 5'10" and my "wingspan" is 6' exactly. (I have a heck of a time buying long-sleeve shirts.) My arms are 2'3" long, including fingers. I find a 4" bed comfortable, but even I have to really reach for some stuff.

You don't need more than 3" for paths, even if you are going to be wheeling a wheelbarrow around. That's plenty wide.

This was pre-planting about a month ago...

Oh, and hopefully the arbor will be covered with Sweet Autumn clematis come fall.

Donna, I only planted tomatoes and peppers for the summer garden. The front 2 beds have herbs and flowers. The rear bed on the left is experimental this season. The ligustrums behind it shade it for most of the day. In the heat of the summer that'll probably be a good thing.

I like the extra wide beds for squeezing more stuff in, I rarely have to step inside.

From Circular Potager

Here's some photos:

You know, I rather liked the turtle as the early-on centerpiece too! :)