Vegetable gardens can look pretty messy, especially when not designed by a professional. So if that's not your style, you might want to take a look at The Elegant & Edible Garden (Cool Springs Press, 2022) by Linda Vater. She's a self-taught designer, but you wouldn't guess that from this beautiful and very useful book.
As she says in the introduction, "This isn't a book about soil pH, insect and fungal issues, or double-digging .... This is a book about capturing the romance, the artistry, and the experiential nature of a garden and garden living. It is a book about designing a garden that is distinctly yours, using edibles as ornamentals, with lots of pictures for inspiration and emulation."
In the UK, Vater takes you to kitchen gardens in the Cotswolds and to Rosemary Verey's garden in Gloucestershire, and she tells how to adapt elements in those gardens to your own. She tells you what factors to consider when planning your garden, such as soil type, sun exposure, and most importantly, lifestyle; and how to formulate a plan for the design. I liked her "takeouts" on Plants for Tightly Pruned Hedges, and particularly her Fundamentals for enclosures, focal points, garden structures, color, and tips for garden composition.
If you want something a little special for your herbs and vegetables, as well as lovely blooms, this is the book for you.
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