My potager consists of two freeform-shaped beds in an enclosed area that is also asymetrical. My experience has been a little frustrating, because a vegetible garden suggests order, and it's hard to impose order on a free-form shape. Also, figuring out the drip irrigation has been a jigsaw puzzle.

At first, I tried planting row crops in concentric rings like a target, but the result was not visually pleasing. Finally, a friend suggested that I plant in "drifts" and forget about order completely. That has turned out to be much more satifying.

Overall, although the freeform shape is interesting, the neat-nik in me regrets at times that I didn't make a bunch of regular beds, and I'm still toying with the idea of making the switch.

So I'm thinking that smaller beds with good access is the way to go. You can rotate crops and group plant families together easier. If you want one big bed, you could make a keyhole design like the letter "E".

tdeveson,

Heres s few questions to think about. The geometric pattern of beds is actually there to help you garden more efficiently. So first, where are you going to put your main path and how wide - most people put in a 3 to 4 foot main path so you can get a wheelbarrow down it.

Next is to make a list of what you want to grow (check the square foot garden forum for spacing) and design your beds around what you are interested in. Its nice to have enough beds where you can turn one over to perenials or use it as a holding bed. And the fences can hold fruit or grapes if you run beds around the borders.

Finally if you look at the pix throughout this forum, think about your back and arms. A bed 3 to 4 feet is about as wide as you can get and still be comfie.

Then you hafta figure out where the sun actually falls. Here in the south its actually nice to have some shady beds cuz it expands your options.

Course, am sure others can point out the stuff I forgot!