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| Photo Credit: Courtesy of Barbara Wilde, L’Atelier Vert, Everything French Gardening, frenchgardening.com |
| This juvenile bed in a French garden shows how closely young plants are crowded together in intensive planting. |
Crowding a bunch of plants in a narrow plot might not seem like a good idea at first. After all, it runs counter to everything you’ve learned about gardening. But this specialized method of planting – called French intensive gardening – is actually a tried-and-true technique to maximize your harvest in a small space. Even if you’ve only got a tiny plot, you can get amazing results if you develop it properly.
As you might’ve guessed by its name, French intensive gardening evolved in Europe. Its purpose is to make the most of limited growing space. Known as “square-foot gardening” in the US, it’s also the preferred method of many growers who want extra produce for themselves or to share with friends and neighbors. Be forewarned: French intensive gardening isn’t for the casual hobbyist. Thorough planning and research – as well as a strong back – are required to ensure success. But if you’ve got the fortitude, you’ll get great results! Setting the stage for your garden is where that strong back comes in. Raised beds work best for a number of reasons. First, it allows you to work from all sides without having to step over rows. Second, soil compaction is reduced, which increases drainage and oxygen availability to roots. Third, a raised bed heats up quickly and allows you to extend your growing season.
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