AboutMike Mascio Expertise I have been an avid gardener since 1985 and an AllExpert volunteer since
1998. I specialize in soil preparation, seed starting and plant
propagation, flowers, vegetables, and general landscaping. I am a strong
advocate of the square foot method of gardening and the use of organic
controls for pests and diseases.
Question What is intensive gardening & is it the same as "French Intensive Gardening".
Answer Shelby, intensive gardening, otherwise known as square foot gardening, is a method of planting that maximizes your available space by eliminating traditional rows, and using the entire planting area for gardening. Although I have heard intensive gardening referred to as French style gardening, I haven't come across any specifics to say with any certainty that these two methods are exactly the same.
The term "square foot gardening" was coined by an American author named Mel Bartholomew who wrote a book under that title. It's a great reference
book that should be part of every gardener's collection. Contents include
square foot layouts, soil amendments, spacing and planting methods, seed
starting, watering, pest and disease controls, and a guide to growing
indexed by specific vegetables.
Quite simply, this method utilizes raised beds normally framed by a
natural, non-rotting wood such as cedar. The beds can be structured
anywhere from 2'X4' to 4'X12'. Within the beds, the planting area is divided off by square feet with no rows in between the plants. Therefore, a 4'X4' area would have sixteen available blocks in which to plant.
The advantages to this method are as follows:
1. The soil stays friable since you never walk in the beds.
2. You can harvest many more vegetables since you're planting in blocks
instead of rows.
3. The beds are much easier to water since there is no waste between rows.
The same hold true for fertilizing.
4. Less weeding since every square foot is dedicated to vegetables.
5. Easier pest control.
6. Rotation of crops is done by bed instead of location.
7. The beds are more aesthetic, and far less work.
8. No tilling each spring.
Here are examples of what can be planted in each square foot:
9 onions, beets, beans, peas, garlic, or spinach
16 carrots or radishes
4 lettuce, chard, marigolds, or kohlrabi
1 tomato, pepper, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, or corn
1 squash, cucumber, or melon per 2 sq.ft.
This method works well in all parts of the country, and is becoming
increasingly popular every year. Since you're using raised beds composed
of well-amended soil, it will work just fine regardless of where you're
from or what type of soil conditions are inherent to your area.
I realize this summary cannot begin to explain all that is involved in
square foot gardening, but I hope it gives you a basic understanding of
what it entails.
As far as what to plant, you definitely should grow what you and your
family enjoy eating. Since this is entirely based on personal preference,
use the spacing guidelines I gave earlier as a reference.
Thanks again for writing, and please let me know if I can be of further
assistance.
