French intensive gardening
Encyclopedia
French intensive gardening is a method of gardening
in which man works with nature to foster healthy, vibrant plants with smaller space and less water than more traditional gardening. As a very detail oriented method, more time will be spent than on an average type of garden, the maximized productivity and beautiful arrangements will be more than satisfying for the patient gardener.
in California in the late 60s, early 70s.
. First thing is to plan a lay-out with beds roughly 5 feet (1.5 m) across, and a path between each row large enough to work in. After the layout is planned, the bed prep-work begins. Double-digging is essential to a proper garden. Double-digging is accomplished by layering fertilizer (most traditionally horse manure) onto the top-soil. Now start digging a trench around 12 inches in depth, placing the top-soil aside to be used later. once the trench is completed, use the shovel to loosen the under soil another 12 inches (304.8 mm). Then move next to the trench and start placing the loosened top-soil from the new trench on the old trench. Continue this process until the far side of the bed has been reached, using the topsoil from the first trench to fill in the last. This creates a raised bed providing improved drainage and surface area for plants to grow. As an added benefit, weeds are much easier to pull out when the roots do not have a firm grip in the soil. Once finished, care must be taken to not compress the earth, as good aeration and drainage are important to a successful garden.
is often employed to get the most out of the plants. Companion planting is growing 2 or more plants in close proximity that improve the growth of each other.
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
in which man works with nature to foster healthy, vibrant plants with smaller space and less water than more traditional gardening. As a very detail oriented method, more time will be spent than on an average type of garden, the maximized productivity and beautiful arrangements will be more than satisfying for the patient gardener.
History
French intensive gardening started in the 1890s on two acres of land just outside of Paris. The crops were planted in 18 inches of horse manure, a readily available fertilizer, and planted so close together that the mature plants' leaves touched their neighbors. Introduced to the United States by Alan ChadwickAlan Chadwick
Alan Chadwick , English master gardener, was a leading innovator of organic farming techniques and influential educator in the field of biodynamic/French intensive gardening. He was a student of Rudolf Steiner, and is often cited as inspirational to the development of the "California Cuisine"...
in California in the late 60s, early 70s.
Bed preparation
Getting the bed ready is the most time-consuming aspect to a well-prepared gardenGarden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
. First thing is to plan a lay-out with beds roughly 5 feet (1.5 m) across, and a path between each row large enough to work in. After the layout is planned, the bed prep-work begins. Double-digging is essential to a proper garden. Double-digging is accomplished by layering fertilizer (most traditionally horse manure) onto the top-soil. Now start digging a trench around 12 inches in depth, placing the top-soil aside to be used later. once the trench is completed, use the shovel to loosen the under soil another 12 inches (304.8 mm). Then move next to the trench and start placing the loosened top-soil from the new trench on the old trench. Continue this process until the far side of the bed has been reached, using the topsoil from the first trench to fill in the last. This creates a raised bed providing improved drainage and surface area for plants to grow. As an added benefit, weeds are much easier to pull out when the roots do not have a firm grip in the soil. Once finished, care must be taken to not compress the earth, as good aeration and drainage are important to a successful garden.
Planting
When placing plants in the garden, optimal spacing is achieved when the mature plants have their leaves barely brushing each other. This creates as a kind of mulch, keeping unwanted weeds at bay, because of their close proximity, companion plantingCompanion planting
Companion planting is the planting of different crops in proximity , on the theory that they assist each other in nutrient uptake, pest control, pollination, and other factors necessary to increasing crop productivity...
is often employed to get the most out of the plants. Companion planting is growing 2 or more plants in close proximity that improve the growth of each other.