French Intensive Gardening
27 January 2011
French intensive gardening uses interplanting to increase the harvest. The broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower shown above are planted 12 inches apart–much closer than usual spacing. The soil must be rich and deeply cultivated to encourage roots to develop downward. Deep watering is essential. As the plants grow, they form a shady canopy which conserves soil moisture and discourages weeds.
Lettuce transplants grow quickly and are harvested as the broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower assume prominence in the raised bed. By interplanting, the yield from even a small garden can be substantially increased. The French are masters of intensive planting.
Here is the same 4'x8’ raised bed in my garden planted with 6 cauliflowers, 3 red cabbages, 12 broccoli and 6 kale. The lettuce plants peer out and await harvest.