The intensive form of gardening is aimed at obtaining maximum yields with the available space. Attempts are made to minimize efforts in intensive gardening. The different aspects that have to be considered for intensive gardening are nutrient needs, interrelationships of different crops, growing seasons, growth patterns, shade tolerance, etc.
Intensive Gardening
The intensive form of gardening utilizes resources to the maximum extent. However, sustainable use of land is also one of the objectives in this form of gardening. Intensive gardening methods presented in the paragraphs below should help in carrying out backyard gardening effectively.
Raised Bed
Intensive gardening can be carried out in the best possible way by the use of raised beds. Such beds are 3-4 feet wide and vary in length. Small size of beds makes it easy to prepare the soil. Vegetable growth in the spring season is benefited from raised beds. This is because the warming up of these beds takes place quickly.
Spacing
Close spacing is one of the characteristics of raised beds and thereby, intensive gardening. It is recommended to have staggered rows for intensive form of gardening.
Intercropping
In the practice of intercropping, rows of slow growing species are planted along with those which grow quickly. For example, the rows of plants like peas, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, etc. are planted with quick growing radishes and onions.
Succession Planting
The method of succession planting allows harvesting of plants one-by-one in succession. In this technique, same crop is planted in separate patches with a gap of 1-2 weeks. By the time first patch is raked and the crop harvested, plants in the second one start reaching maturity. The first patch should immediately be planted with the next crop so that the cycle continues perpetually.
Relay Planting
In this form of planting, a new crop is planted in the same space where another plant is already growing. The new crop should be planted when the earlier one is about to reach maturity. By the time harvesting gets completed, the new crop is established properly in the soil.
French Intensive Gardening
The biointensive or French intensive gardening method is an organic form of gardening/agricultural technique. It is a form of small plot intensive gardening which uses the techniques like double dugged raised beds and companion planting.
Double Dugged Raised Beds
These beds are prepared by tilling soil of the given patch up to 24 inches depth. Digging of beds in a width-wise manner is carried out. First trench should be dug up till the depth of 12 inches. Soil taken out from this trench should be kept aside. Soil of this trench need to be loosened further more (12 inches); thus, soil is tilled up to the depth of 24 inches. Soil removed from the next trench is filled in the first one. Again, the soil in second trench is loosened up to 24 inches. This pattern continues till the last trench. Last trench is filled with soil dug up from the first one. The significance of carrying out this method is that soil is tilled below the normal level and helps in the growth of roots and keeps them aerated.
Companion Planting
The practice of companion planting makes use of vertical space efficiently by recognizing the needs of plants. For example, deep rooted plants can be grown with those having shallow roots. The vertical space from which these plants absorb nutrients is different and therefore, they co-exist without conflicting with each others' interests.
Calorie Farming
In calorie farming, minimum area is utilized for growing plants with high calorie content. Root crops like potatoes, leek, garlic, parsnips, burdocks, etc. are suited for calorie farming. More nutrients can be obtained from smaller areas by this method.
The biointensive gardening techniques along with other methods presented in the article should give a better idea about optimum and sustainable land use.
