French intensive gardening is a gardening technique which is designed to maximize yields, using a combination of biodynamic agriculture and specific alterations to the normal garden layout and planting system. In addition to being very productive, French intensive gardening is also extremely efficient, and an astounding array of crops can be produced in a very small space when the garden is laid out well. This form of gardening can also be beautiful, especially when gardeners take the time to plan and map before plunging into the project.

One of the defining features of French intensive gardening is the raised beds used. In this style of intensive gardening, the beds are very large, allowing gardeners to walk in the beds rather than along established pathways to perform garden maintenance. The beds are also double dug, which means that the soil is worked to twice the usual depth. The intensive working of the foil in French intensive gardening produces light, fluffy soil well amended with compost and humus, which encourages healthy plant growth and the production of deep roots.

The beds are also mounded, rather than flattened, creating more surface area for planting in each bed. While it takes a lot of work to establish the beds for French intensive gardening, many gardeners feel that it is worth it, especially in a small space. The garden is maintained with the addition of rich compost, organic fertilizers, and daily light watering.

Another important aspect of French intensive gardening is plant spacing. Plants are typically grown very close together, with the leaves of the plants creating a cover which reduces weeds and helps keep the soil moist, acting almost like mulch. Gardeners who use this system also utilize companion planting, a planting system which pairs plants to their mutual advantage, using things like beans to enrich the soil for energy hungry plants, for example, or scattering marigolds in the garden to reduce insect pests.

You may also hear French intensive gardening called the Marais System, or just the System. This technique was developed in France in the middle of the 19th century, and it spread to other regions of Europe such as Austria from there. In people with limited space for gardening, French intensive gardening is a great way to get the maximum benefit of a garden space. Fortunately, many companion plants are pretty as well as functional, so French intensive gardening can be used to create a form of landscaping as well as a source of food.