Intensive Techniques

Urban farming often occurs in small spaces and is otherwise constrained by the limited availability of land. As such, many urban farmers adopt intensive growing techniques to maximize productivity. This fact sheet breaks down the different approaches to intensive growing systems and provides resources to further support their implementation on urban farms. 

Intensive Growing Techniques

Intensive growing techniques include:

• Succession planting – Replanting in the same area to keep all parts of the garden in production;
• Intercropping – Planting fast and slow growing crops in the same row at the same time;
• Vertical planting – Growing crops on trellises or other supports to use space efficiently; and
• Intensive spacing – Growing crops as closely together as possible to maximize use of space. With intensive spacing, plants also act as “living mulches” that reduce weed pressure and water evaporation.  Keep in mind, however, that overly close spacing and limiting pruning can result in reduced airflow and plant disease.
• Controlled Environment Agriculture – An advanced and intensive form of hydroponically-based agriculture where plants grow within a controlled environment to optimize horticultural practices. Controlled environment farming can be expensive to maintain as it requires significant amounts of energy and resources (water, nutrients, labor) to be successful.

More information on intensive growing techniques is available in the GreenThumb Gardener’s Handbook. 

Small-Plot Intensive (SPIN) Farming

SPIN Farming is an intensive growing system that promotes high-productivity techniques and focuses on small farmer profitability, claiming that it is possible for SPIN farmers to gross $50,000 per year on just half an acre. 

Square-Foot Gardening

Urban farmers growing in raised beds might consider Square Foot Gardening, a raised bed growing system that involves planting in grids to maximize space use and productivity. For more information, visit the Square Foot Gardening Foundation’s website, or see Mel Bartholomew’s All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space (Cool Springs Press, 2006).

Other Resources

Several organizations, such as East New York Farms!, offer occasional workshops in intensive growing techniques and related concepts such as trellising.  See Appendix A for organization information and check event calendars and postings. Sustainable Market Farming: Intensive Vegetable Production on a Few Acres by Pam Dawling (New Society Publishers, 2013) is a detailed manual of small-scale organic crop production that includes information on intensive growing techniques, as well as season extension, profitable enterprise business skills, and more. 

Funding For information on grants and financial opportunities for your farming operation, visit the ‘Grant and financial Opportunities’ fact sheet.