Companion Planting
Companion Planting Tips
Have you heard of companion planting? Basically it is a system that some organic gardeners use to give their plants the best chance of thriving and producing the best yields possible.
There are lots of ways to grow plants together that could be considered companion planting. Some plants benefit from growing together and enhance each other. Some are antagonistic towards each other, so should be grown some distance apart.
Some plants are grown to attract insect predators or pollinators. Other plants may be grown as a decoy crop – that is, to attract pests to that crop so that they don’t find the crop that you want to harvest. Groupings of plants can confuse pests that often hone in on a plants smell or look.
Think of an organic garden as a happy merging of many different plants, when following companion planting techniques.
Herbs play a very important part in companion planting methods, as many herbs are quite pungent and come in many shapes, scents and sizes. Plus, herbs are so wonderful for many other purposes too. I highly recommend you fill your garden with them!
By using companion gardening, you are working with nature, not against it. So it stands to reason that you’ll get better results – healthier plants and higher yields. It also means that you have less work to do, because you’re working with nature – more biodiversity means a healthier balance.
A key element of organic gardening is to plant as much diversity as possible. Companion Planting takes this one step further by growing beneficial plants next to each other. This can benefit one or all of the plants in the grouping.
Companion Planting also masks the smell and shapes of plants which pests use to locate their favorite foods. If you plant carrots and onions together, it confuses both the onion fly and carrot fly!
Generally speaking, the greater variety of herbs you have growing in your garden, the fewer insect problems you’ll have.
Some combinations that prove beneficial include: tomatoes, lettuces, cabbages, beets, carrots and parsley are all good companions. Tomatoes and basil are great companion plants (in the ground and in your cooking), as are eggplants and beans.
Sweet corn, beans or cucumbers are good together. Lettuces are much better performers when planted next to French or African marigolds. Borage is liked by tomatoes, squash and strawberries, improving growth and flavor.
While many plants benefit from growing next to certain plants, some have a negative effect. Some plants are antagonistic towards each other, such as legumes and members of the onion family; cucumbers don’t like being near potatoes or aromatic herbs.
Some plants attract useful insects to help pollinate the flowers of another. Basil attracts bees, which will pollinate your tomatoes. In this way they make good companions. I have also found that planting basil and tomatoes together gives my tomatoes delicious flavor and the basil is very pungent – this makes the best pesto!
It is far from an exact science, and results differ from garden to garden, so this is another great use for your garden diary. Take notes of what groupings perform best in your garden.
Growing a decoy crop can protect the valuable yield of a desired crop. Try growing garlic chives to attract aphids away from roses. French marigold kills harmful nematodes – grow them alongside your tomatoes.
Herbs play an important role in companion planting. Careful placement of them throughout your vegetable garden can be very beneficial. Here are a few more gems that you can try:
* Basil should not be planted near rue as they inhibit each other’s growth.
* Chervil grows well with dill and coriander.
* Chives and parsley grow better when planted together.
* Dill and fennel like each other, but have a tendency to cross-fertilize.
* Rosemary and sage grow well together.
* Rue, as well as not being planted near basil, should also not be planted near sage.
* Fennel should not be planted near caraway or coriander.
* Coriander and anise seeds sown together will germinate more quickly.
* Chillies help plants which are affected by root rot.
* Horehound improves the fruiting of tomatoes.
Don’t be too intimidated by it all. The effects of companion planting can be the difference between an OK harvest and an abundant one. However, I like to give my plants every opportunity to do the best they can.
Today’s Top Tip
Working with Nature
Less than 2 percent of the insects in the world are harmful. Beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, fireflies, green lacewings, praying mantids, spiders, and wasps keep harmful insects from devouring your plants. They also pollinate your plants and decompose organic matter.
