An environmentally pleasant, chemical-free manner of gardening. Really feel good realizing you’re supporting wildlife in addition to your crops
The chance to continue learning about crops, understanding how differing kinds can help one another
Lots of the crops you may select for companion planting add color and curiosity to the backyard
What’s companion planting
Sweetcorn crops
Sweetcorn rising on the plant
The concept of companion planting has been recognized about for hundreds of years. The ‘three sisters’ technique for planting was utilized by Native Individuals greater than 3000 years in the past. By way of it, squash, beans and sweetcorn have been planted in the identical mattress. The squash lined the bottom and prevented weed progress, the beans fed the soil with further nitrogen and the sweetcorn gave the beans a construction to climb up.
The identify ‘three sisters’ got here from the concept that the crops supported one another, like sisters do. That is actually on the coronary heart of companion planting. It’s the concept that some crops create mutual advantages when planted shut collectively, reminiscent of:
Bettering the well being of different crops
Bettering the yield from crops
Deterring pests
When rising meals crops particularly, folks typically assume prematurely about companion planting.
Companion planting for well being and yield
A small pot of basil
A small pot of basil
Some crops can cross on optimistic advantages to these they’re close to.
Pea-family crops reminiscent of lupins, beans, peas, and candy peas profit the soil as they take nitrogen from the air and retailer it of their roots. Beans are usually instructed as a companion for a lot of leafy nitrogen loving greens reminiscent of cucumbers, corn, and broccoli.
Plant leeks with carrots, celery, onions and spinach for improved progress. However, keep away from planting them close to beans and peas. The leeks will profit the opposite veg by repelling carrot root fly.
Potatoes thrive when planted close to marigolds, cabbage, and beans as a result of they enhance the expansion and style. Nevertheless, hold them away from cucumbers and squash as a result of they’ll grow to be extra prone to blight.
Develop the most effective onions by rising carrots, lettuce, and cabbage close by. Keep away from planting beans and peas close by as a result of onions launch a chemical that may inhibit nitrogen manufacturing by the beans and peas.
Basil is assumed to enhance the flavour of crops it’s planted subsequent to. This consists of tomatoes, aubergines and lettuce
Plant tomatoes subsequent to carrots. The hungry tomatoes can take lots of the vitamins away from the carrots subsequent to them. The carrots will root additional down into the soil, leading to a greater carrot crop. This additionally breaks up the soil for the tomato, so the tomato roots can develop fuller, leading to extra tomatoes.
Sweetcorn and pumpkins. It’s not at all times a good suggestion to have tall crops subsequent to brief ones as they’ll create shade. Pumpkins and sweetcorn make good companions. They get the identical quantity of sunshine as they first develop. In time, because the pumpkin matures, the shade from the sweetcorn is a profit
Sweetcorn and lettuce or spinach. One other match the place the shade from the sweetcorn is useful. It will probably cease the lettuce and spinach ‘bolting’ (rapidly going to seed, which means they’re not of use for consuming)
Companion planting to draw pollinators
Companion planting nasturiums
Vibrant nasturtiums that may entice pollinators
One method to help plant progress is thru good pollination. Bees, butterflies and different pollinators are so essential – with out them, lots of our meals crops wouldn’t be capable of develop. You could possibly attempt these:
Nasturtiums, thyme, oregano, rosemary, basil and cosmos all entice pollinators to your vegetable plot
Poached egg crops work effectively planted across the base of soppy fruit crops reminiscent of raspberries and blackberries
Candy peas can encourage bugs in direction of climbing beans if they’re planted amongst them
Lavender is a superb plant to draw pollinators. Plant it subsequent to leeks and carrots to confuse aphids
