Here in my little patch of woods the weather has decided to remind us that winter is not yet over, but the chirping robins seeking out their morning meal gives anticipation for the warmer months and coming spring.
As we grow closer to the end of this restful period before the business of the growing season here on the homestead, I find myself finalizing this year’s garden plans. All the seeds have been chosen, and most have arrived or are on the way to my doorstep. Those that aren’t will be found once the local nursery opens next month. There are still other chores to do like pruning the blueberry bushes, but now is the perfect time to finalize the layout for this year’s garden.
I’ve found over the years the benefit of companion planting within my garden, fostering increased garden productivity while encouraging biodiversity for not only the benefit of my harvest but the benefit of my local pollinators. If you’re interested in companion planting as well, read on below!
P.S. If you want to just skip to the chart you can do that by clicking here.
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is about placing different plants near each other for their mutual benefit. This can be for the sake of sharing nutrients, pest deterrence, or simply having similar water and soil requirements. A common example of this is the “Three Sisters” method, growing corn, beans, and squash near each other. The corn grows tall and sturdy, providing structure for the beans to climb as they provide nitrogen for the corn. The squash grows nearby spreading across the ground suppressing weeds and conserving soil moisture in the shade of its leaves.
While this may not be as practical from a harvesting standpoint (no one wants to trip over squash vines trying to get to the corn and beans) it is a great example of the mutual benefits plants can provide each other. Most plants have multiple companions, and you can easily choose the one best suited for your garden!
I remember once while going for a hike, I was approaching the turnaround point when I found myself downwind to a horrible stench. I decided my hike would be shorter that day and immediately headed back to the beginning of the trail. Plants can have the same effect on pests!
The scent of flowers like marigolds or herbs like thyme or cilantro which smell good to us are repulsive to garden pests! It is thought that animals with a more sensitive sense of smell can’t stand to be near plants so pungent, while insects typically hell-bent on ruining your harvest are thought to be confused by the odor of such strong-smelling herbs and flowers. Interplanting culinary herbs with your fruits and vegetables can prove to be a great alternative to the use of chemical pesticides.
Better flavor, better gardening
Last year I found myself with three basil plants in the garden, and more basil than I knew what to do with. I’d made all the pesto, dried some leaves for later use, and still had full bushes of basil. But as the temperature warmed, I found an unseen benefit I hadn’t considered: the flowers on my basil bushes were attracting more pollinators! I soon found my flowering vegetables like tomatoes and peppers producing much more than they had previously while the scent of the basil left them mostly untouched!
Companion planting goes beyond only planting for pest control, including flowers and flowering herbs in your garden beds ensures pollinators will come in droves. And more pollinators means an even bigger harvest!
On top of that, all of my peppers that were near my basil seemed to have a stronger flavor: the jalapenos and habaneros were spicier and the banana peppers juicier. Basil is also thought to improve the flavor of tomatoes as well.
Companion Planting Chart
I’ve made a handy chart for common companion plants for fruits and vegetables I like to grow in my garden. It isn’t all encompassing, but gives enough variety between flowers, herbs, and coexisting vegetables to allow for an effective and biodiverse garden.
Conclusion
I hope you found this little guide to companion planting helpful in the planning and management of your garden. Not sure when to plant? Check out the regional Garden Planner in our store! What are your favorite companion plants?
One of the most well-known examples of companion planting is that of the "Three Sisters" method, used widely by Native American farming societies. Corn, pole beans, and squash are together for the mutual benefit of all three.
Cabbage. Planting a member of the brassica family, like cabbage, can stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they out-compete them for the same nutrients. ...
Potato – Bush beans, celery, corn, garlic, marigolds, onions, and peas all do well planted near potatoes. Avoid planting potatoes near asparagus, Brassicas, carrots, cucumber, kohlrabi, melons, parsnips, rutabaga, squash, sunflower, and turnips.
When planting cucumbers and tomatoes together, you must ensure there is enough room between them. Not doing this will mean the plants will compete for light, room and nutrients. 'Space individual plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows that are spaced between 3 to 4 feet apart.
Brassicas: Almanacs and home gardeners recommend avoiding planting brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards, cauliflower) near peppers because they require different soil acidity levels and can deter pepper plant growth.
As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.
Therefore, lettuce (Lactuca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), basil (Ocimum basilicum), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) make great neighbours for tomatoes. They can even be planted or sown long before the tomatoes, in March or April.
The reality is that because the two have similar growth requirements, they can in fact be grown quite successfully together. Diseases common to both tomato and pepper include Verticillium wilt and bacterial spot.
As such, shallow-rooted fruit and vegetables, such as strawberry and spinach, are perfect potato companions. Beans too, develop shallow roots, and thrive next to potatoes. A particularly efficient combination is potato, pumpkin (Cucurbita), beans and corn, all planted in a single bed.
Potatoes are a great choice for planting near plants in the cabbage (brassicas) family—including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and kohlrabi—because these plants have shallow root systems that won't compete for the space or nutrients that potatoes need.
The book recommends a mean spacing of 9.5" when the two crops are mixed. Caption: Two-crop companion planting diagram with dimensions, adapted from How to Grow More Vegetables (Jeavons 2006).
Plants that have negative or detrimental relationships, should be planted at least two to three rows apart. Infestation of pests or disease can occur more quickly if you plant all the same crop close together.
The Three Sisters planting method, commonly known as companion planting, entails growing corn, beans, and squash together in a mutually beneficial arrangement. It originated in North America around 3000 years ago.
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