Companion Planting
Companion planting is growing certain plants near one another so that they can be of mutual benefit or specifically for pest control.
One plant may assist another by repelling or attracting insects, providing shade, attracting pollinating bees, repelling pests such as deer or mice, occupying different root zones, or even by decomposing into nutrients needed and absorbed by the other plant. Plants can also be considered “companion plants” if they mature at different times when planted together..
Companion planting can mean matching up garden vegetables together so that each benefits from the other. For example, pea, beans, and other pod-type vegetables harbor bacteria in their roots that capture nitrogen from the air, making this important nutrient readily available to neighboring plants. As a result, these plants are good companions to most root vegetables, including carrots, turnips, radishes, and beets.
Companion planting can be matching herbs with vegetables. Pests and insects can be repelled by many aromatic herbs which can be grown between vegetable crops to the benefit of the entire garden.
Many gardeners plant a border of aromatic Marigolds around their vegetable garden to repel the Mexican bean beetles and nematodes.
Garlic is a good all purpose pest repellent. Grown in rich soil, it gives off sulfur compounds that kill aphids and onion flies.
Chives, garlic, onions and other members of the allium family are particularly beneficial companions to roses. Besides repelling rose chafers and aphids, and protecting roses from blackspot and mildew, alliums can cause roses to have a stronger scent.
There are exceptions, however. For example, sage has a weakening effect on Beans and Dill has that same effect on carrots.
Also please note that certain herbs such as mint which repels cabbage moths and ants and horseradish which repels bean beetles can quickly take over your garden if planted with the other vegetables. It is safer to plant these in large clay pots and set these pots among the appropriate plants.
To help the beginner understand what plants work best together, I have put together a brief outline, “Companion Vegetable Planting Guide” which you will find on my next post.
Hope you try vegetable companion planting…
Marcie
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June 13th, 2010 21:44
I found your website through Google searching for “eco-friendly”, I really like it!
June 16th, 2010 01:26
Nice I found your blog post, lots of interesting stuffs out here. The information part of it was fine, and you have done bit of research thing, good job! Hope to read more posts in future. Try engaging new things. Keep the good work going.
June 18th, 2010 06:31
Nothing beats finding some useful information, for my research, keep em coming.
June 18th, 2010 14:22
[...] Companion Planting | Plants Aחԁ Gardening Tips [...]
June 20th, 2010 01:59
[...] Companion Planting | Plants And Gardening Tips [...]
June 20th, 2010 16:01
[...] Companion Planting | Plants Aחԁ Gardening Tips [...]
June 22nd, 2010 03:43
Thank you for another informative blog. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
June 23rd, 2010 04:39
Wonderful insight:-)
June 23rd, 2010 11:32
Hi, Do you have the SEO Word Press plugin installed? I believe you could get this site to rank much better for this topic. If you need any help on how to optimize the plugin just let me know in this blog and I will email you. By adjusting the plug in I have seen some blogs not even in the top 100 listings to the first page.
June 25th, 2010 00:07
you have a great page here, lots of good stuff
June 26th, 2010 16:39
Hi
Yes I do have the SEO Word Press plugin installed. I would appreciate any advice you could give me that would help me rank better for the different pages. When it comes to techie stuff, there’s a lot I do not understand.
I will look for your email.
Marcie
June 28th, 2010 23:18
I couldn’t agree more.
June 29th, 2010 09:49
Just wanted to give you a shout from the valley of the sun, great information. Much appreciated.
July 4th, 2010 19:06
I just discovered this blog on MSN and have gone through some of of your other posts – do you freelance or guest write for other blogs? I just Rss’d you to my news reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
July 20th, 2010 14:41
the best garden vegetables are tomatoes and potatoes, they look great and you can eat them too..:’