For those looking for a good way to make the most of each growing season, companion planting may be the best answer. The idea is that some plants can not only combine well, but also let each other thrive: by taking advantage of the advantages of one plant, the other grows faster and stronger. A gardener who takes advantage of this must have an amazing garden. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Benefits of peer planting
Any given garden has several problems that the gardener needs to deal with every day. Some of them, such as fertilizer, water and shade, are really helpless; They are only part of the job. However, when other issues are involved, such as pest protection, shading and weeding, they can be outsourced to the plants themselves to a certain extent.
The most obvious example is the three sisters: corn, wax gourd and beans. Tall corn makes legumes climb and provides shade for winter melon. The huge spiny leaves of pumpkins in turn prevent weeds and pests from disturbing the plant. Finally, legumes fix nitrogen in the soil to create natural fertilizers for other plants. By combining a little talent of each plant, these three plants can thrive in a variety of environments.
Several plants can absorb sunlight and provide shade for shorter plants. Other plants naturally repel or even kill pests to ensure that other plants have a greater chance to grow tall and healthy. In addition, some plants effectively poison the ground around them, kill weeds and other plants that use the plant resources you want to plant, and ensure their failure.
Of course, the system has other advantages. Some plants, such as turnips, support climbing plants. Other plants attract beneficial insects, such as bees. Finally, some plants change the chemical properties of the soil, sometimes in favor of other plants. Some plants help to extract nutrients from deep underground, fix nitrogen in the soil, and provide additional nutrients to make it better for other plants.
By using these plants, gardeners can make themselves easier and grow healthier, more productive plants. By finding out which plants are paired with the plants he plans to plant, he can not only get the crops he plans to plant, but also get some additional plants, so as to obtain exciting harvest.
Basic knowledge of peer planting
It is not difficult to find the best possible combination. The key is to know which plants you plan to plant, and then look for compatible plants. Gardeners need to keep some questions in mind when planting companions, but if they allow these questions, it is easy to stay straightforward.
First of all, we should be alert to suggestions from the Internet. Although much information is good, many kind people tend to spread whatever they find or think useful. However, too many of these people lack any practical gardening experience, or are acting according to pseudoscientific articles, or are just spreading rumors. It can be said that this suggestion is not effective for gardeners, and even worse for plants, so research before trying new things.
Second, the good news is that there are some bad matches. Black walnut should be avoided in the garden because it secretes a toxin that can kill other plants, but it is one of the few plants that cannot get along with other plants. Although this means that you need to pay attention to the plants you grow, it does mean that there is little chance of accidentally finding the wrong combination.
Third, don't be afraid to plant flowers in your garden. What they do is not only make the garden look more beautiful; They can attract a wide range of beneficial insects, such as ladybirds that eat more on aphids, bees that pollinate plants, and several wasps that deal with other pests. In this regard, please enjoy the plants you put in your garden and understand their advantages not only for you but also for the whole garden.
Finally, consider that some plants are considered invasive species. This means that while they provide an advantage for your garden, they are not suitable for the surrounding areas. This plant should be planted in its own pot. If it is found outside the pot, it should be regarded as a weed. Be careful that some plants will help, otherwise it will cause ecological damage to the local area; The use of cans can help deal with this situation.
Peer planting concept
Before listing some of the better companion plants, remember that many of these plants are not only edible in themselves, but also specially used as herbs and spices, making them very suitable for cooking. Therefore, be sure to harvest other plants with care. Some plants may grow where they are when needed.
Tomatoes are friends of several species. It provides beneficial shade for many plants. In turn, basil can help improve the health and flavor of tomatoes, and drive away many insects and mites while attracting bees. Parsley should be planted among tomato plants because it helps drive away insects. Borage attracts bees and wasps; It also applies to strawberries to improve their flavor and vitality.
Salvia can drive away carrot flies and cabbage moths, making it an excellent garden plant. The egg plant will attract the aphid eating fly, which is another insect that feeds on aphids. If you are planting broccoli, please consider planting dark red clover; It helps to increase the number of spiders in the area, which further helps to reduce the number of pests in the area.
Mint can drive away ants, aphids and flea beetles, but make sure it is in its bed or flower pot, because it can occupy the garden in a relatively short time. Another plant that should be put in the container is mugwort, which can prevent the ground tigers from appearing in your garden; Because the land tiger attacks all kinds of plants, this makes it an excellent plant for general gardens.
Garlic is a useful plant because it can repel all kinds of insects, including flies, moths and Japanese beetles. Spraying garlic juice in the garden can get the same benefits. In addition, garlic tea can dispel potato late blight. The effect is good when planting sweet potatoes.
Trollius helps extract caterpillars from Brassica plants, such as broccoli and cabbage, and black flies from broad beans. Sunflowers are another great plant: in addition to providing some great seeds, they also provide shade for crops that may be subject to sun stress in hot climates, and provide climbing for climbing plants.
There are many ways to use companion planting. It's just a matter of deciding which plants are best for your garden. Check out our carrot companion plants.
Some advanced ideas
You can try some other techniques. Intercropping is an idea that helps to break up plant plots. The idea is that putting together the plants that many pests like will often help them find their favorite plants more quickly. Using different plants to separate plots in the same space will make it more difficult for pests to find these plants, especially if the plants are aromatic.
Further, you can create a multicultural environment. Although gardening space planning can make life interesting, it can also let you make full use of peer planting.
You can also take advantage of different planting seasons. Turnips protects several plants, so does lettuce; These plants also have shorter planting seasons than others. This means that you can plant other plants among young vegetables for protection and harvest before they need extra space. As a result, you can gain their protection and other benefits, and gain the advantage of technically increasing space.
Finally, consider the height of vegetables, not only on the ground, but also underground. If two different plants send their roots to different heights, such as shallow feeders, and the other sends their main roots down a few feet, then these two plants can exist in the same area because they receive nutrients from different areas. As long as you keep the area well fertilized, you should do well.
