Companion Planting

Companion Planting In nature, where plants grow without cultivation, there is always a mixture of plant types growing in an area. The selection of the plants living in an area depends on the soil type, local climactic conditions, and horticultural history. With few exceptions, the plants that grow together in the wild are mutually beneficial in that they allow for maximum utilization of light, moisture and soil. Plants needing less light live in the shade of those which must have full light, while the roots of some plants live close to the surface and others send their roots far down into the ground. This is known as companion planting. Companion planting enables gardeners to make maximum use of sun, soil and moisture to grow mixed crops in one area. Some plants have a beneficial effect upon the garden because of some peculiar characteristic of their growth, scent, or root formation and soil demands. Odoriferous plants (the smelly ones), including those with aromatic oils, play an important part in determining just which insects visit the garden. Hemp, for instance, is said to repel the cabbage butterfly. But while some plants can repel insects, they can also hinder the growth rate of other plants or otherwise adversely affect them. Below are combinations of vegetables, herbs, flowers and weeds that are mutually beneficial, according to reports of organic gardeners and companion planting guides. Plant Companion(s) and Effects Asparagus- Tomatoes, parsley, basil Basil- Tomatoes (improves growth & flavor); said to dislike rue; repels flies & mosquitoes Bean- Potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbage, summer savory, most other veggies & herbs Bean (bush)- Sunflowers (beans like partial shade, unless you live up north, sunflowers attract birds & bees for pollination), cucumbers (combination of heavy and light feeders), potatoes, corn, celery, summer savory Bee Balm- Tomatoes (improves growth & flavor). Beet- Onions, kohlrabi Borage- Tomatoes (attracts bees, deters tomato worm, imrpoves growth & flavor), squash, strawberries Cabbage Family (broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi)- Potatoes, celery, dill, chamomile, sage, thyme, mint, pennyroyal, rosemary, lavender, beets, onions; aromatic plants deter cabbage worms Caraway- Loosens soil; plant here and there Carrot- Peas, lettuce, chives, onions, leeks, rosemary, sage, tomatoes Catnip- Plant in borders; protects against flea beetles Celery- Leeks, tomatoes, bush beans, cauliflower, cabbage Chamomile- Cabbage, onions Chervil- Radishes (improves growth & flavor). Chive- Carrots; plant around base of fruit trees to discourage insects from climbing trunk. Corn- Potatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, pumpkin, squash Cucumber- Beans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers Dead nettle- Potatoes (deters potato bugs) Dill- Cabbage (improves growth & health), carrots Eggplant- Beans Fennel- Most plants are supposed to dislike it. Flax- Carrots, potatoes. Garlic- Roses & raspberries (deters Japanese bettle); with herbs to enhance their production of essential oils; plant liberally throught garden to deter pests. Horseradish- Potatoes (deters potato bettle); around plum trees to discourage curculios. Hyssop- Cabbage (deters cabbage moths), grapes; keep away from radishes. Lamb's quarters- Nutritious edible weeds; allow to grow in modest amounts in the corn. Leek Onions, celery, carrots Lemon Balm Here and there in the garden Marigold- The workhorse of pest deterrents; keeps soil free of nematodes; discourages many insects; plant freely throughout the garden. Marjoram- Here & there in the garden. Mint- Cabbage family; tomatoes; deters cabbage moth. Nasturtium- Tomatoes, radish, cabbage, cucumbers; plant under fruit trees; deters aphids & pests of curcurbits. Onion- Beets, strawberries, tomato, lettuce (protects against slugs), beans (protects against ants), summer savory Parsley- Tomato, asparagus Pea- Squash (when squash follows peas up trellis), plus grows well with almost any vegetable; adds nitrogen to the soil. Petunia- Protects beans; beneficial throughout garden. Potato- Horseradish, beans, corn, cabbage, marigold, limas, eggplant (as a trap crop for potato beetle). Pot marigold- Helps tomato, but plant throughout garden as deterent to asparagus beetle, tomato worm & many other garden pests. Pumpkin- Corn Radish- Peas, nasturtium, lettuce, cucumbers; a general aid in repelling insects. Rosemary- Carrots, beans, cabbage, sage; deters cabbage moth, bean beetles & carrot fly. Rue- Roses & raspberries; deters Japanese beetle; keep away from basil. Sage- Rosemary, carrots, cabbage, peas, beans; deters some insects. Soybean- Grows with anything; helps everything. Spinach- Strawberries Squash- Nasturtium, corn. Strawberry- Bush beans, spinach, borage, lettuce (as a border). Summer Savory- Beans, onions; deters bean beetles. Sunflower- Cucumbers Tansy- Plant under fruit trees; deters pests of roses & raspberries; deters flying insects, also Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs; deters ants. Tarragon---- Good throughout garden. Thyme- Here & there in garden; deters cabbage worm. Tomato- Chives, onion, parsley, asparagus, marigold, nasturtium, carrot, limas. Valerian- Good anywhere in garden. Wormwood- As a border, keeps animals from the garden. Yarrow- Plant along borders, near paths, near aromatic herbs; enhances essential oil production of herbs.