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Some crops develop higher collectively.
Companion planting is an historical observe the place two completely different crops, typically greens, are planted collectively to profit one or each of them. Due to that, this straightforward gardening approach can have you having fun with a harvest you’ve solely ever dreamed of.
Among the finest examples of companion planting is the Three Sisters methodology, in response to the Grasp Gardners of San Diego County. Centuries in the past, early American colonists noticed Native People planting corn, pole beans and squash in the identical plot. Contrarily, Europeans would sometimes plant these three crops in separate beds. Planting the three collectively not solely conserved backyard area but additionally benefited each other:
- Corn supplied help for the bean vines as they grew.
- Beans, which have symbiotic micro organism on their roots, are “nitrogen fixers” and added this important macronutrient again into the soil for the good thing about different crops, particularly the corn.
- The squash leaves supplied shade and elevated soil moisture retention whereas discouraging pests with their prickly leaves.
This biodiversity helps every crop develop to its full potential. In the event you’re trying to discover your plant a companion, don’t fear — you’re not restricted to those three sisters.
Deciding which crops go collectively isn’t any sweat in any respect. All it takes is a little analysis! Confer with this useful companion planting chart for an in-depth take a look at all of the crops that you need to and shouldn’t plant collectively.
Companion Planting Do’s
Probably the most grown crops — tomatoes, corn, beans and squash — go nice collectively.
Planting marigolds and tomatoes in shut proximity helps repel predatory bugs that like consuming tomatoes and spreading blight.
Squash and corn go nice collectively as a result of corn offers some needed afternoon shade to the rising squash.
Beans and corn additionally make an ideal pair as a result of the corn acts as a pure trellis for the beans — giving them a structured place to develop upward and climb!
Companion Planting Don’ts
Whereas planting sure crops collectively does assist development, some crops are bullies in the direction of others — appearing identical to the nasty bugs, weeds and soil illness which can be additionally attempting to hurt your crops.
For instance, planting garlic and onions close to beans is an enormous no-no. Each take in vitamins from the soil that can stunt — and inevitably kill — the beans. Be careful for bullies like these!
Ideas for Deterring Pests
Pam Zaklan, an Oregon State College Extension Service Grasp Gardener, affords these tricks to those that need to preserve pests out of their companion planting backyard:
- Use 4 O’clock flowers to draw Japanese beetles out of roses.
- Plant mustard to discourage cabbage worms and harlequin bugs from cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts.
- Garlic deters rabbits in addition to tree borers, aphids, cabbage looper, codling moths, Japanese beetles, snails, carrot root flies, ants and cabbage maggots. What’s extra, it’s particularly helpful when planted close to, roses, cucumbers, peas, lettuce or celery.
- Plant spearmint and peppermint to draw bees and repel black flea beetles, ants, mosquitoes, white cabbage butterflies, aphids, and cabbage maggots. Don’t plant mint close to parsley. Plant mints in containers as they’ll simply get uncontrolled.
- For squash bugs, plant mint, chives, garlic, onion, tansy, radishes, nasturtiums, marigolds and bee balm close to and amongst vines of winter and summer time squash.
Watch this Yard Good video to find out about companion planting and take your first steps right into a wider world of gardening.
The extra you fall in love with having an ideal yard, the extra you notice how a lot you don’t know. Exmark’s Yard Good solutions the lawn-and-garden questions owners are in search of.
Additional Studying
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