What is companion planting
Calendula – great companion plant
Companion planting is a strategic gardening method that involves growing certain plants together to enhance growth, protect against pests, and improve overall garden health. Here are some key points and benefits of companion planting:
Benefits of Companion Planting
- Pest Control: Certain plants can repel pests or attract beneficial insects that prey on harmful ones. For example, planting marigolds and calendula with vegetables can attract hoverflies and ladybirds, whose larvae eat aphids Companion planting for vegetable garden
- Improved Pollination: Plants like sweet peas and calendula attract pollinators, ensuring that crops get pollinated effectively, which is crucial for fruit and vegetable production
- Enhanced Growth: Some plant combinations can improve each other’s growth by enhancing nutrient uptake or providing shade. For instance, planting basil with tomatoes can enhance the flavour of the tomatoes and help deter pests Companion plant you can use
- Soil Health: Companion plants can improve soil health by fixing nitrogen, as seen in the traditional “Three Sisters” method where corn, beans, and squash are grown together. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting the corn and squash, which in turn provide support and shade
Examples of Companion Planting
- Tomatoes and Basil: Basil can improve the flavour of tomatoes and deter pests like aphids and whiteflies.
- Carrots and Onions: Onions can help repel carrot flies, while carrots can benefit from the reduced competition and improved soil structure
- Garlic and Roses: Garlic can repel pests that often plague roses, such as aphids and spider mites (
Cucumbers, Dill, and Radish: Dill can attract beneficial insects, while radish can act as a trap crop for pests like cucumber beetles
