"Companion planting" refers to the practice of planting different plants together because they help each other grow better. This could be by providing nutrients, repelling pests, or attracting beneficial insects. It's like plants having good friends that support and benefit each other in the garden.
Full definition
Just about every organic gardening book or blog advocates the benefits
of companion planting in the garden.
You will quickly build hands - on experience that far outweighs the knowledge any book or website could give you, and soon you'll be
companion planting with confidence!
Petunias: In addition to providing a splash of color in the garden, petunias can be a
great companion plant for peppers due their ability to repel asparagus beetles, leafhoppers, tomato worms, and aphids.
[Some sources disagree on which plants should be grown together as companions (for instance, beans and peppers), and
which companion plants for peppers are not compatible with each other, so if you're not sure, it's best to do some additional research before planting.]
While countless gardening experts swear by the practice and have written whole books on the subject, many horticultural experts consider
companion planting garden «folklore» rather than science.
Leeks: Although not quite as popular to grow as its family members, such as garlic and onions, are, leeks can be a
good companion plant for peppers.
«It suggests that the findings we can manage locally, like pesticides, habitat destruction and
planting companion plants, can actually make a difference because these factors can buy pollinators time for natural selection and evolution, thus allowing the species to keep pace with the things that we can't manage locally,» said Galen.
Understanding the basic reasons
why companion planting (or intercropping) works removes the need for complicated charts and lists.
Experts argue that
companion planting seems to work for so many because of this «yin and yang» relationship found in nature.
So, you start picking out what you want to grow in your garden this year and search «
companion planting chart» on Google.
Companion planting rye or switchgrass or some other crop that fixes nitrogen may not demand the fossil fuel inputs assumed.
Suggestions include putting the garden closer to the house, adding more fruit trees, incorporating hens (fellow TreeHugger Jeff has already advocated strongly for chickens at the White House), and
practising companion planting.
It performs best in the same moist but well - drained shady environment where you would grow an azalea, and it makes an
incredible companion plant, usually blooming in sequence with the Southern Indica azaleas.
I
also companion plant which is using other plants to deter pests instead of using pestides.There's a great book out called «carrots love tomatoes».
Geraniums: Growing geraniums
as companion plants for peppers is said to help repel cabbage worms, Japanese beetles, and other pests, while also providing some colorful blossoms in the garden.
In early 2015, I'll be launching a line of topics — very simple, elegant formulations of cannabis paired with
other companion plants — called Wildwood Apothecary.
This import from China, however, has stood the test of time and has to be high on the list
of companion plants for spring - blooming trees and shrubs.
Companion planting in the garden can serve a number of purposes, ranging from maximizing garden space to attracting beneficial insects and pollinators to luring insect pests away from other food crops.
Onions: Onions don't take up a lot of room above the ground, and are said to deter many common insect pests in the garden, such as aphids, slugs, and cabbage worms, making them a
good companion plant for peppers.
Some gardeners
use companion plantings to minimize insect problems and eliminate or reduce the need for pesticides.
Which companion plants might deter common pests (or attract good predators) for that particular family section
Love this diagram on «
companion planting» in your garden — stashing away for the next time we get ahold of a garden bed!
«The seeds we're focusing on are edibles, and
companion plants.
Hello Jukka: There's been a lot written about so - called «
companion planting» but I'm very skeptical about it.