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If some of yourplants seem to dislike each othereven more than your in - laws do , go on as you would in either pillow slip and keep the plant separated as much as possible — by at least two or three rows in your garden . On the other helping hand , specie that get along swimmingly can be interspersed or placed next - quarrel to each other in what is calledcompanion planting .
record on to see more about companion planting and how you’re able to apply this exercise in your home garden .
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What IsCompanion Planting?
fellow planting is simplyplanning your gardenin such a agency that plants that can suppress each other ’s ontogeny are kept far asunder while grouping those that encourage each other ’s productiveness together . Keep in mind that much of the information on companion horticulture is based onfolklore and traditionand not necessarily evidence scientific discipline . However , inquiry indorse up some of these plant pairings , and do n’t entirely dismiss the folklore since anything that has been overhaul down for generations often has the experience of many gardeners behind it . Plus , there really is nothing about comrade planting that can harm your garden .
For example , the flowers of a sure plant might pull in insects that cross-pollinate the plant ’s neighbors too — or even parasitize some of their pest . Therefore , there are reason other than sound vibes as to why companion plant life can get along well with each other . The following are a few popularly touted benefit of growing certain plant together .
The Benefits of Companion Planting
Vegetablecompanion planting can give up your craw to attend to each other by providing shade or improving soil , among other benefits .
Providing Shade
Sun - loving plants can supply spectre for other plants that prefer to keep their cool . For example , if you sowed dauntless salad viridity before your last freeze , you might want to tryplanting tomatoesaround them after your last rime date , or adding pole beans just south of the lettuce rows . The shade thrown by those tall edible plants can keep the greens from overheating and bolting rapidly .
Loosening Clay
plant with water faucet roots , such as carrots and parsnip , can tease up granitic clay soils . This benefits other nearby plants — such as tomatoes andwatermelons — which like to put their beginning down , too .
Enriching Soil
Legumes(members of the bean family ) feed the priming coat around themselves by “ fixing ” nitrogen in the soil . Therefore , they often are grown as a masking harvest and twist under just before the garden is planted — or used as a primer coat binding beneath N - have sex vegetables such as corn .
Providing Support and Protection
Tall plants like corn can supportclimbing vegetablessuch as perch beans . In fact , Native Americans often planted Indian corn , beans , and squelch together . In that mutually beneficial musical arrangement , the beans climbed the corn stalks , while the squash leave a prickly mulch for both , which helped disgust racoon from the corn .
Confusing Pests
Although some fellow traveller plant can attract welcome pollinators , others can serve reduce insect universe in nearby plants by attracting those insects to themselves orfending them off with odor . For illustration , genus Nasturtium and marigolds reportedly boil down the population of cabbage worms and squelch bugs near where they are planted .
Common Companion Planting Mistakes to Avoid
Do n’t make the mistake ofplacing the faulty plant next to each otherin your associate garden , or else your crops may put up the consequences .
Mixing Onions and Beans
Avoid placing member of the onion family near appendage of the bean family . genus Allium produce a compound cry ajoene , which can hamper the growth of legumes .
Planting Near the Wrong Trees
Do n’t spring up allelopathic trees , such as black walnut tree or tree of heaven , near your garden . These plants make elbow room for themselves by poisoning the primer around them against other species , so you wo n’t want to include them in yourfood forest .
Growing Fennel in the Vegetable Garden
Refrain from levy fennel near any of your garden vegetables , since it too is allelopathic and stunt the growth of other plants near it — with the exclusion of dill . Plant it near your heel run or else , since it reportedlyrepels flea .
Raising Asters Near Carrots
Although positioning flowers among vegetable can be beneficial in some cases , always keep asters far away from carrots . Aster leafhopper may deport a yellowing disease from one to the other .
“Seating” These Relatives Near Each Other
Avoidgrowing potatoesand tomatoes near each other , even though they are related . That family relationship make both of them vulnerable to other and late blight — the latter having been partly responsible for the Irish Potato Famine — which well can be spread from one metal money to the other , possibly causing you to lose both crops rather than just one .
Companion Planting Chart
When register this helpful companion gardening chart , keep in mind that the cabbage family includes plants such as Brassica oleracea italica , brussels sprout , and cauliflower , while the onion family contains chive , garlic , leeks , and more .
Final Thoughts
When design your garden , keep in mind that a wide diversity of plants intersperse with each other helpsprevent pest job . Insects tend to search for swaths of their favorite veg and will likely get confused when you develop those swaths into little clusters instead . Also , flowers and herbs planted among vegetables can appeal beneficial dirt ball , which will predate on the harmful ones .
Related:15 Things to Plant Now for Your Fall Vegetable Garden
This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation
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Whether you ’re betray or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this overhaul the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stick around on budget .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
