For gardeners looking to maximize their plant growth, understanding companion planting is key. Pairing certain crops together can help promote healthy growth and ward off pests.
When planning your garden layout, consider these companion planting combinations:
– Carrots grow well alongside chives, leeks, onions, peas, radishes, rosemary, and sage.
– Corn flourishes when planted near beans, cucumbers, dill, melons, peas, squash, and sunflowers.
– Cucumbers thrive when planted with beans, borage, dill, lettuce, nasturtiums, oregano, radish, sunflowers, and tansy.
– Lettuce does best when planted near chives, onions, oregano, peas, poached egg plants, radishes, scallions, and zinnia.
Companion Planting Chart
Crop Name | Companions |
---|---|
CARROTS | Chives Leeks Onions Peas Radishes Rosemary Sage |
CORN | Beans (pole) Cucumbers Dill Melons Peas Squash Sunflower |
CUCUMBERS | Beans Borage Dill Lettuce Nasturtiums Oregano Radish Sunflowers Tansy |
LETTUCE | Chives Onions Oregano Peas Poached Egg plants Radishes Scallions Zinnia |
What doesn’t grow with cucumbers?
Brassicas: Plants like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can compete with cucumbers for the same nutrients in the soil. They also attract pests that can damage cucumber plants, such as flea beetles and cabbage worms.
How do you space companion plants?
Plants that have known beneficial relationships (friends) should be planted within two or three rows of each other. Plants that are known to have detrimental relationships (foes) should be planted at least 2-3 rows apart.
What is the meaning of companion plants?
Companion planting is defined as the cultivation of various plant species, close together, for mutual benefit.
Do cucumbers need two plants?
Planting cucumbers (or other cucurbits) in groups has nothing to do with pollination. You can easily grow a cucumber (or a melon, squash or watermelon) all on its own and still get an excellent harvest, because cucumbers self-pollinate readily.
Is zinnia a companion plant?
One secret to getting a healthier garden is using the practice of companion planting. It’s a method of placing compatible plant species close to each other to get the benefits of enhancing their growth. Since zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow in your yard, they’re often used as companion plants.
How close is too close for companion planting?
Nature integrates many different plants, animals, and many more organisms into every ecosystem so nothing goes to waste. How close should you plant these companion plants? To make it simple, take an average spacing between the two varieties. If one variety should be spaced 12 in.
What plant families grow well together?
Which Vegetables Grow Well Together?
Vegetable | Companion Plant |
---|---|
Cabbage Family (cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts) | Beets, celery, dill, Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, onions, potatoes |
Carrots | Beans, tomatoes |
Celery | Beans, tomatoes, cabbages |
Corn | Cucumber, melons, squash, peas, beans, pumpkin |
Can you plant onions next to peppers?
Peppers and onions don’t just pair well in the kitchen; pepper and onion companion plants are also perfect partners in the garden. Onions’ strong aroma repels many garden pests and can keep deer and rabbits from browsing on your bell peppers.
Can you plant 2 cucumbers together?
Cucumber Spacing In Containers Try growing in a large pot at least 18 inches across in size, and 15 inches in height. For a container this size, grow two cucumbers, at least 8 inches apart.
How close together can I plant peppers?
Space pepper plants 18 inches apart, in rows 30 to 36 inches apart. Grow plants closer together if temperatures are below 60°F. Closer spacing requires fertilizer at planting and during the summer.
How close can you plant companion plants?
The book recommends a mean spacing of 9.5″ when the two crops are mixed. Caption: Two-crop companion planting diagram with dimensions, adapted from How to Grow More Vegetables (Jeavons 2006).
What is the best companion for tomatoes?
A good companion plant for tomatoes is basil. Not only does basil add a delicious flavor to tomatoes, it also helps to repel some of the common pests that can plague tomatoes. Additionally, marigolds, garlic, and borage are all great companion plants for tomatoes.
Should bell peppers be planted in pairs?
Yes two peppers can be planted together – in fact, planting peppers with other peppers will still produce very successful harvests. However, since they are self-pollinating you don’t necessarily need more than one plant if you’re short of space.
Does companion planting increase yield?
Companion planting is a traditional gardening practice, designed to improve crop yield by attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Can I plant all my peppers together?
Multiple pepper plants (of the same or different varieties) can be planted together and, in some cases, can help each other out. For example, planting a border of hot peppers around sweet peppers is likely to deter any pests that thought about munching on either of those plants.
What is a tomato companion?
A companion plant is a plant that is grown in close proximity to the tomatoes and will benefit the tomato in some way. There are several reasons to plant companion plants. Some companion plants are only there to attract pollinators.
In conclusion, companion planting offers a strategic and natural way to optimize growth and health in a garden. By pairing compatible plants together, gardeners can enhance nutrient uptake, repel pests, and promote overall biodiversity. Experimenting with different plant combinations can lead to a harmonious and thriving garden ecosystem. Whether it’s planting marigolds next to tomatoes or basil near peppers, the benefits of thoughtful companion planting are plentiful. By understanding the symbiotic relationships between plants, gardeners can harness the power of nature to cultivate a vibrant and successful garden. Start exploring companion planting in your garden today and watch your plants flourish!