companion planting

Companion Planting

Why does Basil and lettuce

love Tomatoes?

Companion planting defined.

• If two plants growing together leads to benefits for one or both of them then they can be called companions.

• Companion planting is about introducing purposeful variety to your garden.

• By combining vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a single garden you create a planting which is diverse, attractive and multifunctional.

Plum underplanted with a variety of companions

A mix of observation and experimentation

• Research confirms: that some plant combinations have benefits unique to those specific combinations,

but it is

Personal observation based on practical experience which demonstrates how to group certain plants for mutual benefit in specific settings.

So get out there and give it a go.

Useful web resources, there are many useful guides to be found on the web such as,

• http://deepgreenpermaculture.com/companion-planting/companion-planting-table/

• http://gstuff.co.nz/shop/garden/index.php?main_page=page_4

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants

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HCompanion planting charts does it work

Companion planting charts should perhaps be seen more as guidelines from which to start some experimenting to see which plant companions work best in your own soil and location

Source: www.plantsandgardeningtips.com

Using companion planting charts

• Vegetables or fruits are listed across the top of the page.

• Possible companions are listed down the page

• A symbol can be found where the 2 columns intersect

• X indicates that the two plants grow well together

• N means they don’t make good companions.

• Remember they are a guide only ask other gardeners from your area what works locally.

Companion plants can have many functions

• Poppies, and Nasturtiums planted between plants are said to minimize aphids;

• daisies such as asters attract flying insects, and most are tough, easy to grow plants.

• Different people have different ideas.

• The best way is to give it a go and see what happens.

The list of plant combinations is

Mostly companion planting is used as a pest control strategy . Combinations of plants are planted where some plants repel pests, others trap the pests and yet others confuse the pests so they cant find where to dine on your vegetables.

Companion plants can

• Attract useful pollinators

Some other functions are

• To enhance the flavour of your produce

• To Provide medicinal uses

• To Build your soil by fixing or mining nutrients

• To Improve the growing conditions for plants where some taller plants provide shelter or shade for crops which like grow underneath them and,

• To Provide colour beauty and form to your garden.

What to choose

There are many combinations of plants you can choose as companions for the vegetable you are going to plant.

Here are just a few you may want to consider.•Marigold•Calendula•comfrey

• Borage• Basil• Lavender • Nasturtium• Chives• Yarrow• Dill• Tansy

Marigolds

• The roots of Marigold give off a substance which drives away the eel-worm.

• The flowers attract beneficial insects and butterflies

Calendula

Has a similar action to Marigolds, and is often planted in combination with Marigolds.This plant also has many medicinal uses

Comfrey

• Rich in N, P, Na so great when used as a compost conditioner. Put some of the leaves in when you plant your potatoes to give them a good start.

• Makes great liquid fertiliser- soak in water for a month then use.

• Companion plant for tomatoes, squash, strawberries

• One of the best bee and wasp attracting plants

• Adds trace minerals to the soil and a good addition the compost pile. The leaves contain vitamin C and are rich in calcium, potassium and mineral salts

Borage

Basil

• Scatter it through your gardens.

• Deters- aphids, whitefly, fruit flies, mosquitoes.

• Goes well with tomatoes.

• A very aromatic plant

Lavender

• Attracts Bees• But is also an insect

repellent.• Extensively used in

medicines and the perfume industry

• Adds real scent and colour to your garden

Nasturtium• Deters insects

particularly aphids.

• Edible flowers great for salads, sweet cress flavour

• The leaves and flowers have antibiotic properties

Chives

• Improves growth and flavour of carrots and tomatoes. A friend to apples, carrots, tomatoes, brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, mustard, etc) and many others. Helps to keep aphids away from tomatoes, and sunflowers.

Yarrow

• this boosts vigour in other plants and accumulates phosphorous, calcium and silica, which can benefit homemade compost when plants are added to the heap. It attracts many beneficial creatures to your garden such as hoverflies and ladybirds

Dill Flowers

• Provides a great food source for Beneficial's and is yummy in fish dishes and for combating the effects of windy colic .

Tansy

• Is a good insect repellent.

• Note it can be invasive and needs to be managed.

• Great compost activator

Some plants that will repell troublsome insects.

• Basil• Borage• Calendula• Catnip• Coriander• Dandelion• Fennel• Flax• Garlic

• Geranium• Horseradish• Hyssop• Lavender• Marigold• Mint• Nasturtium• Oregano

Further Repellent Plants

• Parsley• Pennyroyal• Radish• Rosemary• Rue• Sage

• Sunflower• Tansy• Thyme• Wormwood

What works?

• There is no golden answer, it will come down to the mix of plants that you enjoy.

• So play with combinations that you like.• Monitor and note what works in your dairies. • The key is to not put just one plant in and expect

it to work.• Concentrate on creating communities of plants.

Sources of Information

• http://www.spiritualskyincense.com/companions-guide.htm

• http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

• All slides are courtesy of Mike Beedie

Sources of Information

• http://deepgreenpermaculture.com/companion-planting/companion-planting-table/

• http://gstuff.co.nz/shop/garden/index.php?main_page=page_4

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants

• https://attra.ncat.org/attra- pub/viewhtml.php?id=72