Companion Planting Is Not a Myth

Growing certain plants together can lead to improved performance, better harvests, and reduced maintenance

Companion planting is the long - standing practice of partnering two or more plants in hopes of reach a new benefit . Information on which plant to use in companion planting has been passed around among gardener for generation , but those suggestions are n’t always based on sound scientific discipline . We ’ve all probably hear that “ roses love garlic ” or something similar . However , late inquiry from university and agricultural facilities around the world is looking at associate planting in a new Light Within . Many of these studies channelise toward a whole raw way to companion works — a way that approaches the garden as an ecosystem consist of many unlike and complex layers of organisms , all of which are interconnected in a massive entanglement of life .

Companion planting has other names

In the scientific residential district , you wo n’t often find the term “ associate planting ” being used , perhaps for fear of the long - standing folklore - orient reputation of the drill . When looking over the many believable studies that search mutualistic relationships among multiple plant in field subject , you ’ll happen term such as the following being used alternatively .

All three of these recitation involve combining multiple plants to achieve a positive result — which is , of course , the definition of companion planting . Regardless of which term is used , they all translate to the same matter : maximize plant diversity in hope of attain one or more benefits . Companion planting is intercropping or interplanting but typically on the smaller scale of a home garden . And a polyculture is the result . Though in many shipway we are only start to sympathize the complexities of these interaction , we can already use our current knowledge to become honorable gardeners and to build healthier , more generative garden . Companion planting can provide many benefit ; here are just a few of the most helpful single

Benefit 1:Soil improvement

One elbow room in which companion plants can be used toimprove soilis through the use ofcover crop . Typically , cover crops are annuals that are not harvested and are institute when the garden is fallow and devoid of harvestable crop . They can then be turn into the stain a few week before the layer is ready to be planted , or they can be mowed down and planted through . Using concealment crop before or after grow your harvestable craw provides multiple benefits . They can aerate the soil , provide organic matter to decomposers , and allow nutrients to become available to the next round of veggies . top crops are not only useful to Fannie Farmer ; the benefit can be achieved even by dwelling gardeners .

When to plant and cut down cover crops

The time to sow seed depends on the eccentric of top craw you ’re planting . There are two main case .

oat . Photo : Alamy

reddish clover . Photo : Alamy

Regardless of which type of cover crop you grow , timing the cut - down operation is critical . Mow or cut down cover crop just after they come into flower . Leave the fixings in the garden , where they can help block weed emergence as they decompose . If you mow too early , the covering harvest will regrow and sample to bloom again . If you hold off too late , the plant will set semen prolifically and become a nuisance . As with the rest of gardening , good timing is everything .

Benefit 2:Weed management

If you are looking for companion plants that help manageweeds , look no further thanliving mulches . Living mulch are low - grow companion plants that are plant beneath and around tall harvestable crops . Much like handle crops , living mulches are n’t planted to be harvested ( though some of them can be ) ; instead , they help crowd or fill in out competing weeds around hope crop .

habituate perennial living mulches around recurrent vegetables or fruits , and yearly living mulches around annual crops . If necessary , living mulch can be cut down down a few time throughout the time of year to keep their growth in assay .

Keep in mind that living mulches can vie with desired flora for resources , so observe their growth definitely involves a measured balance . However , plant do n’t know alone in nature ; they live in tight quarters with many other plants , and that ’s how it should be in the vegetable garden too . In some cases , companion plants actually help each other , rather than vie , in a procedure called imagination communion .

Here are a few great plant partnership for weed direction to get you start .

White clover . Photo : good manners of Storey Publishing © Derek Trimble

Blueberries . Photo : courtesy of Storey Publishing © Derek Trimble

Benefit 3:Pest management

Pest managementis one of the most popular goal of fellow traveller planting , and there are several ways in which it can turn . fellow traveller planting can break up insect feeding by masking or hiding fickle chemicals ( chemicals that grant insects to recognize a plant life ) give out byhost plant . It can also interpose with pest ballock - put down demeanour by masking emcee plant life . And make a ecumenical polyculture makes it more difficult for plague to find their emcee plants .

While a quick internet hunt will give in a terrific telephone number of lists of companion plants that supposedly perform one of these services , few of them are plunk for by research . Here are some that are .

Benefit 4:Enhanced biological control

Biological dominance ( or biocontrol ) is the science of using one living being to help oneself control the universe of another . Encouragingbeneficial insectsin your garden can essay very helpful in keep in line plague . good insects provide natural pest control condition either by directly eat pest insects ( predators ) or by using those insects to sign of the zodiac and fertilise their own develop young ( parasitoids ) . They return an authoritative balance back to the garden and reduce the need for pesticides and otherpest - management strategies .

Most good louse want three thing to thrive : a pesticide - free habitat , the sugar get in nectar , and prey insects to corrode or lie testicle on . comrade planting can provide all three of these resource for beneficial insects , encouraging them to take up mansion house in your vegetable garden and do their effective study . Here are a few fellow plant partnerships to enhance biologic control .

Find morePlants to Attract Beneficial Insects

See encroaching alarum below

Benefit 5:Improved pollination

familiar planting can be used to heighten the pollination rates in yourvegetable garden . Including a diversity of flowering plants in close proximity to your veggies will increase the act and multifariousness ofpollinators , raise your chances of pollination success .

Plant these flowers and crops near each other to improve pollination .

*Invasive Alert:

Sweet fennel(Foeniculum vulgare)

This plant is considered incursive in CA , OR , WA , and WV .

Sweet alyssum(Lobularia maritima)

This plant is consider incursive in CA .

Please visitinvasiveplantatlas.orgfor more info .

Jessica Walliser is a plantsman , accolade - gain author of seven garden books , and a cofounder of SavvyGardening.com . For more data on companion planting , see her bookPlant Partners : Science - ground Companion Strategies for the Vegetable Garden .

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Companion Planting Is Not a Myth

A diverse assortment of plants creates a stronger garden.Using a polyculture of different crops and companion plants provides benefits such as pest management and improved pollination.

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A diverse assortment of plants creates a stronger garden. Using a polyculture of different crops and companion plants provides benefits such as pest management and improved pollination.

A diverse assortment of plants creates a stronger garden.Using a polyculture of different crops and companion plants provides benefits such as pest management and improved pollination.

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