Companion planting is a time-honored gardening strategy that, when used to good advantage, can help plants grow more robustly than they would if grown alone, and even reduce the need for pesticides.
From the "three sisters" combination of corn, beans, and pumpkins that was historically used by some Native American peoples, to ancient wine growing tips from Rome (don't put cabbages near the grape vines!), companion planting has a long history.
If you'd like to give it a try in your own garden this year, here are some of our favorite tried-and-true companion planting pairs that are both beneficial and beautiful.
1. Spinach next to Radishes
Within around four weeks, radishes reach maturity. They are a vegetable that grows quickly. To best utilize the amount of space in your garden, put them next to spinach, which grows more slowly. The spinach can grow because the radishes provide room for them to be collected.
The thick leaves and stems of radishes will help shade and limit the growth of weeds. The spinach plants will benefit from less rivalry for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Radishes' deep roots contribute to better soil aeration and soil compaction. The results suggest that the spinach plant's roots might get healthier.
2. Beans and Corn
When beans are planted next to corn, which needs a lot of nitrogen, the beans contribute to the soil's nitrogen enrichment, which benefits the corn. Utilizing the corn as a trellis, the beans allow for efficient use of the garden's area and sunlight. Yields can be increased by planting these two crops together.
Dense foliage on both corn and beans helps to shade the soil and prevents weeds from growing between the plants. A very big benefit of this combination is that, in the end, you will probably need to spend less time on your knees weeding.
3. Cucumbers with Nasturtium and Marigolds
Both nasturtiums and marigolds are well-known for their pest-repelling properties.
Marigolds and nasturtiums attract pollinators, which can improve pollination and production in cucumber plants.
The blooms can aid in maintaining cool, damp soil since they shade the ground and inhibit weed growth.
4. Tomatoes and Basil
Some pests are repelled by the fragrant oils found in basil. Tomatoes and basil can help ward off pests, reducing the need for artificial pesticides. Tomatoes and basil go together like peanut butter and jelly.
By planting basil around the base of tomato plants, you create aromatic ground cover, decrease gaps, and stop soil erosion and weed growth.
5. Carrots and Onions
Because of their different root systems and rates of growth, onions and carrots can coexist in the same area without posing a threat to one another's resources.
You can lessen the chance of pest damage to the carrot crop and help discourage pests like carrot fly, by planting onions alongside carrots.
6. Marigolds and Melon
The strong scent of marigolds repels many garden pests, while attracting beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which help with the fertilization and fruit set of melons.
Because of their dense foliage, marigolds help prevent weed growth around melon plants by shading the surrounding soil.
7. Garlic and Roses
Many common garden pests are repelled by sulfur compounds found in garlic. Garlic planted close to roses can actually help to guard against black spot fungus.
They may seem like an odd couple, one with perfume-sweet scent and the other with an odor all its own, but this odd couple really gets along.
8. Cabbage and Dill
Dill attracts beneficial insects and has natural antifungal properties. Try planting it next to cabbage to lower the risk of disease.
Cabbage and dill don't just complement each other in the kitchen, but the garden too!
9. Cauliflower and Dwarf Zinnias
Consider plating some ladybug favorites, like zinnias or marigolds, to lessen the aphid population that can often trouble cauliflower.
They'll attract beneficial pollinators, while really brightening up the cauliflower patch.
10. Catnip and Hyssop
Catnip and hyssop both yield aromatic blossoms that draw helpful insects like predatory wasps, butterflies, and bees. These bugs aid in the pollination of surrounding plants.
Combining them can improve the garden's overall beauty and produce an eye-catching show.
11. Strawberries and Sage
Strawberries and sage are a classic companion planting couple, since aromatic sage helps to repel not just insect pests, but other critters that may be drawn to snacking on not-quite-ripe strawberries.
12. Rosemary and Lavender
If you're looking for some lovely, aromatic herbs that complement each other well and like growing beside each other, try planting rosemary next to lavender.
They're both perennials in most growing zones, but for colder climates rely on similar care to make it through cold winters, which can be convenient when you're tucking them in at the end of fall.
13. Roses beside Geraniums
If you've even grown lots of roses, almost certainly you have done battle with Japanese beetles.
One great solution is to grow geraniums in with your rose bushes, since geraniums repel those nasty little beetles and can even be mildly toxic if they try chowing down on a geranium blossom instead of a rose. Plus, all those bright blooms look just stunning when they're growing closely together.
14. Coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans
Both black-eyed Susans and coneflowers are hardy, drought-tolerant perennials that, once established, require little maintenance, making them a great pairing for a low-effort bed of season-long color.
Both black-eyed Susans and coneflowers are easy to self-seed and can naturally establish themselves in a garden over time, creating substantial flower drifts that need little maintenance from the gardener.
15. Mint and Peppers
Mint blooms, with their strong aroma, can attract helpful insects like hoverflies and predatory wasps, which feed on aphids and other pepper plant pests.
Keep in mind that mint is prone to aggressively spreading, so consider the hack some gardeners turn to, of tucking potted mint into the pepper patch, to be removed at the end of the season.
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Sweet little simple touches make it more fun to spend time in the garden, and more time in the garden is good for both body and soul!
If you're feeling that desire to transform your bit of earth into a magical paradise, here are some inspiring ideas that add a bit of fun and whimsy to any garden space.
13 Gardening Tips Old Timers Swear By
Have you ever noticed how older gardeners seem to grow the biggest tomatoes, the most perfect corn, and most flawless carrots?
Maybe it has to do with all that old fashioned gardening wisdom that used to be passed down from generation to generation!
If you don't have a gardening grandma from whom you've inherited a treasure trove of ancestral aphorisms, not to worry. Here are some of our favorite bits of revered garden wisdom that older generations faithfully heeded, and many still swear by.
Laurie Harmon
Laurie is using her experiences and education to help others by authoring the blog seekingserenityandharmony.com
Laurie received her Liberal Arts & Sciences Bachelor’s
as well as minors in psychology and in early childrens services from University of Maine when she was 51.
You may have seen her interviewed on a few chronic illness blogs about her health conditions.
Laurie's mission is to advocate for children and animals while also breaking the stigma that mental health issues carry.
Her favorite activities are reading and making
children laugh. However, her greatest interests are her family.
Gluten-freee desserts and a good nights sleep Is a must for her. Not at the same time of course.
Laurie tried adulting by holding down jobs outside the home. It is time to finally venture into her dream of being a writer and putting her words out there for the world in hopes to help someone else.
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