LEARN HOW - companion planting
Here’s a little secret: It’s not just what you grow, it’s where you grow it - and the company it keeps.
Grow the right plants together and you can reap benefits including better growth and reduced pests.
There's plenty of good reasons to plant certain crops together:
* Deterring pests: Certain plants act as insect repellents or deter critters. For example, garlic’s smell is unappealing to many pests;
* Attracting beneficials: Some plants also attract beneficial insects. For example, borage attracting pollinating bees and tiny pest-eating wasps;
* Shade regulation: Large plants provide shade for smaller plants in need of sun protection. For example, corn shades lettuce;
* Natural supports: Tall plants, like corn and sunflowers, can support lower-growing, sprawling crops such as cucumbers and peas;
* Improved plant health: When one plant absorbs certain substances from the soil, it may change the soil biochemistry in favour of nearby plants;
* Improving soil fertility: Some crops, like beans, peas, and other legumes, help to make nitrogen more available in the soil. Similarly, plants with long taproots, like burdock, bring up nutrients from deep in the soil, enriching the topsoil to the benefit of shallow-rooted plants;
* Weed suppression: Planting sprawling crops like potatoes with tall, upright plants minimizes open areas, where weeds typically take hold.
Here's 10 great options:
1) The strongly scented leaves of MINT (mentha spicata) confuse pests of carrots, tomatoes, alliums and brassicas, and deter flea beetles. Take care though - grow it in a pot, or it could smother your crop;
2) The GARLIC CHIVE (allium tuberosum) is a hardy perennial with white star-shaped flowers. When planted alongside carrots, its strong scent confuses and deters the carrot root fly, which can normally smell carrots from up to a mile away;
3) LAVENDER (lavandula angustifolia) attracts a range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Its strong scent can also deter aphids. Plant with carrots and leeks to confuse pests;
4) WORMWOOD (artemisia absinthium) is a strongly scented herb that can deter aphids and flea beetles from attacking neighbouring plants. Its yellow flowers attract hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds, which prey on aphids;
5) The CALENDULA marigold (calendula officinalis) repels whitefly from tomatoes and can lure aphids away from beans. It also attracts beneficial insects, including ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies, which prey on aphids;
6) SAGE (salvia officinalis) is strongly scented and will confuse pests of brassicas if planted alongside them. Its blue flowers attract bees and hoverflies, which also pollinate crops.
7) BORAGE (borago officinalis) is an attractive plant with hairy leaves that have a slight cucumber flavour. Its delicate blue flowers are a magnet for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies, which pollinate crops. If planted nearby, borage can prevent attack from tomato hornworm and is said to improve the flavour of strawberries.
8) THYME (thymus vulgaris) makes a good companion plant for roses, as its strong scent deters blackfly. A tea made from soaking thyme leaves and sprayed on cabbages can prevent whitefly;
9) When planted with French and runner beans, the NASTURTIUM (tropaeolum majus) acts as a sacrificial crop, luring aphids away from the beans. Its attractive flowers help attract beneficial insects, which prey on aphids;
10) If left to flower, FENNEL (foeniculum vulgare) produces attractive yellow blooms that attract hoverflies, which prey on aphids.
Grow the right plants together and you can reap benefits including better growth and reduced pests.
There's plenty of good reasons to plant certain crops together:
* Deterring pests: Certain plants act as insect repellents or deter critters. For example, garlic’s smell is unappealing to many pests;
* Attracting beneficials: Some plants also attract beneficial insects. For example, borage attracting pollinating bees and tiny pest-eating wasps;
* Shade regulation: Large plants provide shade for smaller plants in need of sun protection. For example, corn shades lettuce;
* Natural supports: Tall plants, like corn and sunflowers, can support lower-growing, sprawling crops such as cucumbers and peas;
* Improved plant health: When one plant absorbs certain substances from the soil, it may change the soil biochemistry in favour of nearby plants;
* Improving soil fertility: Some crops, like beans, peas, and other legumes, help to make nitrogen more available in the soil. Similarly, plants with long taproots, like burdock, bring up nutrients from deep in the soil, enriching the topsoil to the benefit of shallow-rooted plants;
* Weed suppression: Planting sprawling crops like potatoes with tall, upright plants minimizes open areas, where weeds typically take hold.
Here's 10 great options:
1) The strongly scented leaves of MINT (mentha spicata) confuse pests of carrots, tomatoes, alliums and brassicas, and deter flea beetles. Take care though - grow it in a pot, or it could smother your crop;
2) The GARLIC CHIVE (allium tuberosum) is a hardy perennial with white star-shaped flowers. When planted alongside carrots, its strong scent confuses and deters the carrot root fly, which can normally smell carrots from up to a mile away;
3) LAVENDER (lavandula angustifolia) attracts a range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Its strong scent can also deter aphids. Plant with carrots and leeks to confuse pests;
4) WORMWOOD (artemisia absinthium) is a strongly scented herb that can deter aphids and flea beetles from attacking neighbouring plants. Its yellow flowers attract hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds, which prey on aphids;
5) The CALENDULA marigold (calendula officinalis) repels whitefly from tomatoes and can lure aphids away from beans. It also attracts beneficial insects, including ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies, which prey on aphids;
6) SAGE (salvia officinalis) is strongly scented and will confuse pests of brassicas if planted alongside them. Its blue flowers attract bees and hoverflies, which also pollinate crops.
7) BORAGE (borago officinalis) is an attractive plant with hairy leaves that have a slight cucumber flavour. Its delicate blue flowers are a magnet for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies, which pollinate crops. If planted nearby, borage can prevent attack from tomato hornworm and is said to improve the flavour of strawberries.
8) THYME (thymus vulgaris) makes a good companion plant for roses, as its strong scent deters blackfly. A tea made from soaking thyme leaves and sprayed on cabbages can prevent whitefly;
9) When planted with French and runner beans, the NASTURTIUM (tropaeolum majus) acts as a sacrificial crop, luring aphids away from the beans. Its attractive flowers help attract beneficial insects, which prey on aphids;
10) If left to flower, FENNEL (foeniculum vulgare) produces attractive yellow blooms that attract hoverflies, which prey on aphids.
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