Posted on 05/06/2023 5:31:33 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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Companion Planting Guide: Sow Easy
Companion planting is a great way to maximize the efficiency of your garden. For almost every vegetable you grow, there is likely to be a beneficial companion plant that will help increase soil nutrients, chase away pests, and help you get the most out of your garden. Here are the 10 most popular vegetables grown in the United States and their friends (and foes) in the garden.
Companion Planting For These Top 10 Veggies
1. Tomatoes
Friends: Basil and tomatoes were made to go together, not only in sauces but in the garden, too. This herb helps tomatoes produce greater yields and it repels both flies and mosquitoes. Marigolds are another good companion, repelling nematodes and other garden pests. Other friends to tomatoes include asparagus, carrots, celery, the onion family, lettuce, parsley, and spinach.
Foes: Cabbage, beets, peas, fennel, dill, and rosemary. Corn and tomatoes both suffer from the corn earworm, and tomatoes and potatoes are affected by the same blight, so keep these plants separate to prevent the spread of pests or disease.
2. Peppers
Friends: Basil is a good friend to peppers, helping repel aphids, spider mites, mosquitoes, and flies. It’s also thought that basil improves the pepper’s flavor. Other good companions include onions, spinach, and tomatoes.
Foes: Beans so the vines don’t spread among the pepper plants.
3. Green Beans
Friends: Corn and beans grow well together because beans will grow up the cornstalks, which means you won’t have to build them a trellis. Beans also fix nitrogen in the soil, which is good for the corn. Marigolds, nasturtiums, rosemary, and summer savory repel bean beetles, and summer savory improves growth rate and flavor. Other companions include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other members of the cabbage family along with cucumbers, peas, potatoes, and radishes.
Foes: Beets or anything from the onion family. Onions, in particular, impede the growth of bean plants.
4. Cucumbers
Friends: Plant marigolds and nasturtiums among your cucumbers to repel aphids and beetles,. Beans, celery, corn, lettuce, dill, peas, and radishes are also good companion plants.
Foes: Aromatic herbs such as sage which will stunt the growth of cucumbers.
5. Onions
Friends: Carrots should be planted near onions because onions will repel the carrot fly. Onions will also chase away the aphids, so plant them near aphid-prone (but onion-friendly) veggies. Other good friends of onions include beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, parsnips (which also suffer from carrot fly), tomatoes, and spices like marjoram, savory, and rosemary.
Foes: Asparagus, beans, and peas.
Continues at link:
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/companion-planting-guide
Good morning. It finally stopped raining here and I’m going to be getting as much of my garden in this next week as possible.
The forecast is gorgeous, 65-70 each day, mid 40’s at night, and sunny. Now if we could just do something about those blasted black flies, what we’ve called punkies in the past. You know, the ones which leave a hole in your skin when they bite. And the ticks. SPIT!!!!
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Dill is supposed to be a good companion for cruciferous plants. I had trouble with asparagus beetles last year so have planted some dill among them. My herb garden is near the asparagus bed.
The asparagus is not showing yet.
I had some two year old onion seed I had saved from Stuttgarter onions I had planted and figured, what the heck, and sowed them and got more onions than I know what to do with. I was impressed at how many were viable.
Also, I found black swallowtail caterpillars on the dill. It was good to see them.
My question involves subterranean irrigated planters (SIP), link here:
https://www.youtube.com/@Albopepper
I have a pretty small backyard less than 1600 sq. ft. and much of it is low to no direct sun, and the best sunny areas have very bad soil; clay and shallow roots of now dead trees that will take years to go away. I live in southeast michigan.
I have yet to begin any rain barrel irrigation, but have planned on it for years. We had a pretty good tomato harvest last year two celebrity plants, half day Michigan sunshine but I’m hoping to do better this year.
I’m thrilled with the concept of totally automated rain barrel irrigation in my backyard that seems to suffer drought at least once or twice a summer.
If anyone here is utilizing SIP, I’d love to compare notes. I’m designing use of humidifier float valves perhaps both in the planter and the rain barrel to ensure foolproof hydration regardless of weather trend.
My concern and question involves oxygen; Albopepper’s design uses an open air fill tube that he apparently filled till overflow everyday or whatever his time period was/is, my design so far has no entry for oxygen so far and that is my concern.
Good Morning! :-)
Planted purple basil at the foot of my Tomato Plants. Just love the purple basil...such a rich taste.
I’m generally in zone 7 but it changes LOL
Soon we will have our last frost. The lilacs bloom anyway
(I guess you’ll have to click the link. I clearly don’t know how to post a pic LOL)
https://www.workman.com/products/carrots-love-tomatoes/paperback
Very pretty! My lilacs are still pretty tight in bud, but all of the fruit trees are blooming. :)
There are times when our Spirit must be fed as well as
our bellies. Enjoy...
Schreiners Iris Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys1dpRgj7kU
Perhaps I should mention my back yard has a covered porch, a patio, a three car garage and a wide driveway. The 1600 sq. ft. is the remaining lawn.
Speaking of companion planting, I have a bumper crop of tulips that began blooming 4/15 and have peaked now. I plant vegetables right over the top of them and there's no problems.
Purple basil does have an earthier taste than regular basil.
Just for people to know. It doesn’t work quiet the same as regular basil in cooking.
CLICK ON THE GARDEN PICTURE TO LINK BACK TO THE APRIL 29 - MAY 5 2023 WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD!
Another gorgeous day here .... haven’t been outside yet, some things needing doing inside, but I’m about to step out the door.
News!! I had to refill the hummer feeder .... that means the little guys are around, even though I’m not seeing them. I have seen 2 on the feeder, but we’ve had to travel Wednesday/Thursday so I couldn’t watch the feeders. Maybe today I can spot them (we’ll be out of town again tomorrow).
Mowing time ... aka “John Deere rear” time LOL. I think I have 3-4 hours worth to do - I did about half the farm in 4 hours yesterday. Ticks are out (mom had one) so keeping the grass cut is a priority.
I haven’t taken a close look at the garden in a couple of days (just checked out at a distance while passing by) so today is the day to see what is going on. I know the mint (in pots) is growing/spreading .... I could see that from the mower. Tomatoes look taller, dahlias are growing. I still see peppers so I guess they’re doing ok. Anyway, I cut the grass around the garden last evening so the “path” from the front porch across the yard to the garden is now short grass (it was half way up to my knees)!
Weather is warming up starting today .... upper 70’s daytime and in the 50’s at night so the plants should be taking off - the last 7-10 days have been downright chilly!
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