Companion Planting
Gardening expert Tonya Ashworth talks about companion planting in the garden. Companion planting is when you plant two or more crops together to try to influence pest pressure, increase yield, or gain some other benefit. A classic companion planting from the Native Americans is called the “three sisters,” corn, green beans and squash were grown together. The corn provided a place for the beans to climb, The beans provided nitrogen to the corn and the squash kept out the racoons and provided shade and weed suppression. In the 1960s and 1970s there were many lists of companion plantings circulated. Most of these have been debunked by scientific study. There were a few companion plantings however that have proven to work: Basil and tomatoes, potatoes and beans, onions and carrots, among others.
Marigolds are also often planted ward off insects. Marigolds can be effective against soil nematodes but not in the same season. If you have nematode problem plant the marigolds and then wait a few seasons. Marigolds can also reduce insect pressure but it is not always beneficial to yields. For example, marigolds will reduce the number of Mexican bean beetles on beans but will also reduce yield.
One way to benefit from a companion planting situation is to plant a polyculture – plant of many varieties close together. This confuses the insects and they may not be able to find their favorite host plant among all the different smells from the plants.
Another idea is to plant a group of plants near your garden to host beneficial insects. This way when harmful insects invade your garden they will be nearby.
Related Videos:
Planting a Butterfly Garden
Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias
Related Resources:
Trap Crops, Intercropping, and Companion Planting
Companion Planting (University of Nevada)
Companion Planting (Cornell University)
Marigolds are also often planted ward off insects. Marigolds can be effective against soil nematodes but not in the same season. If you have nematode problem plant the marigolds and then wait a few seasons. Marigolds can also reduce insect pressure but it is not always beneficial to yields. For example, marigolds will reduce the number of Mexican bean beetles on beans but will also reduce yield.
One way to benefit from a companion planting situation is to plant a polyculture – plant of many varieties close together. This confuses the insects and they may not be able to find their favorite host plant among all the different smells from the plants.
Another idea is to plant a group of plants near your garden to host beneficial insects. This way when harmful insects invade your garden they will be nearby.
Related Videos:
Planting a Butterfly Garden
Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias
Related Resources:
Trap Crops, Intercropping, and Companion Planting
Companion Planting (University of Nevada)
Companion Planting (Cornell University)