A Beginner's Guide to Companion Planting
Making sure your plants have plenty of friends in the garden is a win-win for everyone
Practised by gardeners for centuries, companion planting is based on the idea that certain plants have a beneficial relationship with each other. Some act as protectors, deterring pests or attracting beneficial insects such as pollinating bees. Others add important microorganisms or nutrients to the soil, ensuring better – sometimes even tastier – crops. Occasionally the relationship has a physical element too, for instance one plant will provide shade or support for another.
Today, with organic gardening becoming more popular, companion planting is back in favour and the scientists are starting to back some of the practices as well. Companion planting is not a quick fix, and it can take a bit of experimenting to get right, but it will improve the biodiversity of your garden, add colour, life and make the bees and butterflies in your neighbourhood very, very happy.
Today, with organic gardening becoming more popular, companion planting is back in favour and the scientists are starting to back some of the practices as well. Companion planting is not a quick fix, and it can take a bit of experimenting to get right, but it will improve the biodiversity of your garden, add colour, life and make the bees and butterflies in your neighbourhood very, very happy.
Plant nasturtium barriers …
Many gardeners plant large groups of Nasturtium in their vegetable garden around tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees, to repel beetles and codling moth. Nasturtium also attract predatory insects which feed on aphids and whitefly.
Planting nasturtium is also said to improve the growth and flavour of many vegetables including radishes, cabbages, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli and mustard greens. Its leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible and often used in salads, so this is a very handy plant to have in the garden.
Many gardeners plant large groups of Nasturtium in their vegetable garden around tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees, to repel beetles and codling moth. Nasturtium also attract predatory insects which feed on aphids and whitefly.
Planting nasturtium is also said to improve the growth and flavour of many vegetables including radishes, cabbages, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli and mustard greens. Its leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible and often used in salads, so this is a very handy plant to have in the garden.
… And marigolds to entice insect predators
Some plants, such as the African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) above, attract insects that devour pests like aphids. Marigolds (Tagetes and Calendula species) are a magnet for hoverflies, who lay their eggs in an aphid colony so that the larvae can feed on the aphids when they hatch. Marigolds are also said to deter harmful nematode parasites in the soil.
Some plants, such as the African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) above, attract insects that devour pests like aphids. Marigolds (Tagetes and Calendula species) are a magnet for hoverflies, who lay their eggs in an aphid colony so that the larvae can feed on the aphids when they hatch. Marigolds are also said to deter harmful nematode parasites in the soil.
Grow roses for disease alerts
Grape growers often plant roses near their vines as an early warning system for fungal diseases. Roses are susceptible to powdery mildew and downy mildew, which also affects grapes and many other garden plants. Roses also provide food for bees and habitat for beneficial insects that prey on pests.
Your cottage garden guide
Grape growers often plant roses near their vines as an early warning system for fungal diseases. Roses are susceptible to powdery mildew and downy mildew, which also affects grapes and many other garden plants. Roses also provide food for bees and habitat for beneficial insects that prey on pests.
Your cottage garden guide
Plant plenty of basil …
Basil is a well known companion plant for tomatoes, asparagus, beans, beets, capsicum and eggplant. It helps attract butterflies to your garden and repels aphids, asparagus beetles, whitefly, mosquitoes and other flies – plus, it’s even said to improve the flavour of the vegetables. But you do need plenty of it to be effective. Chamomile is also regarded as a good companion plant for basil.
TIP: Try planting basil in pots on your kitchen windowsill to keep house flies away.
Basil is a well known companion plant for tomatoes, asparagus, beans, beets, capsicum and eggplant. It helps attract butterflies to your garden and repels aphids, asparagus beetles, whitefly, mosquitoes and other flies – plus, it’s even said to improve the flavour of the vegetables. But you do need plenty of it to be effective. Chamomile is also regarded as a good companion plant for basil.
TIP: Try planting basil in pots on your kitchen windowsill to keep house flies away.
… And other herbs
As well as basil, if you plant mint near tomatoes and cabbages it can help deter pests such as white butterfly moth, ants and fleas. Parsley is also said to improve the flavour of tomatoes.
An easy guide for growing tomatoes
As well as basil, if you plant mint near tomatoes and cabbages it can help deter pests such as white butterfly moth, ants and fleas. Parsley is also said to improve the flavour of tomatoes.
An easy guide for growing tomatoes
Don’t forget borage
Is it any wonder that borage (Borago officinalis) is sometimes described as a super plant? Borage has so many useful qualities that it is one of the most highly-rated companion plants you can have in the garden. Not only do bees and other pollinators adore its flowers, but it also repels various worm pests that attack tomatoes and cabbages. It also adds trace minerals to the soil, while its nutrient-rich leaves are great for the compost bin and as a mulch.
Borage may also improve the pest- and disease-resistance of plants it grows next to, and improve the fruiting and flavour of plants such as strawberries and tomatoes.
TIP: The young leaves and flowers of borage can be used in salads.
Is it any wonder that borage (Borago officinalis) is sometimes described as a super plant? Borage has so many useful qualities that it is one of the most highly-rated companion plants you can have in the garden. Not only do bees and other pollinators adore its flowers, but it also repels various worm pests that attack tomatoes and cabbages. It also adds trace minerals to the soil, while its nutrient-rich leaves are great for the compost bin and as a mulch.
Borage may also improve the pest- and disease-resistance of plants it grows next to, and improve the fruiting and flavour of plants such as strawberries and tomatoes.
TIP: The young leaves and flowers of borage can be used in salads.
Grow garlic near roses
Growing garlic close to your rose beds will repel aphids and other pests and improve the perfume of your blooms, according to many organic gardeners. Garlic will also help keep white butterflies away from your cabbages, and is considered a good companion for many vegetables and fruit trees as it assists in disease prevention as well as deterring many pests.
TELL US
Do you have any more suggestions for useful companion plants that have served you and your garden well? Share your tips in the Comments.
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Growing garlic close to your rose beds will repel aphids and other pests and improve the perfume of your blooms, according to many organic gardeners. Garlic will also help keep white butterflies away from your cabbages, and is considered a good companion for many vegetables and fruit trees as it assists in disease prevention as well as deterring many pests.
TELL US
Do you have any more suggestions for useful companion plants that have served you and your garden well? Share your tips in the Comments.
MORE
How to Create an Orchard in a Small Garden
Home Grown: Create Your Own Kitchen Garden
Homegrown: 10 Steps to Growing and Harvesting Spring Produce
A good example of a mutually beneficial plant community is the ‘three sisters’ association traditionally used by Native Americans when growing corn, beans and squash. This trio works on many levels: the corn provides a natural support structure for the climbing beans, while the beans fix nitrogen in the soil that is taken up by the corn.
In turn, the shallow-rooted squash cover the ground, shading the roots of the other plants, preventing weeds from taking root and keeping valuable moisture in the soil. Their spiny foliage also deters predators from ravaging the beans and corn. There are many other examples of symbiotic partnerships such as this, it just depends on what crops you want to grow.