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Eager for an abundant yield from their homegrown vegetables, many people frequently water and prune their plants as they grow. However, there’s another strategy that can boost your garden’s output: companion planting. This method involves placing plants that benefit each other side by side in a cooperative arrangement.
This approach not only deters pests but also enhances the pollination of your plants.
fruits
and
vegetables
without relying on pesticides — although there are
some great non-toxic options
As tomato-planting season approaches, this approach becomes particularly important.
The gardening specialists at Create Academy advise: “When the temperatures rise in May, shift your focus towards sowing warm-weather plants in your garden, particularly if enhancing your garden’s well-being and output is of interest to you.”
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5 great companion plants to begin cultivating
1. Basil with tomatoes
Tomatoes and basil not only form a legendary pairing in cooking but also make great gardening neighbors, according to the report.
Devon Live
Create Academy notes that basil acts as a natural pest repellent, thus it makes an “ideal partner” for tomato plants.
Basil helps ward off numerous pests that can attack tomato plants, such as aphids, tomato hornworms, mosquitoes, fruit flies, and thrips. At the same time, it attracts beneficial creatures like bees and butterflies that aid in pollination.
Moreover, the gardening experts highlight that adding basil alongside your tomato plants can enhance the taste of the picked tomatoes.
2. Marigolds and peppers
For gardeners in the UK, it’s recommended to transplant pepper seedlings outdoors after the risk of frost has passed, usually between late May and early June.
When cultivating peppers in your garden, think about adding flowers like dwarf sunflowers, calendulas, cosmos, zinnias, and marigolds to bring some vibrancy to the area.
These blossoms belong to the daisy family and are considered composite flowers, where each bloom’s center consists of numerous tiny florets. This structure tends to be quite appealing to pollinators, potentially enhancing pepper crop production.
Marigolds act as natural barriers against nematodes, which are pests capable of harming pepper plants.
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3. Nasturtiums and cucumber
Create Academy recommends, “When growing cucumbers, think about planting nasturtiums alongside them. Nasturtiums serve as effective deterrents for pests like cucumber beetles and aphids.”
Furthermore, the lively nasturtiums can draw helpful insects such as bees and hoverflies, fostering a healthy garden via pollination.
4. Radishes and squash
Pumpkin seeds are usually started inside during the spring season, prepared for transplantation outside following the final frost. Should you intend to sow your pumpkins directly outdoors shortly, think about growing radishes alongside them.
Garden specialists observe that radishes can aid in repelling squash bugs and various pests, and they can be collected swiftly before impacting the development of squashes.
5. Corn and beans
Green beans and sweetcorn are not only delicious but also excellent companions in the garden, especially when grown using the “Three Sisters” method.
This time-honored method of intercropping brings together corn, beans, and squash harmoniously. The tall cornstalks serve as organic supports for the bean vines, which improve soil nitrogen levels, while the spreading squash helps suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
What is the effectiveness of companion planting?
Although it offers specific advantages such as pest management, it should not be used in isolation. According to Guy Barter, the Chief Horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society, this approach works best when combined with other methods that enhance biodiversity and boost soil quality, including using your homemade compost for mulch and reducing unnecessary tillage.
Providing insights into best practices, he states: “For optimal effectiveness, companion cropping should be used alongside other techniques aimed at enhancing biodiversity and improving soil and plant health, like applying homemade compost as mulch and minimizing or eliminating tilling.”
