How to Lay Out a Companion Planting Garden for Your Best Harvest Yet
Many gardeners practice companion gardening in their gardens to increase fruit production, repel pests and maintain soil health.
Before you plan your garden, check out these companion garden tips and plans. By combining certain crops in your garden, you can ensure a larger harvest than ever before.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the practice of growing different types of plants together for mutual benefit.1 It is not always based on scientific fact, but rather on gardening knowledge and observation. In gardeners’ experience, some plants improve the health and vigor of other plants, and understanding the biodiversity of your garden will help you make better plant choices.
A classic example of companion planting is the “three sisters” or corn, beans and squash: the corn acts as a support system for the climbing beans, the beans add nitrogen to the soil and help stabilize the tall corn plant in the wind, large and large. press. The leaves shade the ground, helping to keep the soil moist and prevent weeds.
13 Companion Plants to Know
Tomatoes: basil and other herbs, carrots, cucumbers, pumpkin.
Potatoes: beans, cabbage, corn, lettuce, spinach, radishes.
Head crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower): oregano, other crops, garlic, mint, nasturtium, onion, peas, thyme.
Beans and peas: coleslaw, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, potatoes, radishes, pumpkin, strawberries, tomatoes.
Beets: beets, bush beans, garlic, lettuce, onions.
Carrots: green onions, leeks, onions, peas, radishes, rosemary, sage.
Summer squash (including squash): beans, corn, peas, radishes.
Chili: basil, onion, okra
Onions: beets, carrots, radishes, lettuce.
Salad: corn, pumpkin, radish, pumpkin.
Eggplant: beans, catnip, marigolds, peas, chili.
Cucumbers: Beans, beets, corn, onions, peas, radishes.
Corn: beans, cucumbers, peas, melons, potatoes, pumpkin.
5 Companion Garden Plans
When you are choosing a companion garden plan, the first thing you should consider is its location. Vegetables need full sunlight to produce healthy fruit and good drainage.
Consider the soil type in your area. If quality is poor, consider using raised beds or containers. Determine the type and quantity of vegetables you want to grow for your family.
Once you’ve decided on a plan, draw a scale diagram on graph paper to make sure you have enough space for what you want to grow.
Gardening in rows
Row gardening is the norm for large and small in-ground gardens. The soil should be worked and fertilizers such as compost added at least three weeks before you plan to plant in the spring. Check out this list of the best companion plants for every vegetable you want to grow.
The best time to prepare the soil and fertilize a row garden is in the fall, but at least three weeks before you plan to plant in the spring.
For small row gardens, choose high-yielding plants such as bush beans, tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, radishes, onions, herbs, carrots and peppers to take advantage of short rows.
Gardening in raised beds
A raised bed is above ground level and filled with garden soil. This gardening plan is best suited for areas with a short growing season because the soil warms up quickly in the spring.
The beds are easy to weed and vegetables are easy to harvest because the soil is never compacted by walking.
Gardening by Square Feet
A square meter garden is a raised bed divided into squares so that each type of plant can be grown in a small space. This makes it easy to coordinate spacing between companion plants (and those that shouldn’t be planted together).
Make a small garden on the ground
A sunny 10 x 10 foot space suitable for small yards is a great start to companion gardening. In most areas, you can plant trees in early spring and fall.
The cage has enough space for two tomato plants, two cucumber plants, three pepper plants, three eggplant plants and 10 bush beans (all companion plants). Other plants can be planted next season or in containers and placed further out of the garden.
Vertical gardening
A vertical companion garden is an ideal choice for small spaces. The best companion vegetables for vertical gardens are compact varieties such as lettuce, dwarf or bush beans, and leafy greens.