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Companion Planting - Part 1

 


This is a first in a 2 part series on companion planting.  I gained an interest in this several years ago and did some extensive research on the subject.  Since then I've implemented what I learned into my own gardens and have been pleased with the results...I will not be able to post on every fruit and vegetable, but will post on the ones that I plant most often.  I will include the best companion plants for a better yield, best companions to fight pests, and incompatible companions for each plant.  Unless otherwise specified, these plants should be planted next to each other.
To keep these articles from being too long I'm not posting the whys and wherefores...you can contact me if you desire this information. (All photos courtesy of Google Image)

Bush Beans (pole beans, have a different set of companions).
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
carrots, corn, cucumber, lettuce, mint, peas, radishes, strawberries.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
marigolds, rosemary, summer savory, potatoes (not inter planted but in an adjacent bed.)
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
beets, garlic, onion, chive, peppers, and basil.
NOTES:  planting marigolds around the perimeter of your bush beans gives added eye-appeal to your garden.



Beets
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
onion, sage, corn, lettuce, radish.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
onions, bush beans (note: beets are not beneficial to bush beans)
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
pole beans.




Carrots
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, chives, peas,peppers, radish, rosemary,onion, sage, tomato, leaf lettuce.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
onion, chives, garlic, bush bean, rosemary, parsley, sage.
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
dill, celery
NOTES:  plant a row of leaf lettuce between rows of carrots, as the weather gets hot, pull lettuce, leaving room for the carrots.

Corn
COMPANION PLANTS FOR BETTER YIELD:
bush beans, dill, peas,cucumber, potatoes, melons, pumpkin, squash, sunflower, peanuts, beets, parsley, lettuce
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
bush beans, cucumber, geranium
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
tomato
NOTES: planting cucumbers between corn rows will help support corn and keep it from blowing over as easy.

Cucumber
COMPANION PLANTS FOR BETTER YIELD:
bush beans, carrots, corn, lettuce, marigolds, onion, pea, radish, tomato.
COMPANION PLANTS FOR PEST CONTROL:
bush beans, nasturtiums, radish, tansy, dill.
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
herbs with strong aroma, sage, potato, squash melon, pumpkin.
NOTES: I like to put my cucumber trellis on the south side of my lettuce.  The shade from the trellis keeps the heat off and I can harvest my lettuce longer.




Lettuce
COMPATIBLE PLANTS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, carrots, cucumber, onion, garlic, strawberry, corn.
COMPATIBLE PLANTS FOR PEST CONTROL:
onion
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
broccoli
NOTES:  I usually plant a row of onions between my lettuce.  When the lettuce is done I pull it out to give more room for the onions.


Peas
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, carrots, corn, lettuce, radish, spinach, tomato, turnip, parsley, strawberry.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
cucumber
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
chives, garlic, onion, chives, grapes, gladiolas.
NOTES:  I grow my peas strictly for the kids.  They are welcome anytime to just sit in the garden and snack on them!



Peppers
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
beans, carrots, marigold, onion, pea, horehound, marjoram, tansy.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
none that I could find
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
fennel, tomato, potato.



Radish
COMPANIONS FOR BETTER YIELD:
bean, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, onion, pea, squash, chervil, beet, corn, melon, spinach, tomato.
COMPANIONS FOR PEST CONTROL:
mustard plant, nasturtiums.
INCOMPATIBLE COMPANIONS:
 hyssop.




Click HERE for Part 2!


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11 comments:

  1. Oh I wish I had time to plant a garden...those veggie looks so fresh and green and delish

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  2. My best companion planting buddies are tomatoes and Marigolds. The marigolds keep the aphids off the tomatoes.

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  3. And your give away idea with the quality comments is a most excellent one. ;)

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  4. I really had no idea that there was such a thing as incompatible plantmates! I used to have a garden in my backyard, but it didn't get enough sun :( Hopefully when we move to another house, we'll have a sunny garden spot!

    http://fivefeetoffun.blogspot.com

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  5. These vegetables look incredible! i have an herb garden and various flowering plants, palms, etc., but no vegetable garden. I'd love to grow all of those in your pictures, but add asparagus. I love asparagus -- all types of asparagus!

    Any idea how to make lavender flourish? All my lavender has died.

    Great post.

    Samantha from vB (medtopicwriter)

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  6. Fascinating, I had no idea the complex relationship between plants. Beautiful pictures of your produce.

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  7. becky!! thank you for posting this!! no wonder my garden did so crappy last year. i had some of the stuff in the wrong place. this is going to be so helpful for planting this year. thank you!!

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  8. I love fresh veggies. Our garden this year has corn, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, and a row of pumpkins just for our GRANDsons!!! HOPE the coons stay out of our corn this year. Thanks for the great info!!!

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  9. Deb,
    Your garden sounds delicious...the only way I've found to keep the coons out of the corn is staking a dog near by...

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  10. Love these posts regarding the companions. Some of them I wish I'd had earlier but will make note for next year. Thanks!

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  11. This is GREAT Becky Jane. I knew not to plant tomatoes next to peppers, but I had no idea what to plant near them. Going to have to plant some onions this year.

    We don't have a lot of space but I am sure I could squeeze some onions in next to the Hubs hot peppers.

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