How to make moss graffiti. Growing Blueberries In Containers | Grow Blueberries In Pots. Post Topic » Vegetable Garden Companion Planting. Maybe it’s just folklore, but whether it’s true or not, many gardeners plan their vegetable plot carefully to have friendly plants close to one another and enemies far away. Friendly plants are thought to repel harmful insects such as aphids, borers and maggots. They might also attract pollinators with their scent or color.
Some are credited with aiding growth and flavour. Unfriendly plants may actually stunt growth. If you already have a system that works for you, by all means, continue with it, however this is a natural approach and is certainly worth a try. These are some of the vegetable garden companions that I have experimented with over the years. Most lists I have found are similar. **cabbage refers to the cabbage family - cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts You’ll notice that it’s not too hard to keep the early vegetables with their companions, but some of the later crops require more planning. To make it even more interesting, add some friendly annuals to the vegetable garden. Vegetable and Herb Companion Planting. It’s the time of year when you should start thinking about planting your fall vegetables. Actually, we might be a week behind for some vegetables, but if your neck of the woods is anything like mine, summer came late, so hopefully we’re okay.
A great way to get a good harvest is to “companion plant.” That is, plant two different types of vegetables in close proximity to one another to create a symbiotic cultural environment. Just as there are beneficial insects that eat destructive insects or improve pollination, there are beneficial combinations of plants that help fight pests or increase yields. Image by lalalaa Dolce Vita Sometimes companion plants are used to draw pests away from the “good crop.” Sometimes companion plants are used because one plant adds something to the soil that the other plant needs. Needless to say, there are lots of good reasons to companion plant, and they all apply to container gardens and other small space vegetable gardens.
Gardening Inspiration is All Around Us. Many public outdoor spaces are landscaped in ways that we small-space gardeners can use as inspiration. Here in Southern California (and I am sure other places as well) it is very common for outdoor shopping centers to landscape with containers, which is a great opportunity for us to steal some ideas. Here is a photo I took with my cell phone of the planters in a local shopping center: The above pot demonstrates an idea I learned from Steve Silk. Basically, he suggests using three types of plants in a container: thrillers, spillers and fillers (see this article in Fine Gardening as well). A thriller is a pretty self explanatory; it’s a gorgeous plant that is the focal point of the container. Fillers highlight or compliment the thrillers and fill up the pot so it doesn’t look bare. Spillers cascade over the side of the pot to add interest and soften the edges of the container.
Another great space to check for possible ideas is restaurant patios.