Companion Planting Some theories about companion planting have been established, and others have had less startling success in scientific trials. Overall, few cases of beneficial companion planting have been researched well enough to demonstrate true advantages. The lovely little Tagetes patula, or French marigold (actually from Mexico), and its cousins Calendula, have been shown to be invaluable in companion planting. Using mixed plantings in the garden is likely to be beneficial simply because they bring greater balance and a diversity of plants and species, that, in turn, attracts pest predators and avoids the pest-ridden effects of monoculture. Monoculture Monoculture is the planting of rows and rows of the same plants- fields of lettuce, corn and onions, for instance, paradise for a pest or disease that, once introduced, can simply move from plant to plant. Companion Planting or Simply Mixed Planting?
Intercropping and Polyculture or Relay Cropping in the vegetable Garden. Intercropping is in! Whether you call it relay cropping, polyculture, double crop or multiple cropping... it’s a specifc form of companion planting and a fine way to increase the harvest from your garden. Bare soil is a no no. Nature... if left to be natural... rarely allows nudity and likes to cover up exposed bits. This stops the soil drying out or being washed away and keeps the soil organisms happy and protected from the elements. So growing several or multiple crops of different plants in the same area, each allowing for their own growth patterns and needs, gives you greater returns and less work. Intercropping/Polyculture Benefits No doubt you’ve heard of monoculture? Monoculture — Mono means one. Now can you see the specific corn pest or virus go giddy with excitement? The same thing can happen in a mini way to your garden if you grow all one sort of plant, or large blocks of one variety. Intercropping Examples Let’s take a large plant such as a cabbage. Intercropping Tips
List of beneficial weeds This is a list of undomesticated or feral plants, generally considered weeds, yet having some positive effects or uses, often being ideal as companion plants in gardens. Beneficial weeds can accomplish a number of roles in the garden or yard, including fertilizing the soil, increasing moisture, acting as shelter or living mulch, repelling pests, attracting beneficial insects, or serving as food or other resources for human beings. Chart[edit] Categories of beneficial weeds[edit] Pest-repellent[edit] Neem -- repels leaf eating insects Edible[edit] Habitat for beneficial insects[edit] Shelter plants[edit] Normal grass can be used as ground cover, especially in nitrogenous soils. Trap crops[edit] Trap crops draw potential pests away from the actual crop intended for cultivation. Cowpea -- attracts ladybird beetle, so planting around cotton fields protects them from sucking insects. Medicinal use[edit] Rumex -- Dock. Other[edit] Nightshade -- breaks up hardpan, allowing roots to grow deeper Indexes[edit]
Companion Planting Charts: Complete List Companion planting charts are called "voodoo"' by some and "essential" by others. Regardless of which side you're on, there are two undeniable facts supporting them: (1) symbiotic relationships exist for all life forms, including plants and (2) if nothing else, practicing companion planting won't hurt your garden... Symbiotic Relationships in Nature Support the Use of Companion Planting Charts Symbiotic relationships occur when separate life forms interact with each other and either one or both species benefit in some way. Symbiosis occurs for virtually every living thing at one time or another. Oxpeckers ride the back of rhinos and eat parasites (mutualism) Mosquitoes suck the blood of mammals (parasitism) Clownfish hide among sea anemones for protection (commensalism) Similarly, symbiosis occurs everywhere in the plant world, including your garden. And on a less scientific level... Long story short, companion planting charts make sense on some level. - What crops do you keep together?
EarthWood - Companion Planting Guide In recent years many of the traditional herbal remedies used in earlier times have come back into favour. The use of herbs in tonics, teas and medicinal compounds has created a new interest in a variety of plants. Many culinary and medicinal herbs are strongly aromatic. This technique of companion planting has come to be recognised as an effective way to reduce the need for unnatural pesticides in the home garden. As well as the pest repellent herbs, some flowers, such as marigold, calendula, zinnia, nasturtium and the white geranium not only brighten up the vegetable garden but repel pests while attracting bees and other natural pollinators necessary for a bountiful harvest of crops. Nasturtiums and marigolds protect cucumbers, the marigold being particularly effective in repelling nematodes or eel worms from cabbages, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Turnips are useful in the garden border, repelling aphids, spider mites and flies. Top of page Good Companions Bad Companions Top of page
Permaculture UK • View topic - Companion plant mindmap neckie wrote: Thats great, Im gonna print out a copy for the shed..... One question. My partner is a scientist and she would ask where is the evidence to back it up. I imagine most of it will be observational, but that raises lots of other questions, eg how far apart do plants need to be to have a plus or minus allelopathy. Most of the information came from various sources on the internet. With the relationships clearly laid out I could work out where to plant what in my garden. A Better Way To Check Soil Moisture Testing soil moisture of container plants by probing with a finger is tricky for most people to learn. The results are often inaccurate. Do your plants and fingers a favor and use a soil probe. The red one in the photo is called a Soil Sleuth. This soil probe is in widespread use in the interior plantscaping business. The 12” durable plastic Soil Sleuth will work well for pot sizes up to 10”. The most important zone of a container plant soil system is down at the bottom rather than the top. Push the probe down to the bottom of the planter. It’s time to water when the soil particles do not stick together. The probe will not harm the root system. Probing also has the beneficial effect of aerating the soil each time you use it.
List of companion plants Dill is one of the few plants to grow with Fennel This is a list of companion plants. Many more are in the list of beneficial weeds. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. Vegetables[edit] Fruit[edit] Herbs[edit] Flowers[edit] Other[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Further reading[edit] Cunningham, Sally Jean.
Companion Planting For Top 10 Veggies Grown in US - Farmers' Almanac Pin It! Companion planting is a great way to maximize the efficiency of your garden. For almost every vegetable you grow, there is likely to be a beneficial companion plant that will help increase soil nutrients, chase away pests, or provide some other benefit. Companion Planting For These Top 10 Veggies: 1. Basil and tomatoes were made to go together, not only in sauces but in the garden, too. 2. Basil is a good friend to peppers, helping repel aphids, spider mites, mosquitoes, and flies. 3. Corn and beans grow well together because beans will grow up the cornstalks, which means you won’t have to build them a trellis. 4. To repel aphids and beetles, plant marigolds and nasturtiums among your cucumbers. 5. Carrots should be planted near onions because onions will repel the carrot fly. Carrots should be planted near onions because onions will repel the carrot fly 6. 7. Corn and squash make good garden friends since the cornstalks give squash vines a place to grow. 8. 9. 10.
companion planting - organic gardening Gardening and Permaculture: Companion Planting Chart Posted on Jan 13, 2012 in Emergency Preparedness & Survival, Urban Gardening, Farming & Homesteading Kevin Hayden – TruthisTreason.net Source: Pioneer Living Companion planting makes use of specific plants as insect repellant and growth stimulators. Planting beans near or among potatoes will limit the amount of Colorado potato beetles present. The following chart will help you plan your companion garden to aid in deterring the harmful insects, as well as providing natural growth stimulators for your plants. Companion Plants 10 0 0 0Share0Share0Share0Share0 Tiny URL for this post:
Read This and Your Indoor Plants Will Thrive this Winter Those of us here in colder climates are moving from outdoor urban agriculture season to indoor plant time. If you haven’t experienced using sub-irrigation (widely and erroneously called “self-watering”) to maintain your indoor houseplants I would highly recommend making some pop bottle planters to house your smaller tabletop plants. You'll be helping both your houseplants and the environment. That's a double green win. You may think that clay pots and saucers are the way to go. Once you understand how it works, you will save plants, water and time by using measured sub-irrigation. Of all the methods I’ve used over the past 30+ years, pop bottle planters are the most informative because you can see everything that is happening. One thing that I can’t stress enough is to measure the amount of water you add to the bottom “water transfer” section. You want to add water to the planter when the soil moisture calls for it rather than the level of water in the reservoir.
Companions in the Garden Gardening is close to the soul and we are heart-sick at the prospect of a world without bees, so gardeners are focusing on companion planting vegetables with herbs and flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Companion planting is strategically positioning plants in a garden to improve the soil, enhance growth and provide maximum ground cover. By companion planting you attract beneficial insects, and you repel pest insect communities and strains of disease reliant on different plants from invading your garden. Companion planting works well because the scent of one plant confuses the common insect pests of the other. Tomatoes like asparagus, Basil, Bee Balm, Borage, carrots, cucumbers, onions, Parsley and Petunias. The cabbage family (broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale) like beets, Borage, celery, cucumber, lettuce, Mints, Nasturtiums, onions, potatoes, Sage, spinach and Thyme. Potatoes do well near bush beans, corn, Flax and members of the cabbage family. Discussion
Craft Ideas - Learn How to Knit with Lace at WomansDay Embrace the complex stitch patterns and the delicate touch of holding the blocked beauty in your hands. Fall in love with the beautiful marriage of positive and negative space that only the increases and decreases of lace can create. SKILL LEVELIntermediate SIZE To fit bust: 28 (40, 52)" (71 [101.5, 132]cm)Directions are for smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. FINISHED MEASUREMENTS • Neck Opening: approximately 28 (40, 52)" (71 [101.5, 132]cm); exact size determined by tension of crochet edging • Bust: 30 (42, 54)" (76 [106.5, 137]cm)• Length: 22¾ (23¾, 24¾)" (58 [60, 63]cm) GAUGE20 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10cm) in rib (slightly stretched) using size 5 (3.75mm) needle. SPECIAL STITCHESBind off loosely; join; k2togL; k2togR; m1; pick up and knit; single crochet; slip stitch (crochet); slip stitch (knit); vdd; w&t; waste yarn; yo Neckline With smallest 24" (61cm) needle, cast on 150 (210, 270) stitches. Cap Shaping Sleeve From this point you will be working in the round.