This is part 2 of our Companion Planting series . record part 1,Companion Planting Deters Insects , Mice , hare , and Moles .
Companion planting is not a new idea or a movement . In fact , it ’s been done for centuries , from kitchen gardens in ancient Persia to modern industrial farm field . This technique of growing plants together to help one another is a form of polyculture , which simply have in mind raise multiple crop in the same space , using the diversity of born ecosystem to heighten growth , and avoiding large stands of single crops , known as monoculture .
instead , planting sweet-scented peas in your efflorescence beds add together a beautiful annual to your leaping display which has the added benefit of producing edibles . Kale , specially the exotic looking varieties , with marvellous , stalwart , ruffled leaves could be mistaken for elephant spike in your landscape painting . Except you may eat the kale and it ’s one of the finest foods on dry land , nutritionally speak . Dill has feathery and finespun leaf which looks at home among any magniloquent anthesis plant or grasses – and it reseed munificently .
Companion planting is an ancient practice
For centuries , many polish grew crops , flower , and herbs together . A corking model is the autochthonous peoples across North America and Central America who used the“Three Sisters ” method of planting Maize or Corn , Squash , and Pole Beans togetherin one piece . The squash rackets enjoys the shade of the corn and cool the corn roots ; the corn whiskey and edible corn stalking provide support for the climbing pole noggin . That ’s rightfully companion planting .
When I plantsweet cornin my garden , I also plantbeans , cantaloupe , nasturtiums , marigold , and cucumbers ; perch bean are implant with cauliflower and genus Nasturtium ; three variety oftomatoesare constitute withpeppers , garlic , onion , carrot , basil , and parsley ( and nasturtium and marigolds again).Potatoesare planted with nasturtiums . Companion planting can also maximise garden space , as when an former crop plant life like radish is plant between hill of melons , which are harvested deep in the season .
My garden bed barely have a square inch of worldly concern unplanted , and I have few if any , pest problems . dame love the sunflower semen and perch on top of the sunflowers to spycrawling insectsin the garden . After a pelting , the garden is covered with birds face for a speedy meal and I have little crop damage from my flying friends . Well , a short , but that ’s the price I pay off for these dirt ball eating machine .
Tip : To attract pollinator and add color to your garden beds , moot planting efflorescence like calendula , cosmos , alyssum , tickweed , echinacea , marigolds , violas , andzinniasat the boundary .
Companion planting increases biodiversity
Scientifically speak , companion planting is embed two or more plant species next to or near each other for some ethnical welfare ( such as pest control or high payoff ) . The concept encompass several strategies for increasing biodiversity in your garden .
scientist routinely render grounds that supports companion planting . While they may not refer to the issue by this name , their work shows potential for any home gardener to capitalise on the nature of flora to influence each other ’s maturation . Some plants hostbeneficial dirt ball , some release nutrient advantageous to another crop ’s growth , and others provide a buffer against the elements .
