Vegetables have strong opinions about who they want growing near them. They favor those that increase soil nutrients, deter pests and keep weeds at bay – as opposed to enemies who might hinder or hamper their growth.
Companion planting brings these “friends” together to maximize growing conditions for a more healthy and productive vegetable garden. Basil deters thrips while marigolds prevent soil nematodes from attacking tomatoes while comfrey attracts beneficial insects.
Companion Planting
Companion planting is a popular vegetable gardening strategy that utilizes plants that share similar growing requirements to provide benefits to each other and maximize space use while decreasing pesticides or fertilizers use. Companion planting allows more crops to be grown in less space with reduced need for pesticides or fertilizers.
Companions can help protect a crop from disease by providing natural mulch to reduce evaporation and keep soil cool and moist, keeping soil temperature and humidity more consistent. Some companions may even double up as pest deterrents – Marigolds produce biochemicals toxic to root nematodes that kill cucumbers; additionally they attract beneficial insects while acting as natural deterrents against raccoons, as well as helping suppress weeds.
Most gardeners know it is wise to mix fast- and slow-growing vegetables together when planting their vegetable garden, but care must be taken when selecting compatible companion plants. Some can crowd out each other; planting radishes alongside carrots could result in competition for water and light, preventing their respective maturation dates.
Planting slow-growing vegetables first and then filling in with faster-growing varieties allows both to thrive, taking advantage of when each is ready to be harvested. Planning ahead also helps as most seed packets and care guides will indicate optimal spacing between varieties.
Nitrogen-Fixers
Nitrogen-fixing plants are essential components of any vegetable garden. These legumes rely on their relationship with bacteria for splitting atmospheric nitrogen molecules into soilborne compounds that plants can utilize. Plants require nitrogen for photosynthesis – turning sunlight into chemical energy and creating chlorophyll. Without enough nitrogen, crops suffer yellowing leaves and reduced growth rates. Nitrogen-fixing plants contribute this essential nutrient by forming nodules on their roots that store it until death returns them into the ground.
Beans and peas are well-known nitrogen fixers, but for optimal efficiency you could consider switching it up by planting grain legumes like peanuts, fava beans or soybeans instead. Don’t forget clovers; they’re just as effective at fixing nitrogen; plant them between rows of vegetables or as groundcover in a shaded spot with protection from northern winds for maximum efficiency.
These nitrogen-fixers act like green warehouses, storing nitrogen in nodules on their roots for later release when they’re no longer growing and then again when they die, enriching soil with life-giving nitrogen. To do so efficiently, nitrogen-fixing microorganisms require 16 moles of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), produced through oxidizing organic molecules.
If you plan on growing these plants as cover or rotation crops, be sure to inoculate them with the necessary rhizobia bacteria for maximum nitrogen fixation. For eating purposes, plant early spring or summer so as to harvest before other vegetables are ready in your garden; otherwise sow midsummer-to-late fall. When combined with other vegetables in a garden layout plan – so the nitrogen-fixing plants are on the outside edge and crops placed between.
Pest Deterrents
Plants that repel common garden pests are invaluable additions to a vegetable garden. Many herb and flower varieties emit scents or colors which disorient insects while also drawing natural predators and pollinators into your space. These flowers bloom umbelliferously, meaning they produce clusters of small flowers on short stems. Cilantro and parsley both attract natural predators of aphids and cabbage moths, while petunias repel squash bugs, tomato hornworms and corn earworms. Marigolds provide a beautiful splash of color while protecting garden from onion maggot fly and carrot fly infestation. Alyssum, dill, and horseradish will deter hornworms and cabbage moths while increasing onions, cucumbers, beans growth. Nasturtiums will deter cucumber beetles while improving flavor of radishes.
Some vegetables naturally offer more resistance to pests than others, so to maximize your results it may be worthwhile looking for varieties which offer greater resistance – for instance if squash bugs are an issue in your garden, try growing varieties such as the “Butternut” or “Royal Acorn”, which have greater resilience against them. Or if Colorado potato beetles defoliate your potatoes consider planting varieties like the ‘King Harry” which were bred specifically with resistance in mind.
Vigorous plants cultivated in soil that is rich with nutrients and free from weeds often outgrow pest damage on their own. If you notice damage on your vegetable plants, remove affected leaves quickly to stop further infestations from emerging. Be wary of holes in leaves as signs of insect feeding; inspect all leaves at once; look out for holes left by pest feeding as holes reveal infestations within plants; look out for signs such as holes when rain, hail or frost damage occurs and check foliage and stems of plants for worm-like caterpillars or grubs; these will become easier to spot once damaged leaves fall off or are damaged from rain, hail or frost damage occurs – the sooner these things become obvious!
Fast-Growing Plants
Homegrown veggies can be both rewarding and delicious; homegrown garden produce provides a sense of achievement while being healthier and fresher than anything you could buy in stores. Unfortunately, certain vegetables and fruits take time before becoming ready for harvesting; this may become frustrating for new gardeners with limited patience.
One solution is to grow fast-maturing veggies as filler crops alongside slower-growing ones in a row. While seed packets and catalogues typically list days-to-maturity dates in weeks, many types of vegetables may be ready for harvest much sooner.
Beets are an easily accessible vegetable to grow quickly in about six weeks; once harvested they make delicious pickled beets! Arugula also boasts rapid maturation time; this peppery-flavoured green can be seeded every two weeks for continuous production.
Peas and runner beans make an ideal filler vegetable crop, from sugar snap to mangetout varieties that can be harvested as pea shoots to add sweet notes to salads; full-grown varieties may be roasted or added into soups.
Spinach and leafy greens are fast-maturing crops that can be planted directly into the garden or started indoors for an earlier start. When using seedlings, be sure to thin them out once they sprout so they don’t crowd each other out as they mature. Organic all-round plant fertiliser such as Super Growth Pellets or Neptune Seaweed will also give these veggies a great headstart while helping ensure a thriving season ahead.
Slow-Growing Plants
Making the most out of your vegetable garden means investing the time and effort into selecting plants that complement each other. Ill-matched crops may lead to poor growth, lower yields and even disease or pest issues; by learning which species work well together you can increase harvests while simultaneously reducing weeds without resorting to chemical pesticides.
Leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard make ideal partners in your garden, offering easy growth without needing too much watering or shading the sun from other vegetables like tomatoes that tend to scorch under direct sun exposure. Furthermore, their cool climate needs extend the growing season while helping prevent them from bolting prematurely.
Cucumbers are another low-maintenance and high-yield vegetable, and are especially beloved among kids as they can be easily grown on trellises or arches for easier harvesting and picking. When planting rows of larger veggies that take more time to mature, cucumbers provide much-needed filler! They’re an easy choice that’s also popular with school gardens!
Flowers add beauty and natural insect deterrence to a vegetable garden, as well as serving as natural insect deterrents. Marigolds, for instance, are known to repel many garden pests including mosquitoes, flies and root-eating nematodes. Other flowers such as thyme basil parsley dill can all help prevent unwanted bugs while also adding valuable nutrients back into your soil and increasing crop production. As an added benefit having flower plants in your vegetable patch provides benefits beyond mere aesthetics – their decomposed leaves contribute significantly towards improving soil quality improvements!