Companion planting vegetables is the name given to the practice of planting certain vegetables together to optimise plant health and crop yield. Some plants get on better when they grow in the vicinity of certain others, and if two plants growing together leads to benefits for one or both of them then they can be called companions.
The amount of shelter, shade, and soil nutrients can all have an effect on whether plants are companions. For example a plant with a deep root system will likely be happier growing beside one with a shallow root system because there will be less competition for food. Some plants help others by repelling pests or diseases. Onions, for example are good at deterring carrot fly, so the planting of onions between or beside the carrots is a good example of companion planting vegetables. Tall plants can give support to to climbing plants, and in such a way corn and climbing beans can get along well.
Companion planting vegetables is a practice often used in organic gardening. The plants themselves are better at controlling pests and diseases, so the need for pesticidal sprays is naturally diminished. And growth of each plant is optimised with no use of artificial fertilisers.
Grow your own gardeners should remember, though, that although many companion planting rules hold true internationally, there are many many partnerships that have differing success depending on location and climate. Companion planting rules should perhaps be seen more as guidelines from which to start some experimenting to see which plant companions work best in their own soil and location.
At present in the global climate of financial hardship it is especially important for everyone to improve efficiency. For vegetable gardeners, whether a large scale grower or a home gardener, that means getting the best yield possible in order to mitigate the effects of austerity measures. An annual family grocery bill could be cut by hundreds with a large healthy crop from the garden.
Over the centuries gardeners have noted the results of planting partnerships. Companion planting guidelines that exist now are as a result of trial and error from down the years. We can continue that ethos of experimentation, but we can also make use of generations of knowledge that has been passed down.
Companion planting doesn’t have to just involve the co-planting of vegetables. Flowers and herbs can be very helpful in the vegetable plot too, where they help to repel pests and diseases. Flowers that are commonly grown around or between vegetables include marigolds, nasturtiums and sunflowers, and herbs that are useful as companions include rosemary, thyme, sage and mint. Some fruit also likes to be planted in the company of other plants; strawberries and sage go well, and pests will be deterred by garlic planted around the base of a fruit tree.
As we have seen, companion planting vegetables has been around for centuries but it is enjoying a resurgence of popularity at the moment. It is ecologically sound, and as more people start to grow their own food they are interested in getting the most out of each plant. Quite right too, with over 7 billion mouths to feed on the planet, each plant counts!
If you really want to have a great garden, you may want to consider using a vegetable planting calendar. Deciding what to grow and preparing adequately the soil before planting vegetables and fruit is an important step. Yet, having a calendar will help you plant the right vegetables at the right time.
The calendar will help you plan ahead and ensure that you start planting during the appropriate season and time of the year. Planting the right vegetables at the right time is even more important for people living in regions that have very evident season changes.
The vegetable planting calendar is broadly divided into 2 periods- spring (March to May) and fall (mid-July to September). What you sow in spring will harvest in June and July. The fall plantings can be harvested between October to December. January and February are the months to look at seed catalogs, preparing the garden areas and getting ready to actually start planting.
A vegetable planting calendar is not perfectly precise. It shows the approximate dates as weather can vary from one year to another. Some seasons may start a little earlier or later depending on climate variations. People can purchase these calendars in a local nursery or get one for free online.
The dates in the calendar are based on the harvesting seasons of past years. It is important to keep in mind that these are approximations. You should use your own judgment if you think you need to move to an earlier or later date the planting or harvesting.
The calendar’s ultimate objective is to make your vegetable-growing experience as interesting and fruitful as possible.
Below is a detailed illustration of what type of information a vegetable planting calendar includes.
* January: During this month, it is time to pick the crop that you want to grow, get a hand on any missing accessories and prepare a compost bin.
* February, you can start on getting the soil fertility up and also sowing some early varieties. Clear the garden patch from weeds and other unwanted plants. Cover the soil with a layer of compost to get the soil warmed up.
* In March, it is time to officially get started. You can sow the seeds and transplant what you have grown in pots and indoors.
* April, continue to sow the seeds. It is better to sow seeds over a period of time, so you get a harvest almost throughout the good seasons.
* Starting in May, you can begin harvesting up until the end of June, early July. It is important to store what you reap in a place where it will stay fresh.
* You will start sowing again from August to September for the fall season. This will give you your second yield right before the frost arrives.
* October to December is the time when you harvest your fall plantations.
This is basically how a vegetable planting calendar works.
Alan has experimented with growing a variety of fruits and vegetables . Ones that he has tried include growing broccoli, leeks, spinach, squash, radishes, rhubarb, eggplant and even growing watermelon.
Organic gardening has already gained in acceptance as more people are concerned about what they eat. Quite a few people think that their loss of energy is the result of all the chemicals used in conventional methods of gardening. Growers are getting the message from the US Department of Agriculture to undertake more organic farming.
As soon as farmers choose organic, they will no longer use genetic engineering, sewage sludge and irradiation but will do crop rotation instead. Crop rotation happens when a crop is developed in an area after another crop has been harvested. The farm land is going to be constantly used therefore the soil remains very fertile throughout. This is not necessarily simple for the farmers since they are used to doing things the old way. Producers will get incentives and financial aid for following the organic approach to farming.
Organic gardening is perfect due to the fact vegetables that are cultivated organically have 50% more nutrients than those grown conventionally. With the help of healthier vegetables, health issues like cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure will probably be reduced. Youngsters who drink milk from cows raised naturally, will have their bones and muscles strengthened, by getting more anti-oxidants, vitamins, Omega 3 and CLA. Veggies grown organically can be bought at the supermarket, but you will find that most of them are only 50% to 70% organic. For this reason if you want 100% organic vegetables, you’ll need to grow them yourself.
This can be achieved in just one of two approaches. You may either cultivate your crops from a seedling or buy the plant fully grown then transplant it. Many people prefer to grow vegetables from a seedling. It is advisable to have well-prepared earth that is abundant in nutrients and have it in an area that is safe from pests. You need to get rid of weeds, insects, and keep creatures away, so that what you have planted, doesn’t get eaten. To safeguard your garden, you can find effective but safe methods to fight pests like using soap, other insects, or some types of organic fertilizer. If you have minimal garden area, you could grow your vegetables inside containers. Utilizing planting pots will require you to provide more water for your plants.
If you treasure your well being and your family, there are a lot of things you can do, and organic vegetables is only a beginning. It is possible to grow your very own organic vegetables or simply buy them in the store. If you buy non-chemical vegetables, wash them before you prepare them, because there could be harmful residue left on them, which you cannot see.
You consider yourself fortunate if your garden has an unlimited flow of water. Some people reside in regions where the water is rationed during particular times of the year, and this isn’t good for the health of their plants. Many people give up developing a garden as a result while others find other ways to obtain water. It’s possible to have a lush garden and at the same time conserve water.
There are numerous ways to keep your garden from dying out like using compost or mulch to help keep moisture in the ground. Another way, would be to place the plants in groups depending on their individual water needs, which will keep the water away from the plants that don’t need it. You could also take steps called drip irrigation which gradually drips water directly at the roots. These options work very well especially if your area experiences droughts regularly. Since most droughts are usually predicted far in advance, when the rain falls beforehand, what you do can save your garden.
Someone who cares for their particular garden will have rain barrels to collect water from the rain. A gardener who just isn’t prepared will not put in the effort to collect the water during the rain. As soon as the rainfall barrels are arranged, you could potentially get several gallons of water. The hardest part could possibly be finding the rain barrels, but you can use garbage cans, or 55 gallon drums that are plastic from the local home improvement store. These may be relatively expensive, and brimming with water, they will be hard to move. A lid over the barrel is necessary to keep out leaves and debris. It is advisable to locate the water barrel in a part of your home that get a lot of water run off.
An effective way to fill your rain barrels is to make adjustments to your gutter so that water can go through several spots into a rain barrel. One way to accomplish this is to slant individual segments of the gutters in order that the water goes to the corners. It is possible to collect almost all of the water that falls on your roof. It can require you to do a bit of work at the front end but once you are finished, there is not much maintenance involved.
You’ll see that this can be very useful in keeping your garden from dying. The degree of work needed will be well worth it when you see how your garden will continue to thrive.
When you have the option, organically grown produce is almost always far superior to the other choices in the grocery store. Organic produce is expensive in the stores, so you may want to grow your own, Keep reading to learn how to grow organic fruits and vegetables at home.
Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. Take your plants out of the heat once they start to grow. Uncover your containers; the plastic wrap traps humidity, so you need to remove it to stop your plants from overheating. Keep an eye on your seeds in order to know when you should do this.
To get rid of unwanted garden pests, use an organic spray made of onion, chives, or garlic mixed with water. Use garlic, onions and even chives to make a spray with water by straining the combination into a spray bottle.
When preparing your organic garden for winter, consider putting up a makeshift tent in the garden by employing materials you have at home. You can use some old bean poles to stick to the end of the beds. Next, cover the tops of the poles with an old sheet or tarp. Bricks, or bags of soil can be used to hold down the edges. This is a reasonably cheap way to build a tent to keep your crops safe during winter, look up other ways you can do this online, or in gardening books.
Use companion plants in your garden. Plants that grow in close proximity to each other can help growth for both. Companion plants help one another by enriching the soil and repelling pests, which reduce the need for any fertilizers or chemical pesticides. For example, fragrant herbs can cause pests to avoid your vegetables.
The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. Mulch discourages weeds and helps retain moisture while adding nutrients to your flower bed. As an added bonus, a nice mulch can help make your garden look more finished.
Make sure your trees are in a location near your house so that they give you a lot of shade. Natural shade will cool your home by a few degrees, which decreases the amount of energy consumed by your A/C unit. Over time, you will save money on your monthly electric bills.
When adding a new tree or shrub to your garden, remember that a ragged planting hole is best. If the sides of the hole you dug is packed hard by the shovel, the roots of your plant may have difficulty penetrating the surrounding soil.
Organic gardening is much in the news, but is not really new. This is the way people gardened before chemical products were invented. The pilgrims saw the Indians’ squash and corn and beans flourishing, and learned from them to place fish in the ground as a fertilizer. To help your organic garden along, you should start the previous year by making a compost pile. Composting is an easy way to recycle and reduce the amount of trash you must dispose of, in addition to helping your garden.
You can get fertilizer by making compost from scratch. You can do this easily by setting up a worm composting bin. Place red wiggler worms inside your bin accompanied with dirt, kitchen scraps and shreds of newspaper.
Tend your organic garden on a regular schedule. There are certain little things to help you keep up with your garden, even if you don’t have the necessary time each day to do everything. If you put the dog outside, weed a few spots in the garden while your dog goes to the bathroom.
Open your mind to the diverse environments that can be created in your garden space. Wildlife will be attracted by different varieties of plants, so make sure you have a wide choice for them. To create a more natural environment, plant many different kinds of plants. If you are able to achieve this, you will have a garden that is a pleasant place to be around and relax, and also you get great satisfaction from knowing you did your part for the environment.
As more people become concerned about how their food is grown, more people are looking at organic gardening. People are sick and tired of not feeling okay, and a lot of that has been due to chemicals in the foods grown by conventional methods. The US Department of Agriculture would like to handle the problem by helping farmers to turn to organic farming.
When using organic agriculture, farmers will probably be using crop rotation, rather than genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge. When you plant an alternative crop in the same location that another crop once was, that is crop rotation. This method helps to keep the nutrients in the soil and can be used indefinitely. This approach is somewhat difficult for farmers who never did this before. Farmers are getting incentives and subsidies for following the organic approach to farming.
What makes non-chemical gardening extremely important when compared to farming by traditional methods is the vitamins and nutrients are 50% more in the organic vegetables. Having healthier vegetables, medical problems like cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure will be reduced. Youngsters who drink milk from cows raised organically, will have their bones and muscles strengthened, by getting more anti-oxidants, vitamins, Omega 3 and CLA. Organic vegetables only make up 50% to 70% of the produce found in food markets. This is the key reason anyone wanting to eat 100% organic vegetables will have to grown them in their own organic garden.
You may approach this in one of two procedures. It is possible to develop your own seedlings and pick them, or perhaps you can plant the fully grown ones, you just bought, into the ground. Most people preferably raise their crops from a seedling. By using one or the other method, you will need to have compost, a protected area to grow your plants and well-prepared soil. You need to eliminate weeds, pests, and keep wildlife away, so that what you have planted, doesn’t get eaten. To protect your garden, you can easily find effective but safe methods to combat pests like using soap, other insects, or some types of organic fertilizer. If you have small garden area, you can grow your vegetables in containers. Utilizing pots will require you to provide more water for your plants.
Developing your own organic vegetables is one of many alternatives to provide a healthy and safe environment for your family. It is simple to purchase your organic vegetables in a store or cultivate them yourself. Even though these veggies are natural, you should wash them before cooking.
Britney J. Weaver writes about Vegetable Gardening along with Design your own wedding Dress Online. To know more about Dresses to Wear to a Wedding as a Guest click here.
If your garden offers an unlimited supply of water, you are very lucky. Some people live in regions where the water is rationed during certain times of the year, and this isn’t good for the health of their plants. This really is really discouraging for many people but there are others who look for other ways to water their plants. It is possible to have a verdant garden and at the same time conserve water.
Solutions to keep your backyard garden from drying include utilizing mulch or compost to keep the ground moist. One more solution would be to group plants based on how much water they need so that water can be focused on plants that need more. You might like to take a step called drip irrigation which slowly and gradually drips water directly at the roots. To keep your garden living over a drought, is to utilize measures that are preventative in nature. Given that droughts are usually predicted, I suggest you take steps when rain comes before the drought.
A prepared individual will set up a few rain barrels to collect some of the rain water. A gardener who is not ready will not put in the effort to collect the water during the rain. You don’t have to do much after you set your rain barrels and you could get several gallons of water. If you can’t obtain proper rain barrels, you could use large garbage cans or plastic drums found at your local home improvement center. The initial expense may be high and they’ll get heavy if filled to the brim with water. A screen across the barrel is necessary to keep out leaves and also debris. You should place the barrels in an area of your house where water runs off the most.
An effective way to fill your rainwater barrels is to make modifications to your gutter so that water can go through several spots into a rain barrel. This is possible by slanting specific portions of the gutters, to divert the water to the corners. This will likely provide you with the most water from your roof top. It does require you to do a little work at the front end but once you are successfully done, there is not much maintenance involved.
After you have performed this a few times, and see how well it works to water your garden, you will see it as worthwhile. The degree of work involved will probably be well worth it when you see how your garden will continue to thrive.
Onions are one of the most well liked veg and this indicates that lots of folk are looking to find the best way to grow them in the garden. As additional people take an interest in gardening and attempt to become even more self-sufficient, there is no doubt that finding an easy way to grow onions is going to be of great benefit to lots of folks around the planet. Here’s where studying about growing onions from onions is of benefit to more than a couple gardeners.
The 1st step in cultivating onions from other onions will come from the cutting both edge of an onion (the end which has the root), with about 2 inches of onion being left on the end. This should be left to dry for a bunch of days but after this, it can be laid into wherever you are growing your onions. It doesn’t matter if you are growing onions in your garden, an allotment or perhaps in soil in a pot; this method is easy and practical.
When growing onions from onions, it is really important to put your cut onion into the soil with the root end facing down and then ensure that the onion is covered with one or two inches of soil. After this has been undertaken, it’s really important to eater the soil whenever needed. You’ll soon start to notice 1 or 2 leaves and when this happens, remove the onion and take away any of the old onion scales.
If you have a number of onions growing, it is actually possible for over one plant to develop from one onion, separate them and then replant the onions and trim the leaves. From here, keep checking on the growth of the onions and then crop as your taste sees fit. Some people prefer green onions while others prefer the onions to have a bit m ore maturity about them.
Growing onions this way is one of the most simple ways to grow onions and whether or not you have very little experience in this field, it should be possible to grow some mouth-watering onions quite easily.
Do you want to learn more? Continue reading about how to grow onions, specifically growing onions from onions by checking out my website.
Unless you grow up in a family where a garden was an important part, you won’t know the joy of gardening. Like anything else that is handed down from generation to generation, the love of gardening can come to a child through the parent. However, if you are brand new, you may be pondering why you want to have one. There are actually points that you may want to consider before starting your new garden.
There is lots of labor involved in having a garden so you want to be very sure that you want to do it. It is one thing to envision having vegetables growing that you can eat, or beautiful flowers to look at, but they don’t just magically appear. It is recommended that you’ve got a clear plan of what you want and the spot where you want your garden. You must also get your family engaged in the planning activity if they were planning to help with the garden. You really should look at other gardens for ideas but in the end the garden you create will be uniquely yours. You should consider whether you want a garden that is growing almost wildly or a garden that is highly structured.
For starters, you need a list of stuff that you must have, since you don’t want any important pieces missing. You could think about stuff like how to get to your garage, where your children will play, will you need a fence or wall or how will your pets exist with the garden. You might just simply walk around the possible garden spot and see how everything could be laid out. It is one thing to have your dream garden, nevertheless, you need to use the space you have in a practical manner. As soon as that is done, you might want to think about what you have. How much space do you have or is it horizontal or sloping? How good is the soil and can water be easily retrieved?
As soon as you ensure it is figured out, the big concern is how much are you able to spend on your garden. If you do not have the money for your ideal garden, you may want to either scale back or put it on hold until you have the money. You additionally want to keep in mind that your budget needs to include your time as well as money. Developing a garden will take an investment in time as well as money, so that is an additional important consideration.
Should you be reluctant to devote the time and money, then you should not consider having a garden. If you believe you can do it, then continue to do more research and create the perfect garden.
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Growing spinach is perhaps one of the most preferred activities for a garden lover. As a matter of fact, spinach can be grown without having garden too. Isn’t it amazing to know that you can easily grow spinach right inside your apartment in a container? Here is how you can do this.
Having spinach in your daily routine makes a healthy living. When we can easily grow fresh spinach at our own place, then why go out and get them. Here is the way to grow spinach right inside your home even if you don’t have a backyard garden.
Spinach can be grown in small containers. Decide on the type of spinach you wish to grow before beginning. You can either go for the small and smooth spinach or Savoy spinach, which has big, wrinkled leaves. If you are just learning how to garden and/or grow, you best choose the smaller option. Choose a place where there is adequate sunlight for at least 6 hours per day. If not, find a place where artificial light is available for at least 8 hours.
The container which we choose for growing spinach should be 8 to 10 inches in depth and 12 inches wide for one plant. If there are more saplings, then there should be a minimum space of 10 inches between each of the saplings measures from the middle of each plant. The containers can be of plastic, terracotta or you can even use wooden boxes.
A plastic container which is light colored is preferable as it absorbs less heat. If it is you’re first hand at growing spinach go for one crop and the container should have few holes so that the water does not get clogged. Before sowing keep the seeds in a refrigerator for about a week. Place them on top of the soil and cover it with soil.
The seeds will take about 10 days to start growing. Be sure the spinach plants are getting enough sunlight and water. In all, the spinach will take about 4 to 6 weeks to grow. The leaves are ready to be picked after this point.
Soil needs to be purchased to keep your plant health, ensuring it gets enough nutrients and minerals. This soil meant for growing plants is a mixture of sterile soil, prelate, mature compost and vermiculite.
Growing spinach is an enjoyable experience and it is a healthy practice too.
Alan has experimented with growing various fruits and vegetables, and as an amateur gardener, has overcome many problems, ones that you probably may face. Whether it is growing broccoli, spinach, squash, leeks, radishes, rhubarb, eggplant or even growing watermelon, Alan has tried them all. Check out what Alan thinks and learn from his mistakes.
All herbal treatments belonging to the thymus family members are commonly known as thymes. It’s indigenous to Russia in addition to Asia.
Thyme leaves, whether in its fresh or dry type, are used in cooking as well as in treating certain ailments. Its oil is used in generating home-made balm that is used topically for treating cuts, injuries, skin breakouts, acne disorder, burns and other skin conditions. It can also be utilized for upper respiratory system conditions this kind of as whooping coughing and bronchitis because it could decrease the viscosity involving mucus. It is also anti-inflammatory therefore it’s gargled by these with sore throats.
Today, exactly where nearly everyone is veering far from chemical types associated with medications, herbal treatments have grown to be much more well-liked and extremely in demand. Various herbs are now becoming canvassed intently for healing attributes. Among the most well-liked herbs is the thyme. Thyme leaves have already been used traditionally as a remedy for bronchial circumstances such as whooping cough and bronchitis because it reduces the viscosity of mucus.
Thyme oil is found to obtain germ killing, antibacterial and also antimicrobial attributes. Brand-new studies on thyme oil reveal that it contains limonene (a monoterpene) which often efficiently prevents abnormal epidermis abnormal growths. Another monoterpene found in thyme essential oil is actually geraniol which is also found to battle defective bright blood cellular material. Many studies designed on wildlife have indicated it capable in preventing defective abnormal growths on colons, liver, upper belly as well as respiratory system. Human clinical trials are presently being started currently to determine if it has the same effect on human beings.
Cilantro can also be known as Chinese Parsley or Cilantro. The actual leaves of the coriander plant are called cilantro leaves and also the seed products tend to be known as coriander seed products. The cilantro leaves have a pungent odor, sometimes referred to as soapy odor.
The bright green leaves are generally utilized in cooking in numerous parts of the world such as South america, South east Asia, Latin America, Mediterranean sea, etc. Coriander seed products and leaves have quite distinctive flavors as well as can’t be substituted for each other.
Cilantro foliage is generally employed in Mexican along with Indian tested recipes such as salsas and also chutneys. Additionally it is utilized in sauces, stews, and also curries. There are plenty of reasons why you should begin gardening of how to plant herbs which will assist you to in many approaches. The actual leaves may also be minced or even pureed and employed in salsas as well as marinades. The actual leaves tend to be additionally finely sliced and sprinkled upon rice, curries, and soups as a garnish. Dried cilantro leaves are accessible in local grocery shops.
There are a lot reasons why you should take up farming regarding using few basil leaves that should assist you to in many methods.
Companion planting vegetables is an ancient art, and it was perfected by the Native Americans in the form of the Three Sisters method. This involved the planting of corn, climbing beans and squash in close proximity on mounds of earth, where each sister plant would help the others to grow and thrive.
Corn has traditionally been an important crop in North America, providing plentiful supplies of carbohydrate energy per acre of ground planted. Each plant needs to be close to its neighbour to allow pollination to occur, but Native American legend holds that corn also needs the companionship of other plants in order to thrive. In other words, it needs companion planting to give its best yield.
The Three Sisters work together to the benefit of all three. The corn is tall and strong and works as a natural trellis for the beans to climb up. The beans in turn help to support the corn and stop it from blowing over in high winds. The beans also help to return some of the nutrients used by the corn back into the soil for next season by fixing nitrogen from the air in its roots which is then released when the plant dies back. Squash is planted closely with the others for three main reasons. It’s leafy vegetation helps to suppress weeds around the base of all three plants, and also helps to retain moisture in the soil to ensure the viability of the crop during a dry spell. It also helps to deter predators from the corn and beans. This shows how companion planting vegetables can help the crop in so many ways.
The Three Sisters technique was practised not just because it was successful in the field, but also because the produce thus obtained was able to nutritionally sustain the community through the winter. Beans are a great source of protein, and corn is rich in carbohydrate. Squash is good for carbohydrate, vitamins and healthy oils from the seeds.
The traditional Three Sisters method has given much success in North America, however it is less clear whether it is the same runaway success here in the UK. The climate being cooler and wetter makes it a challenge to ripen corn at the best of times, and one wonders whether leafy beans might shade the developing ears even further. I always say that companion planting vegetable rules should be treated more like guidelines, as you cannot reliably predict the behaviour of plants and pests from one climate to another, or for that matter, from one garden to another. So it may be that this particular method of companion planting just doesn’t travel well across the Atlantic! I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has tried this method in the UK.
I like growing potatoes. They cope well in the cold, soggy surroundings of the west of Scotland, and as long as they are well earthed up, they ask for little attention. Our garden provides us with a versatile staple ingredient which lasts the family right through the winter. However, knowing what plants to put alongside them (or not) is important if you want to avoid an incredibly disappointing harvest.
I found this very informative article by Annette Welsford and Lucia Grimmer and thought I’d share it with you.
The Best Companion Plants for Potatoes
There is absolutely no doubt that some plants grow better alongside others, and the potato is no exception. While not all companion planting is based on horticultural science, there are some quite significant scientific foundations for the concept.
There are multiple reasons why certain plants do particularly well together. These reasons range from making certain plants more resistant to disease and deterring insects, to attracting insects – like ladybirds – that eat certain bugs. Some are said to improve the growth in other plants by balancing the soil, and some are said to improve the flavour of vegetables, although some claims are debatable.
By the same token, companion planting certainly isn’t a “cure all” and there are some plants that should not be grown together for a variety of reasons. One important factor is that root zones should not overlap.
Also, just as some herbs and vegetables grow best in certain climates, some companion plants are better companions in some places than they are in others.
While horseradish is the most commonly recommended companion plant for potatoes, other plants that are said to benefit the potato plant include green beans and peas, the brassicas (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower), corn, lovage, marjoram, marigolds, nasturtiums, parsnips, watermelon and delicate alyssum. They are also said to grow very happily alongside lettuce, radishes and green (or spring) onions.
Sweet alyssum and marigolds, specifically, attract beneficial insects and keep weeds suppressed. Alyssum also attracts beneficial wasps and acts as a living ground cover. Chemical secretions of thiopene (a known nematode repellent) from the roots of marigolds will kill root-knot nematodes or eel worm that reduce the size, quantity and quality of tubers produced. Nasturtium flowers effectively repel some beetles and aphids (which are attracted to potatoes and suck the juices from the plants). Nasturtiums also secrete oil that attracts some insects including the cabbage white moth. Although not generally recommended as companion plants, both zinnias and salvia attract ladybirds which do a great job of eating aphids and other tiny bugs. They also attract pollinators.
Beans are not demanding of nutrients in the soil and they increase the nitrogen levels, enabling potato plants to grow faster and become stronger. Particularly happy neighbours, green beans repel the Colorado potato bug from potatoes, while potatoes repel Mexican beetles from the bean plants.
Horseradish, like potatoes, does best in soil that is high in organic matter. It has won its good reputation as a companion plant for potatoes because it repels most of the bugs that attack potato plants. It is also said to encourage growth. Many horticulturists advise planting a horseradish plant at each corner of the potato patch for protection against insects in general.
Vegetables that should never be planted near to potatoes include tomatoes (which can be hosts for late blight), sunflowers, cucumber and both squash and pumpkin, celery and rosemary – because potatoes don’t do well near them, and in fact all seem to increase susceptibility of the potato to blight. The main reason these plants don’t like potatoes is because their roots release substances that stunt their growth. Fruits that make bad neighbours include apples, cherries and raspberries.
What is interesting is that corn and marigolds (which potatoes seem to like) are also said to be good companion plants for tomatoes – while of course potatoes aren’t.
Annette Welsford and Lucia Grimmer are authors of best selling books How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes and How to Grow Great Potatoes.
Lucia Grimmer is a world renowned expert in plant disease and nutrition who trains horticulturists, agronomists and professional growers. She has won awards for her technical papers and regularly conducts trials on a range of crops with the objective of improving yield and reducing disease.
Co-author Annette Welsford also has a horticultural background, however her true skills like with taking complex technical information and representing it so that even novice gardeners find it easy to understand.
Their books are considered to be the authoritative “bibles” on Growing Tomatoes and Growing Potatoes and have sold to thousands of novice and professional gardeners in 82 countries, and have been featured on TV, radio and leading gardening publications in 4 continents.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6221607
Vegetable gardening is becoming very popular for a variety of reasons: it gives people a chance to get back to nature and enjoy being part of the great outdoors; it reduces carbon footprint of the food we are eating, saving money and the planet at the same time, and certainly it is a good way to educate and bond with children. Kids are also far more likely to eat vegetables they have grown themselves, and are less likely to turn up their noses a on being presented with something green at the dinner table!
Many vegetables are easy for kids to grow, especially if a helpful parent has done some of the legwork of ground preparation beforehand! Young children will enjoy sprinkling lettuce seeds along a row; they will delight in watching the tiny green shoots coming through after just a couple of weeks, and being able to pick their prized greenery for tea after about 3 or 4 weeks. Older children can cope better with a longer delay between planting and harvesting, as well as being more able to cope with slightly more difficult ground preparation. They also love filling patio containers to grow anything from potatoes to strawberries.
Choose something that grows easily and thrives wherever you live. There are few things more discouraging than to go to the effort to plant something and look after it, only to find that it gets eaten alive, or it just doesn’t grow. To keep children’s interest, choose a vegetable that grows quickly and needs little looking after. If you have a greenhouse and want to grow from seed indoors, give them their own pots for seedlings to look after until they are large enough to plant out. Let them do the planting out with a little supervision, and try not to interfere too much! They may not be perfectly planted, but nature is marvellous and plants will usually find a way to grow.
Make sure they are involved with watering and regular inspection of the vegetables, so that they do not get the chance to lose interest. When it comes to harvest time, ensure the youngster is involved in picking the plant. There really is nothing to equal that feeling for a young child of picking a vegetable that they have grown, preparing it, or watching it being prepared, then it being presented for tea. Watch and wait for the greens to be eaten without a fuss!
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