Companion planting means putting plants together in the garden that like each other, or help each other out. Companion planting can have a real impact on the health and yield of your plants.
Organic gardeners strive to achieve a balance in their gardens so that they don't require chemicals for pest or disease control.
Companion planting can play a significant role
in assisting with pest control.
Some combinations work because of scents they use to repel insects,
others work because they attract good bugs.
Heirloom seeds are the gardeners choice for seed-saving from year-to-year. Learning to save seeds is easy and fun with these books. Before you harvest, consider which varieties you might want to save seeds from so that your harvesting practice includes plants chosen for seed saving. Be sure to check out our newest seed packs, available now from Heirloom Organics. The Super Food Garden is the most nutrient dense garden you can build and everything you need is right here in one pack. The Genesis Garden s a very popular Bible Garden collection. The Three Sisters Garden was the first example of companion planting in Native American culture. See all of our brand-new seed pack offerings in our store.
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When planning your garden, take some time to think about the layout of your garden to incorporate some of the companion planting ideas. Use the following COMPANION PLANTING MAP as a guideline.
Companion Planting Garden Map
Types of Companion Planting
There are a number of systems and ideas using companion planting. Square foot gardening, for example, attempts to protect plants from many normal gardening problems by packing them as closely together as possible, which is facilitated by using companion plants, which can be closer together than normal.
Another system using companion planting is the forest garden, where companion plants are intermingled to create an actual ecosystem, emulating the interaction of up to seven levels of plants in a forest or woodland.
Organic gardening often depends on companion planting for its best performance, since so many synthetic means of fertilizing, weed reduction, pest control, and other garden needs are forbidden.
Three Sisters: Native American Companion Planting
Companion planting was practiced in various forms by Native Americans prior to the arrival of Europeans. One common system was the planting of corn (maize) and pole beans together. The inclusion of squash with these two plants completes the Three Sisters technique, pioneered by Native American peoples.
Corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb. Beans fix nitrogen on their roots, improving the overall fertility of the plot by providing nitrogen to the following years corn. Bean vines also help stabilize the corn plants, making them less vulnerable to blowing over in the wind. Shallow-rooted squash vines become a living mulch, shading emerging weeds and preventing soil moisture from evaporating, thereby improving the overall crops chances of survival in dry years. Spiny squash plants also help discourage predators from approaching the corn and beans. The large amount of crop residue from this planting combination can be incorporated back into the mound at the end of the season, to build up the organic matter in the soil and improve its structure.
Corn, beans and squash also complement each other nutritionally. Corn provides carbohydrates, the dried beans are rich in protein, balancing the lack of necessary amino acids found in corn. Finally, squash yields both vitamins from the fruit and healthful, delicious oil from the seeds.
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The Methods and Techniques of Natural Pest Control
A-Z of Garden Pests: Here are some organic garden pest control alternatives.
Beneficial Garden insects and creatures: Here's how to attract these good critters to help with natural garden pest control
: Here are some Natural Pesticide and Insecticides you can create and mix for yourself.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About Companion Planting and Its Concepts
Companion planting is a gardening technique that involves planting different plants together in a way that they benefit each other. This can include repelling pests, attracting beneficial insects, and improving overall plant health and yield. Organic gardeners often use companion planting to create a balanced ecosystem in their gardens, reducing the need for chemical pest and disease control. One popular example of companion planting is the "Three Sisters Garden," which was the first example of companion planting in Native American culture. This technique involves planting corn, pole beans, and squash together, where each plant provides benefits to the others, such as structural support, nitrogen fixation, and weed suppression.
Key Concepts:
- Companion Planting: The practice of planting different types of plants together to achieve specific benefits, such as pest control and improved plant health and yield.
- Three Sisters Garden: A Native American companion planting technique involving the intercropping of corn, pole beans, and squash, each providing unique benefits to the others.
- Organic Gardening: A gardening approach that avoids synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals, often relying on companion planting for pest control and overall garden health.
Types of Companion Planting Systems and Techniques
Companion planting can be implemented through various systems and techniques, each aiming to create a harmonious and productive garden ecosystem. Some common systems include square foot gardening, which involves packing plants closely together with the help of companion plants, and forest gardening, where companion plants are intermingled to mimic a natural ecosystem. Organic gardening often heavily relies on companion planting for optimal performance, especially since synthetic fertilizers and pest control methods are not used.
Key Systems and Techniques:
- Square Foot Gardening: A method that utilizes companion plants to protect plants from common gardening problems by packing them closely together.
- Forest Gardening: A technique that involves intermingling companion plants to create a diverse and self-sustaining garden ecosystem.
- Organic Gardening: Relies on companion planting for pest control, weed reduction, and overall garden health due to the absence of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Natural Pest Control and Organic Gardening
In organic gardening, companion planting plays a crucial role in natural pest control. By strategically planting certain combinations of plants, gardeners can repel pests, attract beneficial insects, and create a balanced and resilient garden ecosystem without relying on synthetic means of pest control. Additionally, the use of natural pesticides and insecticides, as well as the attraction of beneficial garden insects and creatures, further contributes to effective pest management in organic gardens.
Key Points on Natural Pest Control:
- Companion Planting for Pest Control: Utilizing specific plant combinations to repel pests and attract beneficial insects.
- Natural Pesticides and Insecticides: Creating and using natural alternatives for pest control in organic gardens.
- Attracting Beneficial Insects: Encouraging the presence of beneficial garden insects and creatures to aid in natural pest control.
By incorporating these concepts and techniques into your gardening practices, you can create a thriving and sustainable garden that benefits from the principles of companion planting and organic gardening.
