Gerald Filipski

When one speaks of harmony in gardening , one ’ s thoughts turn to colour matching or planning aesthetically pleasing landscapes with plants chosen carefully to fit the planting scheme . But there is another harmony when it comes to plants — companion planting .

According to Wikipedia , “ Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons , including pest control , pollination , providing habitat for beneficial insects , maximizing use of space , and to otherwise increase crop productivity .”

Some advantages include a particular plant added to supply needed nutrients to the soil ( e . g ., legumes add nitrogen ) or perhaps they may distract pests and / or lure beneficial insects . Others may protect delicate plants from the sun and wind ( e . g ., cabbages with cucumbers ). Companion gardening has a long history and how plants interact is still not well understood . The bottom line has always been that certain plants can help other plants .

Does companion gardening have a scientific basis ? While there has been some investigation in this area , most information comes directly from gardeners . Their experience has been spread by word of mouth for centuries , and that is the basis of companion gardening .

Companion gardening is very much an organic means of controlling pests as well as increasing the vigour of plants by planting other plants close by .

Chemical controls are not used in this method of gardening .

Types of Companion Gardening Trap cropping — A neighbouring crop may be selected because it is more attractive to pests and distracts them from the main crop . For years , commercial farmers have been planting collard greens around cabbage crops to lure away the diamondback moth . The moth is attracted to the collards , leaving the cabbages alone . Another example is using buttercrunch lettuce to lure white cabbage butterflies away from cabbages . Using this method , one plant is sacrificed for another . Nitrogen fixation — Legumes , such as peas , beans , and clover , can convert atmospheric nitrogen for their own use and to benefit neighbouring plants . Forage legumes , for example , are commonly seeded with grasses to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer . Likewise , beans are often planted with corn . Natural pest repellent — Some plants give off chemicals from roots or aerial parts that repel pests and protect neighbouring plants . The African marigold , for example , releases thiophene — a nematode repellent — making it a good companion for several garden crops and reputedly attracting hoverflies , which prey upon aphids . Spatial relationships — Tall-growing , sun-loving plants may share space with lower-growing , shadetolerant species , resulting in higher total yields . A good example of these relationships is growing cabbages with some cucumber plants nearby . By the time you plant cucumber seeds , the cabbages will have a good start . When hot days come , the cucumber vines can “ hide ” from the hot , wilting sun under the cabbage leaves .

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