Companion Gardening 101

According to Almanac, companion gardening is growing plants together for the benefit for one or both plants². For example, those practicing companion planting might plant flowers among crops to attract pollinators, benefiting the crops^2.   Companion Gardening Made Simple   What are the Benefits of Companion Gardening? When grown in close proximity, there are a number of different interactions plants can have with one another. While some plants may support the growth of its neighbors, other plants may be detrimental to the growth of its neighbors by competing for resources, or attracting pests. For example, the Black Walnut tree releases a toxin, ‘hydrojuglone’, that inhibits the growth or kills surrounding plants¹. Burpee describes the most important aspect of companion gardening is considering planting as “building good plant relationships¹”. These plant relationships are supporting in ways such as adding nutrients to the soil, attracting beneficial insects, or confusing or deterring harmful pests¹.   Overall, companion planting can be immensely beneficial in a number of ways. According to Alamanac², there are six primary benefits of companion planting:

• Deterring Pests²
• Attracting Beneficial Insects²
• Shade Regulation²
• Natural Supports²
• Improving Soil Fertility²
• Weed Suppression²

  How Does Companion Planting Work? Companion planting utilizes combinations of plants that are beneficial for any or all the plants being grown. For example, crops may benefit from being grown alongside nectar-rich flowers, which attract pollinators that aid in the pollination of the crops².   Sometimes, companion planting may be used to ward off insects from a garden. When growing large numbers of a single crop, pests may be attracted to the garden. However, companion planting with herbs and flowers may protect vegetables from harmful insects as their scent and color distracts from that of the vegetables, confusing insects¹.   One of the best and most well-known examples of beneficial companion gardening is ‘Three Sister Planting’¹. Historically, Native Americans would grow corn, beans, and squash together. Beans are nitrogen-fixers, and alter the soil in a way that supports the growth and needs of the corn plants. While the corn grows, beans utilize the stalks as support as they climb upwards. Squash grows quickly, creating shade that prevents moisture loss² and discourages weeds¹.   Below is a Vegetable and Herb Companion Chart, outlining specific beneficial combinations of plants for companion planting:   Vegetable and Herb Companion Chart (PDF) http://gardenbarn.com/sites/default/files/Companion%20Planting.pdf   Sources:

1. N.A. “Companion Planting Guide”. Burpee. 13 May 2021. https://www.burpee.com/blog/companion-planting-guide_article10888.html.

 

2. N.A. “New Evidence for Which Vegetables Should Be Planted Together”. Almanac. 11 February 2022. https://www.almanac.com/companion-planting-guide-vegetables.