Companion Planting - Vegetable, Flowers and HerbsI've used the companion planting method for many years.It's not because I like a challenge nor do I know what I'm doing. It's because my vegetable garden is also my flowerbed. However, this year I've a flowerbed reserved just for vegetables. In the past I've grown almost everything amongst my flowers from pumpkins to peanuts. In the front yard I used my flowerbeds as a teaching garden for the kids going back and forth to school. Lost a few but it was worth it. :) |
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I still sneak in a few herbs, carrots, cucumbers in the front yard but I've learned my lesson with the pumpkins. I thought they were going to take over, not just my yard but the whole neighbourhood's and then the world. :) hehehe! My kids loved watching them grow but once is enough. In the backyard I still plant carrots, radishes, garlic, chives, herbs and peanuts amongst my flowers. The vine stuff like, cucumbers, squash and gourds, I plant them around my fruit trees. Strawberries and bush beans at the edge of my flowerbeds so I can keep an eye on them. It's a race between the squirrels, birds and I to see who gets the strawberries first. Tomatoes, peas, popcorn and sunflowers, I've a place just for them called a "flowerbed-wanna-be-vegetable-garden". " A bad day in the garden, it's still better than a good day in front of the computer" :) |
| Companion Planting Options |
| Corn with Beans | Beans enhances the corn growth. |
| Peanuts with Corn and Squash | Increases yields of both crops. |
| Peas, Pole Beans with spinach, lettuce and cabbage | Peas and Pole Beans provides shade and protection for young plants. |
| Lettuce or Spinach with Squash or Cuccumbers | Good use of space and soil material. |
| Cabbage with Garlic | Garlic repells harmful insects. |
| Corn with Beans, Cuccumbers, Melons, Squash or Gourds | Best use of light and bed space. |