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 Me
I'm a seasoned gardening enthusiast with a deep understanding of companion planting and its impact on plant health and yield. My expertise stems from years of hands-on experience in organic gardening, where I've successfully implemented companion planting techniques to achieve a balanced and chemical-free garden environment. I've also extensively researched and studied various companion planting methods, including square foot gardening and forest gardening, to create thriving ecosystems within my garden. Additionally, I have a keen interest in heirloom seeds and seed-saving practices, which have further enriched my knowledge and expertise in this field.
Companion Planting
Companion planting involves strategically placing plants together in the garden to benefit each other, either by providing mutual support or by repelling pests. This practice can significantly impact the health and yield of plants, making it a valuable technique for organic gardeners who aim to minimize the use of chemicals for pest and disease control.
Benefits of Companion Planting
Companion planting plays a significant role in assisting with pest control. Some combinations work by utilizing scents to repel insects, while others attract beneficial insects that contribute to pest management.
Three Sisters Garden
The Three Sisters Garden is a classic example of companion planting in Native American culture. This technique involves planting corn, pole beans, and squash together. The corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb, while the beans fix nitrogen on their roots, improving the overall fertility of the plot. The squash vines act as a living mulch, shading emerging weeds and preventing soil moisture from evaporating, thus enhancing the overall crop's chances of survival.
Heirloom Seeds and Seed-Saving
Heirloom seeds are favored by gardeners for seed-saving from year to year. Learning to save seeds is both easy and enjoyable, and there are resources available, such as books, to guide gardeners in this practice. Before harvesting, it's essential to consider which plant varieties to save seeds from, ensuring that the harvesting practice includes plants chosen for seed saving .
Types of Companion Planting
There are various systems and ideas related to companion planting, such as square foot gardening and forest gardening. Square foot gardening aims to protect plants from common gardening problems by packing them closely together, facilitated by using companion plants. On the other hand, forest gardening involves intermingling companion plants to create an actual ecosystem, emulating the interaction of multiple levels of plants in a forest or woodland.
Natural Pest Control
Companion planting is integral to organic gardening, as it aids in natural pest control. By strategically planting companion plants, gardeners can attract beneficial insects and creatures that contribute to pest management. Additionally, there are natural pesticide and insecticide alternatives that can be created and mixed for organic garden pest control.
This comprehensive understanding of companion planting, heirloom seeds, and natural pest control techniques has been instrumental in my successful gardening endeavors.
I hope this information provides valuable insights into the concepts related to companion planting and organic gardening. If you have any further questions or need more details on specific aspects, feel free to ask!
