Peace!
Are you ready to take your gardening to the next level? You may already know that certain plants attract and repel certain pests, using this knowledge you can learn quickly what you need to get started companion planting.
What is Companion Planting?
Simply put, it’s planting plants close together to either inhibit growth of pests, or enhance their growth. There are good bugs that serve as organic pest control for your garden. They come in two categories:
- Pollinators- Butterflies, bees
- Predators – wasps, ladybugs
Pollinators are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems. They are essential for plant reproduction, and produce genetic diversity in the plants they pollinate. Save the bees, and plant some pollinators!
Predator bugs can be beneficial to help eat other bad bugs. For example, lady bugs eat aphids, and mites that can be disastrous to your plants. Ground beetles are also helpful predators to eat maggots, and caterpillars.
What Plants Grow Well Together?
Basil
Plant near: most garden crops
Keep away from: rue
Comments: improves the flavor and growth of garden crops, especially tomatoes and lettuce. Repels mosquitoes.
Cabbage and Cauliflower
Plant near: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, chard, spinach, tomatoes.
Keep away from: strawberries
Comments: tomatoes and celery repel cabbage worms.
Cucumbers
Plant near: beans, cabbage, corn, early potatoes, radishes, sunflowers.
Keep away from: late potatoes
Comments: Radishes deter cucumber beetles. Cucumbers encourage blight in late potatoes.
Dill
Plant near: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, onions
Grab My Free Companion Planting Worksheet
Instant download when you join our mailing list. Weekly updates to help you with your homestead
Companion planting can help you attract the right bugs to you garden, while repelling the wrong ones. Learning how can help your plants thrive during your growing season. Download our companion planting sheet to print out for reference later. Any plant companions I missed, feel free to tell me any more tried and true combinations you have found!
