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Like people, plants have affinities and aversions for others of their kind. Specifically, qualities of certain plants are beneficial to others, for example, in fixing the nitrogen in the soil for nitrogen loving plants, deterring particular pests or attracting helpful insects. Aversions are specific, too; for instance, it’s never wise to plant two vegetables side by side which attract the same pests, as the resulting onslaught to both can be devastating. Vegetable gardeners, particularly those who want to take advantage of natural plant alliances and aversions need to educate themselves to help their gardens thrive.
Some reputed plant attractions are vague, but anecdotal evidence proves them out. Tomatoes, for example, like to be grown near basil and parsley plants, although I’ve always suspected the convenience was for the grower, who often needs to grab a fistful of bail or parsley for a tomato dish when picking a few Big Boys. Peppers, however, also like to be surrounded with basil, and if there’s reason for it, I suspect it’s pepper’s need for humid conditions; surrounding basil plants keep moisture in the air near the thirsty pepper leaves. I have found the same fortuitous results planting lettuce in between and among the pepper plants. In truth, almost all other plants love basil, except for rue, and who’s planting much of that these days?
Separating rows of cabbages, broccoli or other brassicas with rows of onions has always worked well for us. Perhaps the onion’s strong scent deters cabbage worms. For certain, tomato plants near cabbages deter loopers, flea beetles and whiteflies. Beets, beans and dill also grow well near cabbages, although no reason has ever been given in the literature.
Native American growers were probably the first to discover that corn and squash and other squash-type plants such as melon and pumpkin grow well close to each other, along with beans, or the trio’s mutual support society may be a fortuitous accident. We do know the Indians’ favorite food combination was an assortment of beans, corn and squash cooked in combination. Even today, farmers find these plants grow better in the company of the others.
Other beneficial combinations include broccoli interplanted with cucumbers, since it reduces the attraction of striped cucumber beetles, leeks are helpful near carrots because they repel carrot flies, and onions foster healthy potato plants since they repel the potato-munching Colorado beetle. Swiss chard thrives near carrots and beets, and vice-versa, but never plant carrot and dill close by; being of the same family, they tend to influence one another to become more like the other, making the carrots woodier and stronger-flavored, and the dill milder and with weaker stems.
Some specific flowers and flowering herbs reap potential benefits for various vegetables, too. Marigolds are the wonder flower in many respects. They deter Mexican bean beetles, cabbage pests, and seem to spur growth in roses. They reduce the number of nematodes in the soil and conversely attract hoverflies, which eat up destructive aphids. White marigolds in particular work well around cabbage family plants, their white flowers attracting the cabbage-loving white moth away from the heading plants.
Alyssum, by reseeding frequently helps to break up the soil and add to its organic content, and chrysanthemums reduce nematodes, making for healthier soil. Mint almost always works to help plant growth, for example, with all kinds of squash and brassicas. Wonder herb tansy repels ants, aphids, cabbage worms, Colorado beetles, Japanese beetles and squash bugs.
Some plants are so highly antagonistic to one another, they stand in a separate category all together. Never plant:
Carrots, cauliflower or potatoes with tomatoes
Carrots with dill
Asparagus with onion and potato
Beans with chives, fennel or garlic
Potato with pumpkin and summer squash OR
Peas with onion, garlic and shallots.
As for petunias in the onion patch, I know of no specific benefit to the lovely petunia for growing amidst smelly onions. But whenever I plant mine close to the onion row, their pink, rose, white and purple nodding heads among the stalwart green tops of the onions make me smile. And a smiling gardener, I have discovered, can work longer and harder every time, ensuring a better garden!
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