Companion Planting: Basic Concept a n d Resources

1. Companion Planting: Basic Concept and Resources Research & compiled by Camille Leblanc

2. While companion planting has a long history, the mechanisms of beneficial plant interaction have not always been well overstood. Traditional recommendations used by gardeners have evolved from an interesting combination of historical observation, horticultural science, and a few unconventional sources.

3. Companion planting can be described as the establishment of two or more plant species in close proximity so that some cultural benefit (pest control, higher yield, etc.) is derived. The concept embraces a number of strategies that increase the biodiversity of agro ecosystems. Traditional Companion Planting

4. Table 1. COMPANION PLANTING CHART FOR HOME & MARKET GARDENING (compiled from traditional literature on companion planting) CROP COMPANIONS INCOMPATIBLE Asparagus Tomato, Parsley, Basil Beans Most Vegetables & Herbs Beans, Bush Irish Potato, Cucumber, Corn, Strawberry, Celery, Summer Savoury Onion

5. Beans, Pole Corn, Summer Savoury, Radish Onion, Beets, Kohlrabi, Sunflower Cabbage Family Aromatic Herbs, Celery, Beets, Onion Family, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard Dill, Strawberries, Pole Beans, Tomato Carrots English Pea, Lettuce, Rosemary, Onion Family, Sage, Tomato Dill Celery Onion & Cabbage Families, Tomato, Bush Beans, Nasturtium

6. Corn Irish Potato, Beans, English Pea, Pumpkin, Cucumber, Squash Tomato Cucumber Beans, Corn, English Pea, Sunflowers, Radish Irish Potato, Aromatic Herbs Eggplant Beans, Marigold Lettuce Carrot, Radish, Strawberry, Cucumber

7. Onion Family Beets, Carrot, Lettuce, Cabbage Family, Summer Savory Beans, English Peas Parsley Tomato, Asparagus Pea, English Carrots, Radish, Turnip, Cucumber, Corn, Beans Onion Family, Gladiolus, Irish Potato Potato, Irish Beans, Corn, Cabbage Family, Marigolds, Horseradish Pumpkin, Squash, Tomato, Cucumber, Sunflower

8. Pumpkins Corn, Marigold Irish Potato Radish English Pea, Nasturtium, Lettuce, Cucumber Hyssop Spinach Strawberry, Faba Bean Squash Nasturtium, Corn, Marigold Irish Potato

9. Tomato Onion Family, Nasturtium, Marigold, Asparagus, Carrot, Parsley, Cucumber Irish Potato, Fennel, Cabbage Family Turnip English Pea Irish Potato

10. Trap Cropping Sometimes, a neighbouring crop may be selected because it is more attractive to pests and serves to distract them from the main crop. An excellent example of this is the use of collards to draw the diamond back moth away from cabbage.

11. Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Legumes such as peas, beans, and clover have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen for their own use and for the benefit of neighbouring plants via symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria. Forage legumes, for example, are commonly seeded with grasses to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer. Likewise, beans are sometimes interplanted with corn.

12. Biochemical Pest SuppressionSome plants exude chemicals from roots or aerial parts that suppress or repel pests and protect neighbouring plants. The African marigold, for example, releases thiopene—a nematode repellent—making it a good companion for a number of garden crops. The manufacture and release of certain biochemical's is also a factor in plant antagonism. Allelochemicals such as juglone—found in black walnut—suppress the growth of a wide range of other plants, which often creates a problem in home horticulture. A positive use of plant allelopathy is the use of mow-killed grain rye as a mulch. The allelochemicals that leach from rye residue prevent weed germination but do not harm transplanted tomatoes, broccoli, or many other vegetables.

13. bi·o·chem·i·cal relating to biochemistry: relating to the chemical substances present in living organisms and the reactions and methods used to identify or characterize an·tag·o·nism 1. hostility: hostility or hatred causing opposition and ill will 3. physiology neutralizing interaction: the interaction between two or more chemical substances that diminishes the effect each of them has individually al·le·lo·chem·i·cal toxic plant chemical: a chemical produced by one plant that is toxic to another. Also called allelotoxin al·le·lop·a·thy suppression of neighboring plants: the release into the environment by one plant of a substance that inhibits the germination or growth of other potential competitor plants of the same or another species

14. Physical Spatial InteractionsFor example, tall-growing, sun-loving plants may share space with lower-growing, shade-tolerant species, resulting in higher total yields from the land. Spatial interaction can also yield pest control benefits. The diverse canopy resulting when corn is companion-planted with squash or pumpkins is believed to disorient the adult squash vine borer and protect the vining crop from this damaging pest. In turn, the presence of the prickly vines is said to discourage rodents from ravaging the sweet corn.

15. Nurse CroppingTall or dense-canopied plants may protect more vulnerable species through shading or by providing a windbreak. Nurse crops such as oats have long been used to help establish alfalfa and other forages by supplanting the more competitive weeds that would otherwise grow in their place. In many instances, nurse cropping is simply another form of physical-spatial interaction.al·fal·fa forage crop: a European and Asian plant in the pea family, widely grown as a hay and forage crop. oat grass with edible seed: a grass that has edible seeds and is grown in numerous northern countries as a cereal crop spa·tial relating to space: relating to, occupying, or happening in space

16. Beneficial Habitats Beneficial habitats—sometimes called refugia—are another type of companion plant interaction that has drawn considerable attention in recent years. The benefit is derived when companion plants provide a desirable environment for beneficial insects and other arthropods especially those predatory and parasitic species which help to keep pest populations in check. Predators include ladybird beetles, lacewings hover flies, mantids, robber flies, and non-insects such as spiders and predatory mites. Parasites include a wide range of fly and wasp species including tachinid flies, and Trichogramma and ichneumonid wasps. Agro ecologists believe that by developing systems to include habitats that draw and sustain beneficial insects, the twin objectives of reducing both pest damage and pesticide use can be attained. For detailed information on establishing beneficial habitats, request the ATTRA publicationFarmscaping to Enhance Biological Control. ar·thro·pod invertebrate animal: an invertebrate animal that has jointed limbs, a segmented body, and an exoskeleton made of chitin. Insects, arachnids, centipedes, and crustaceans are arthropods.

17. Security Through Diversity A more general mixing of various crops and varieties provides a degree of security to the grower. If pests or adverse conditions reduce or destroy a single crop or cultivar, others remain to produce some level of yield. Furthermore, the simple mixing of cultivars, as demonstrated with broccoli in University of California research, can reduce aphid infestation in a crop.

18. COMPANION VEGETABLE GARDENING It's said that vegetables are like people, they thrive on companionship. It is believed that vegetables will yield up to twice as much when they are surrounded with companion plants. So in this article we will discuss the top 12 vegetables and their best friends. If you're getting ready to plant your vegetable garden you may want to try placing the various vegetable crops so you can take advantage of their natural friends. If you have already planted your vegetable garden you may want to make some changes in subsequent plantings later this summer.

19. The following are a list of the top 12 vegetables and their ideal plantingcompanions.

20. Beans--they like celery and cucumbers but dislike onions and fennel. Beets--Bush beans, lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, and most members of the cabbage family are companion plants. Keep the pole beans and mustard away from them. Cabbage--Celery, dill, onions and potatoes are good companion plants They dislike strawberries, tomatoes, and pole beans. Carrots--Leaf lettuce, radish, onions and tomatoes are their friends, Plant dill at the opposite end of the garden. Corn--Pumpkins, peas, beans, cucumbers and potatoes are nice companion plants, Keep the tomatoes away from them. Cucumbers--They like corn, peas, radishes, beans and sunflowers. Cucumbers dislike aromatic herbs and potatoes so keep them away.

21. Lettuce--It grows especially well with onions. Strawberries carrots, radishes and cucumbers also are friends and good companion plants. Onions--Plant them near lettuce, beets, strawberries and tomatoes but keep them away from peas and beans. Peas--Carrots, cucumbers, corn, turnips and radishes plus beans, potatoes and aromatic herbs are their friends. Keep the peas away from onions, garlic, leek, and shallots

22. Radishes--This is one vegetable that has a lot of friends, they are excellent companion plants with beets, carrots, spinach and parsnips. Radishes grow well with cucumbers and beans. It's said that summer planting near leaf lettuce makes the radishes more tender. Avoid planting radishes near cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kohlrabi or turnips. Squash--Icicle radishes, cucumbers and corn are among their friends. Tomatoes--Carrots, onions and parsley are good companion plants. Keep the cabbage and cauliflower away from them.

23. Sometimes plant friendships are one-sided. Carrots are said to help beans, but beans don’t reciprocate. Though beans will help nearby cucumbers. Other plants have bad companions and you'll be doing them a favour to keep them apart. Beans and onions are natural enemies so keep them at opposite sides of the garden. If you have a patio you might try mint to repel ants, and basil to keep the flies and mosquitoes away. Both herbs have pretty flowers and are fragrant too. Besides, they're nice to harvest and use in the kitchen. "Carrots Love Tomatoes" getting to know good and bad companions can double the bounty of your garden. The only required work is to plan your garden planting properly.

24. Herb Companion Chart The idea that herbs make good companion plants is not new. Some of the earliest written documents on gardening discuss these relationships. When selecting your companion plants you will need to consider more than which pests are deterred. Think about what each plant adds or takes away from the soil and what effect the proximity of strong herbs may have on the flavour of your vegetables. Try to avoid placing two heavy feeders or two shallow rooted plant types near each other.

25. Herb Companions Pests Repelled Basil Tomatoes Flies, Mosquitoes Dead Nettle Chives Carrots Potato Bug Potatoes CabbageDislikes Carrots Dill

26. Garlic Fennel Most plants dislike this herb Roses, Raspberries Japanese Beetle, Aphids Marigolds Mexican Bean Beetles, Nematodes, others Plant throughout the garden White Cabbage Moth, aphids, flea beetles Cabbage, Tomatoes Mint

27. Pot Marigold Tomatoes Tomato Worm, Asparagus Beetles, others Rosemary Cabbage, Beans Carrots, Sage Cabbage Moth, Bean Beetle, Carrot Fly Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly, Flea Beetle, Slugs Rosemary, Cabbage, CarrotsDislikes Cucumbers Sage Thyme Cabbage Worm Cabbage

28. Companion planting practices • The following are some examples of farming in the village of Cochrane where companion planting is practiced traditionally with herbs & vegetables

29. Herbs & vegetables plot #1

40. Farmer of plot

43. Extension Off. Examining plot

46. Vegetable plot #2

47. Asparagus & Flowers

48. Farmer harvesting crop