Companion planting is all about putting shrubs, vegetables, flowers and herbs together that benefit from proximity to each other, and it’s a horticultural art that has been practised for centuries all around the world.
A perfect example is the ancient tradition of putting pumpkins with corn and beans – the corn plants provide the pole for the beans to grow up, the beans trap nitrogen, which is vital for the pumpkins, and the dense, low growth of the pumpkins prevents weeds from taking over. If you’d like to do some companion planting of your own, here are some ideas:
Vegetables and herbs
Planting horseradish next to your potatoes increases their resistance to disease. Spinach and tomatoes benefit from being close to legumes, such as beans, which boost nitrogen levels in the soil, thus providing extra nutrients for their neighbours.
Rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme and marjoram are incredibly happy bedfellows. Mint improves the flavour of tomatoes, peppermint deters cabbage moth and spearmint keeps aphids away. Fans of Italian cuisine will not be surprised to learn that planting basil near your tomatoes helps them to flourish, and while tarragon smells delicious to us, all sorts of garden pests hate the scent, so pop some in your vegetable bed to help keep your crops healthy.
Flowers
Plant geraniums alongside your roses to protect them from pests. Astilbe flowers like the same shaded, damp conditions as hostas and help with slug control. Try placing phlox among your lilies to elongate your flowering season – phlox will continue flowering long after the lilies pass their best. Tulips and hyacinth work well together, and daises and petunias pair up beautifully too.
Get comfortable on your rattan garden furniture, consult an online companion chart, and be amazed by just how effective companion planting can be.
