If you buy an item via links on this Thomas Nelson Page , we may earn a delegacy . Our editorial subject matter is not influenced by mission . translate the full revelation .
Many of us incorporate companion planting into our garden . Some produce guilds like three sister gardens , while others imbed species that either attract or repulse various insect species . But do these practices actually do any good ? So what does science say about companion planting ? Are all of these tips base on folklore and honest-to-goodness wives ’ tales ?
Let ’s take a look at how this type of planting really works , and whether there ’s any basis in scientific fact .
What is Companion Planting, Exactly?
The musical theme ofcompanion plantingis that some plants make dear neighbors for one another , while others do n’t . Sometimes this is due to their symbiotic effects on one another . For example , we used the three sisters guild as an model above .
In this example , you constitute Indian corn , beans , and crush in blocks . The corn grows tall , creating sustenance structures for climb bean . In turning , the beans aid to tether the shallow - settle corn , and also prepare N into the stain . Meanwhile , the squash vine help to keep wet in the dirt by creating a mulch - corresponding book binding with their leave of absence .
Other examples of companion planting admit placing sunflower on the closing of a row of cuke plants to attract tarnished plant bugs .
People also often plant tomato with basil because the latter seems to repel bugs that champ on plant life in the nightshade sept .
Is This Type of Gardening Proven to Work? Or a Myth?
So does the science support companion planting ? That count on who you take .
hoi polloi who bet on scientific studies to leaven whether something works or not might be disappointed when it comes to companion planting . There are few studies out there on plant symbiosis . One of the few papers on this topic isCompanion Planting : A Method for Sustainable Pest Control .
In this study , researchers interplanted five veggie species with five companions from seeded player in a glasshouse . The scientist cultivated the seedling for about 10 weeks . They also planted control groups so they could draw comparisons about insect depredation and overall wellness .
The study included Broccoli , ‘ Buttercrunch ’ wampum , cabbage , ‘ Celebrity ’ zucchini , and tomatoes growing alongside African marigolds , thyme , St. Basil , onions , and ‘ Red Zeppelin ’ nasturtium .
According to the result :
“ once and for all , all the control plots showed the most insect and pest damage , which argue any intercropping with a companion plant is more advantageous than none . Thyme , nasturtium , and onion exhibited the good resistance of cabbage worm , weevil , and cabbage looper for the three cole crop ( Brassica oleracea italica , simoleons , and lettuce ) . Marigold intercropped with zucchini show the best resistance to cucumber beetle , and both marigold and genus Nasturtium had equal resistance to mash bug damage . tomato plant worm damage was the least in the St. Basil and thyme plots . ”
That said , just because something is n’t scientifically proven does n’t mean that it is n’t valid . TheUsnea barbatalichen has been used medicinally for its antibiotic and antibacterial property for thousands of years . Just because it has only been learn scientifically recently and thus “ proven ” to work does n’t think that it has n’t worked for centuries . You know ?
Examples of Scientifically Proven Companion Planting
The pairings listed below are some of the most common companion planting options and the I that the science supports . Some of the sexual union are symbiotic , meaning that they benefit one another well . Others are more one - sided . An herb or veggie will do just okay on its own , but will offer great benefit to its neighbors .
Cucumbers and Nightshades
A traditional vegetable garden will undoubtedly contain Cucumis sativus and tomato . These two plants do n’t just work together wondrous in salads , they also make first-class garden neighbour .
This is because cucumbers areallelopathic . If you ’re unfamiliar with the terminus , it means that they eject chemical substance that can inhibit growth in other plants nearby . Walnut trees release juglone , for example , which kills most neighboring plants other than pawpaws , Jerusalem artichokes , raspberries , and echinacea . ( Okay , there are a few others that can survive the juglone bombardment , but not many . )
Crimson Clover and Fruit Bushes
You already know that fruit plants want pollinator to fertilize them . Planting dirt ball - attracting flowers and herb around fruit plants significantly increase their successful pollination rate . When it comes to blueberry bushes , they fare well when there are a lot of bumblebees chitchat . This is because humblebee are four times more effectual at cross-pollinate these fruit bushes than any other insect .
In a Michiganstudy , researchers discover that the blueberry George Bush expand well whencrimson cloverwas planted around them . This stunning perennial is a nectar - rich cover version crop that attracts bumblebees like aunties to a Denny ’s buffet . When the berry George H.W. Bush are n’t in season , the trefoil ’s nectar keeps the bees flow and glad . As an added bonus , clover is so nitrogen - rich that it replenishes the soil at the end of each time of year .
Tomatoes with Basil and Thyme
This compounding was prove to be effectual via the study mentioned before , but gardener have been interplanting these babies for centuries . In fact , one of my first gardening memories was flanking a potted cherry tree tomato plant with Genovese basil and French thyme .
Thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) containsthymol(hence its name ) , which is a powerful antimicrobial , antiseptic , antifungal , and antibacterial . It ’s also present in otherLamiaceaefamily members such as marjoram and bee balm ( Monarda spp . ) establish these near tomatoes aid to resist off all way of soil - borne pathogens , and its flush help to draw in beneficial insects while shoo unwanted one away .
Similarly , anotherstudyshowed that basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) hold back the compounds methyl chavicol and linalool . Insects that like to flow on tomatoes really do n’t wish the olfactory modality of these chemicals . As a result , they ’ll mellow - tail it over to a plant that ’s less unsavoury to them . to boot , these compounds just happen to be fungicidal and can avail to kill off the Alternaria rot that often smite fruit - bearing industrial plant .
Lettuce with Sweet Alyssum and Yarrow
These herbs are excellent companions for lettuce for a few different reasons . Yarrow is an ideal familiar plant for most species , but when combined with sweet alyssum , they can facilitate to keep your shekels beds from being annihilated by bothaphidsand caterpillars .
This is because both species appeal braconid ( epenthetic ) wasps . The wasps rest their testicle on lucre - loving caterpillars , thus killing off the wiggler quite in effect . Try planting the alyssum in and around your wampum plants , with yarrow as an butt against harvest nearby .
If you require to apply a familiar planting duo that the scientific discipline backs up , this is a good one .
Marigolds and Alliums
A cogitation published in theJournal of the Taiwan Society for Horticultural Scienceshows that marigold and Alliums can gain each other . Now , when we utter about marigolds here , we ’re referring to those commonly known as Gallic marigold ( Tagetes patula ) rather than pot marigold ( Calendula officinalis ) .
French marigolds release chemicals that fend off a phone number of unlike onion marauder . One of the worst of these is the onion maggot fly , which can obliterate your entire allium craw . Additionally , Allium cepa are very prone to root - international nautical mile nematodes ( Meloidogyne incognita).Studiesshow that marigolds just happen to produce a compound get it on as alpha - terthienyl , which slenderize these nematodes in the surrounding ground .
It does this by inhibiting the nematode eggs from hatching . As a resultant role , their life wheel is interrupted and their number dwindle importantly . The only downside to this is that it take a full year for the benefits to be seen . Since marigold are annuals , you ’ll need to verify to relieve their seeds and re - sow them each year .
To get maximal benefits from your marigold , you require to constitute them liberally in amongst your onions , leeks , Allium schoenoprasum , and other alliums . view edging your garden bed with them as well .
Cucumbers and Wheat
Wheat planted with cucumbers showed higher yields than either crop planted alone , harmonize to astudyin the Journal of Integrative Agriculture .
Do Your Own Research
These are just a few of the many good fellow traveler plant pairings out there . If you ’re interested in hear more , consider check out the bookPlant partner : Science - establish Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Gardenby horticulturist Jessica Walliser .
extra Koran references includeCarrots Love Tomatoesby Louise Riotte , Rodale ’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening , and any of Bill Mollison ’s permaculture book of account .
Ultimately , the best thing you may do is be data-based in the garden and see what exercise best for your own plant !
Was this article helpful?
What went wrong?
This article contain incorrect info
This article does not have the information I am look for
How can we improve it?
We appreciate your helpful feedback!
Your answer will be used to meliorate our content . The more feedback you give us , the better our page can be .
