Who likes who in your food garden? Just like people, there are some that benefit each other and offer natural protection against predators. So it helps to know a little about companion planting when you plan your food garden. This way we can treasure their very unique natures and understand their ecology better.
Growing our ecological intelligence, grows awareness and sensitivity to Nature in all her fullness – and ourselves. This may sound esoteric, but it is in fact science, although we are not going to go into the chemical matches and mismatches behind this knowledge today.
Companion planting
This table can be a guide to help you plant a variety of vegetables, herbs, flowers & fruit all forming a natural protective sanctuary against pests without the need for harmful pesticides.
Bad companions
The following plants are said to have bad effects on each other:
- Beans with beetroot, onions, fennel or chives.
- Cabbage with grapes, onions, rue or tomatoes.
- Carrots with anise, dill, wormwood.
- Fennel with coriander, beans or peppers.
- Potatoes with apricots or onions.
- Rue with basil, cabbage or sage.
- Tomatoes with red cabbage, brussels sprouts, sweetcorn, beetroot, dill or apricots.
NB: Woodworm near compost, as it repels earthworms.
This information is from the book Food From Your Garden by J G Simpson, available here.
Happy gardening home growers!
By Vanita and Elma
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