Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

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Posted by Helen Tuton Add comments Companion Planting Sep 17 2013 Once the realm of the hardcore, hippy, home gardener, companion planting is now an incredibly popular practice – from beginner gardeners right up to large-scale agriculture. But, despite its popularity (it is huge in Europe), companion planting is often misunderstood, misused and misrepresented as the “cure-all solution” to problems in the patch. So what is companion planting? Essentially, it’s a method of growing plants together, with the idea that they will assist each other in some way, like deterring pests, improving growth, enhancing flavour, attracting beneficial insects, fixing nitrogen, disrupting “patterns” and trap cropping. But, just as we have good neighbours, there are bad neighbours as well. Some plants really dislike each other, and shouldn’t be planted in close quarters, lest one of them struggle or meet its untimely demise. Mythbusters – Does it Actually Work? Now, the “Big Question”: does it work? Well, yes and no. There is a fairly limited amount of actual scientific information on companion planting, but it is safe to say that some combinations do seem to work, while others can be a bit hit and miss. Why? Well, for starters, companion planting is a northern hemisphere concept that works a treat up there, but not as well down here in Australia. Secondly, it doesn’t work so well because it isn’t understood. We’ve all heard that basil and tomatoes should be planted together, but why? How many of each is required? Is one basil per tomato enough? Who benefits? What are we deterring? Does it enhance flavour? For years, I planted one basil plant next to each of my tomatoes, and guess what? Nothing happened. There was no discernable difference in taste. Nothing seemed to be encouraged or deterred. Nothing grew better or worse than it had before, there was simply no advantage, other than me not having to walk so far to make a pasta sauce! Search FREE E-NEWSLETTER VOLUNTEER WRITE AN ARTICLE DONATE Australian Natives Beneficial Critters Bushfoods Carbon Climate change Community Building Community garden Composting Design Ideas Diseases Edible Gardening Info Exotics Fertility Fruit Gardening Stories Greywater Habitat Gardening Herbs Indoor Plants Invasive plants Landscaping Lawns and Turf Mulching Pests Plant propagation Rainwater Recycling Seeds Soil health Tools Trees Veggie Patch Water Conservation Weeds Wellbeing Wicking Beds Worms Tag Cloud Register Log in Entries RSS Comments RSS WordPress.org Meta Edible Gardening Garden Design Garden Greener Plants Solving Problems Soil Water Conservation Monthly Guides Home About Get Involved Community Garden Businesses Local Government Events

Transcript of Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

Page 1: Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

Posted by Helen Tuton Add comments

Companion PlantingSep

172013

Once the realm of the hardcore, hippy, home gardener, companion planting is now an incredibly popular

practice – from beginner gardeners right up to large-scale agriculture. But, despite its popularity (it is huge in

Europe), companion planting is often misunderstood, misused and misrepresented as the “cure-all solution” to

problems in the patch.

So what is companion planting? Essentially, it’s a method of growing plants together, with the idea that they

will assist each other in some way, like deterring pests, improving growth, enhancing flavour, attracting

beneficial insects, fixing nitrogen, disrupting “patterns” and trap cropping. But, just as we have good

neighbours, there are bad neighbours as well. Some plants really dislike each other, and shouldn’t be planted

in close quarters, lest one of them struggle or meet its untimely demise.

Mythbusters – Does it Actually Work?

Now, the “Big Question”: does it work? Well, yes and no. There is a fairly limited amount of actual scientific

information on companion planting, but it is safe to say that some combinations do seem to work, while others

can be a bit hit and miss. Why? Well, for starters, companion planting is a northern hemisphere concept that

works a treat up there, but not as well down here in Australia.

Secondly, it doesn’t work so well because it isn’t understood. We’ve all heard that basil and tomatoes should

be planted together, but why? How many of each is required? Is one basil per tomato enough? Who benefits?

What are we deterring? Does it enhance flavour? For years, I planted one basil plant next to each of my

tomatoes, and guess what? Nothing happened. There was no discernable difference in taste. Nothing seemed

to be encouraged or deterred. Nothing grew better or worse than it had before, there was simply no

advantage, other than me not having to walk so far to make a pasta sauce!

Search

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Page 2: Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

Do you know why? Because, for basil to successfully repel flies from tomatoes, an absolute shovel-load of

basil is required in your patch. I’m talking several basil plants for each tomato, and even then it won’t repel

fruit fly. I love basil as much as the next gardener, but I don’t love it that much, and, to be honest, I’ve never

had an issue with flies on my tomatoes. But who knew this? And how many of us think that this is the quick fix

for all our garden woes?

Get Your Fix – Companions that Work!

Well, companion planting CAN be the quick fix, and here’s how: biodiversity! The best thing about companion

planting is that it increases the biodiversity of your patch; that is, the variety of life forms in your garden. Some

of the greatest companion plants in my garden are those which have nothing to do with my vegetable patch,

but are the awesome locally native trees and shrubs I have planted about the place. Clever planning (if I do

say so myself) has meant that my garden is never without blossom, and is therefore never without the array of

critters that come with that: birds, pollinating insects (like butterflies, bees, and native wasps), reptiles, beetles

and all sorts of helpful garden buddies.

By encouraging this assortment of good guys, my garden is almost completely without the bad guys, who

never get a foothold in numbers that matter to me anyway! Remember, a lettuce leaf with a hole in it doesn’t

require chemical warfare, nor does it signal an attack of the dreaded munchies! So now that I’ve put you off

companion planting all together, let me say that I reckon there are some combinations that really work,

especially those that involve plants that have a fair odour to them. Also, there are definitely combinations that

dislike each other, so I’ve made for you, dear readers, what is possibly the most comprehensive companion

planting chart in the known universe.

Now here’s my disclaimer… there is very little scientific garble to back this up, and some of them just work, so

don’t come bleating if nothing happens, or things have problems! But here is a pretty comprehensive list of

some common companions and antagonists, some of which I have seen working, others… well, let me know.

Enjoy! Oh, since you asked, my favourite companion in my garden is healthy soil, full of organic matter, worms

Page 3: Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

and good stuff. And beer!

Sustainable Gardening Australia presents:

The most comprehensive companion planting chart in the known universe(maybe)

Plant Good Neighbours How it worksBad

Neighbours

Apple Nasturtium, ChivesNasturtium climbs tree and is said to

repel codling mothPotatoes

Apricot Basil, Tansy, AsparagusBasil and tansy are said to repel

damaging insects

Asparagus

Apricot, Basil, Chives, Comfrey,

Lovage, Marjoram, Parsley,

Tomatoes

Basil and Parsley are said to improve

flavour. Onions and garlic release

substances reducing growth.

Garlic, Onions

Balm

(Lemon)Tomatoes

Attracts bees, said to enhance flavour

and growth

Basil TomatoesBasil said to repel flies and

mosquitoes

Beans

(climbing)

Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage,

Carrots, Cauliflower, Corn, Lettuce,

Lovage, Majoram, Parsley

Beetroot,

Chives, Garlic,

Gladiolus,

Onions,

Sunflower

Beetroot

Beans (bush), Broccoli, Brussel

Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohl

Rabi, Lettuce, Lovage, Marjoram,

Onion, Peas, Potato, Spinach,

Silverbeet

Bad Neighbours roots release

substances reducing growth

Beans

(Climbing),

Tomato

Borage Squash, Strawberries, Tomato

Said to deter tomato worm and

improve tomato flavour and yield. Said

to increase strawberry yield.

Brassicas

(Incl:

Broccoli,

Cabbage,

Cauliflower)

Beans, Beetroot, Carrots,

Chamomile, Coriander, Cucumber,

Dill, Lettuce, Lovage, Marjoram,

Marigold (French), Mint, Nasturtium,

Pea, Potato, Rosemary, Sage,

Dill attracts a Cabbage White Butterfly

controlling wasp. Nasturtium disguises

and repels aphids. Sage repels the

Cabbage White Butterfly. Zinnias

attract ladybirds, which we love! Bad

Neighbours roots release substances

Garlic, Rue,

Strawberry

Page 4: Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

Tansy, Thyme,TomatoZinnias reducing growth

Capsicum,

ChilliCarrots, Onions, Tomato

Carrots

Beans, Chives, Coriander,

Cucumber, Leeks, Lettuce, Lovage,

Marjoram, Onion, Pea, Radish,

Rosemary, Sage, Tomato

Bad Neighbours roots release

substances reducing growthDill, Celery

Celery

Cabbage, Chives, Dill, Dwarf Beans,

Leek, Lovage, Majoram, Onion, Pea,

Sage, Spinach, Tomato

Bad Neighbours roots release

substances reducing growth

Carrots,

Parsnip,

Potato

Chamomile Cabbage, OnionDeters flies and mosquitoes.

Strengthens neighbouring plants

Chives Apples, Cucumbers, Lettuce, PeasPrevents Apple Scab. Said to deter

aphidsBeans

Cucumber

Basil, Bens, Borage, Broccoli,

Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot,

Cauliflower, Corn, Dill Kohl Rabi,

Lettuce, Lovage, Marjoram,

Nasturtium, Parsnip, Pea, Radish,

Sunflower, Tansy

Bad Neighbours roots release

substances reducing growth

Potato, Sage,

Strongly

Aromatic

Herbs

DillBrassicas (Incl: Broccoli, Cabbage,

Cauliflower)

Dill attracts a Cabbage White Butterfly

controlling wasp

Eggplant Beans, Spinach

Garlic

Apricot, Cherry, Mulberry, Parsnip,

Peach, Pear, Raspberry, Rosemary,

Rose

Deters aphids, especially from roses

and raspberry. Repels Cabbage White

Butterfly

Beans,

Cabbage,

Peas,

Strawberry

Kohl Rabi Beetroot, OnionBeans,

Tomato

LeekCarrot, Celery, Lovage, Majoram,

Onion, Parsnip, Strawberry

Beans, Peas,

Parsley

Lettuce

Achillea, Beans, Beetroot, Cabbage,

Carrot, Chervil, Coreopsis,

Cucumber, Lovage, Marjoram,

Marigold (French), Onion, Parsnip,

Pea, Radish, Strawberry, Zinnia

Achillea, Coreopsis & Zinnia attract

pollinators and offer shade for lettuceParsley

Marigolds

(French)

Numerous vegetables, including

tomato

Kills root knot nematodes and eel

worm

Melon Radish, Sweet Corn

Mint Cabbage, TomatoDeters pests such as Cabbage White

Butterfly, ants and fleas

NasturtiumCabbages, Fruit Trees, Radishes,

Zucchini

Flowers repel aphids and codling

moth. Cabbage white butterfly is

attracted to this plant, and will seek it

out over cabbages

Onion

Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot,

Chamomile, Leeks, Lettuce, Lovage,

Marjoram, Parsley, Parsnip,

Silverbeet, Strawberry, Summer

Savory, Tomato

Smell of onion said to deter numerous

pestsOnions release substances

reducing growth of Bad Neighbours

Asparagus,

Beans,

Gladioli, Peas

Page 5: Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

Parsley Asparagus, Sweet Corn, Tomato Said to improve flavour of asparagus

and tomato

Peas

Beans, Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts,

Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower,

Celery, Cucumber, Lettuce, Lovage,

Marjoram, Parsnip, Potato, Radish,

Sage, Squash, Sweet Corn

Bad Neighbours roots release

substances reducing growth. Sweet

Corn has traditionally been used as

“living stakes” for peas

Chives, Garlic,

Onion,

Shallots

Potato

Beans, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts,

Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn,

Eggplant, Horseradish, Lovage,

Marjoram, Marigold (French),

Nasturtium, Parsnip, Peas, Sweet

Alyssum, Sweet Corn, Watermelon

Sweet Alyssum and Marigolds attract

beneficials and suppress

weedsPotatoes release substances

reducing growth of Bad Neighbours.

Horseradish should be planted at the

corners of the patch

Apple, Celery,

Cherry,

Cucumber,

Pumpkin,

Raspberry,

Rosemary,

Squash,

Sunflower,

Tomato

PumpkinBeans, Cabbage, Eggplant, Peas,

Radish, Sweet Corn

Bad Neighbours roots release

substances reducing growthPotato

Radish

Beans, Carrot, Chervil, Cucumber,

Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Lettuce,

Lovage, Marjoram, Nasturtium,

Parsnip, Pea, Spinach, Sweet Corn

Radish is said to attract leaf miners

from SpinachHyssop

Raspberry

Blackberries,

Potato,

Tomato

Rosemary Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, SageSaid to deter Cabbage white butterfly.

Attracts beneficials

SageBrassicas (Incl: Broccoli, Cabbage,

Cauliflower), Carrot, Rosemary

Sage repels the Cabbage White

ButterflyCucumber

SilverbeetBeetroot, Cherry, Lavender, Lovage,

Marjoram, Onion

Basil,

Wormwood

Spinach Celery, Eggplant, Strawberries

Squash

Borage, Lovage, Marjoram,

Nasturtium, Peas, Sunflower, Sweet

Corn, Tansy

Potato

Strawberry

Beans, Borage, Chives, Leek,

Lettuce, Marigold (French), Onion,

Pyrethrum, Sage, Spinach

Brassicas

(Incl: Broccoli,

Cabbage,

Cauliflower),

Brussel

Sprouts,

Garlic

Sunflower Apricots, Cucumbers, Squash Beans, Potato

Sweet Corn

Beans, Cucumbers, Lovage,

Marjoram, Melon, Parsnip, Peas,

Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Squash,

Zucchini

Sweet Corn has traditionally been

used as “living stakes” for peas. Bad

Neighbours roots release substances

reducing growth

Cabbage

Tomato

Asparagus, Basil, Celery, Borage,

Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage,

Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives,

Dill, Gooseberry, Grape, Hyssop,

Lovage, Mariglod (French),

Marigolds said to repel white fly and

root knot nematode. Bad Neighbours

roots release substances reducing

Apricots,

Beetroot,

Fennel, Kohl

Rabi, Potato,

Rosemary,

Page 6: Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

Tagged w ith: Design Ideas, Edible Gardening Info, Exotics, Herbs

6 Responses to “Companion Planting”

1. Wellbeing Wednesday, planting the vegetable garden and a little upcycling - Recycled Interiors says:

30/10/2013 at 6:31 am

[…] for companion planting. If you want to know more about this – hop across to the wonderful Sustainable Gardening

Marjoram, Mint, Nasturtium, Onion,

Parsley, Parsnip, Turnip

growth Sweet Corn

TurnipCucumbers, Lettuce, Nasturtium,

Peas, Tomato

Watermelon Potato

Yarrow Most aromatic herbs

When planted along pathways, is said

to enhance essential oil production

and herb flavour.

ZucchiniLovage, Marjoram, Nasturtium,

Sweet Corn

and…

a couple of general plants that make great companions for other reasons

Basil helps repel flies and mosquitoes.

Borage in the strawberry patch will increase the yield.

Catnip repels fleas, ants and rodents.

Caraway helps breakdown heavy soils.

Chamomile deters flies and mosquitoes and gives strength to any plant growing nearby.

Chives grown beneath apple trees will help to prevent apple scab; beneath roses will keep away

aphids and blackspot.

Elderberry a general insecticide, the leaves encourage compost fermentation, the flowers and berries

make lovely wine!

Fennel (not F. vulgare or F.officionale) repels flies, fleas and ants.

French Marigold root secretions kill nematodes in the soil. Will repel white fly amongst tomatoes.

Garlic helps keep aphids away from roses.

Hyssop attracts cabbage white moth keeping brassicas free from infestation.

Mint repels cabbage white moth. Dried and placed with clothes will repel clothes moth.

Nasturtium secrete a mustard oil, which many insects find attractive and will seek out, particularly the

cabbage white moth. Alternatively, the flowers repel aphids and the cucumber beetle. The climbing

variety grown up apple trees will repel codling moth.

Pyrethrum will repel bugs if grown around the vegetable garden.

Rosemary repels carrot fly.

Rue (Rutus, not Peganum) keeps cats and dogs off garden beds if planted round the borders.

Sage protects cabbages from cabbage white moth.

Tansy (Tanacetum, not Senecio) repels moths, flies and ants. Plant beneath peach trees to repel

harmful flying insects. Tansy leaves assist compost fermentation.

Wormwood (Artemesia, not Ambrosia) although it can inhibit the growth of plants near it, wormwood

does repel moths, flies and fleas and keeps animals off the garden.

Information sources:

Bagnall, Lyn, Easy organic gardening and moon planting, published by Scribe Publications, VIC.

www.figtree.org.au

Pictures

Companion Planting pic: Elaine Shallue (SGA)

Borage pic: Elaine Shallue (SGA)

Alyssum pic: Elaine Shallue (SGA)

Marigold pic: Elaine Shallue (SGA)

Page 7: Companion Planting – Sustainable Gardening Australia • SGA _ Sustainable Gardening Australia.pdf

© Sustainable Gardening Australia Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha

Australia (I was pleased to see the Nasturtiums I just planted under the apple trees were a great idea as […]

2. Companion Planting | on the ning nang nong says:

09/11/2013 at 10:55 pm

[…] to use, rather than operating on a graph type system. There’s also a helpful breakdown at Sustainable Gardening

Australia if you’d like a bit more information on it […]

3. keith says:

17/11/2013 at 6:39 pm

thanks !! started looking for companions for tomatoes. found this site. very interesting. hope to improve my garden

keith

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4. Vegetable and herb garden with a difference | culinaryscience.com.au says:

02/12/2013 at 11:06 pm

[…] Companion gardening is combining certain plants that result in repelling pests. For example sage is meant to

repel white cabbage butterfly and pyrethrum will repel a range of garden insect pests. Mix these plants with your

vulnerable veges or herbs to help protect them naturally. More information here. […]

5. ishtar says:

12/03/2014 at 7:30 pm

I just started a container garden and so far am nurturing baby chillies, tomatoes, mint and basil. thought I would

search companion gardening to check my plants will get along, thanfully it sounds like they’re all friends

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6. How to Grow Peas - Rosehips and Rhubarb says:

11/08/2014 at 10:13 pm

[…] Companion planting: According to Peter Cundall in The Practical Australian Gardener, peas will sulk if they are

grown next to onions, garlic or shallots but respond well to sweetcorn, turnips, cucumbers, carrots and radishes. […]

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