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Questions tagged [companion-planting]

The concept of planting different crops in proximity.

Companion planting is the concept of planting different crops in proximity, in an attempt to improve nutrient intake (eg. planting legumes with non-legumes), pest control (some plants can deter pests attracted to other plants), and pollination (plants attract pollinators which help other plants; or different varieties can be planted as non-producing pollinators for productive plants).

Companion planting has been practiced since ancient times, and by indigenous peoples. A well known example is the "Three Sisters" technique practiced by Native American peoples. This mixes squash, corn, and beans. The beans use the corn as a climbing trellis, and provide nitrogen fixing for the corn and squash. Nutritionally, these three crops also complement each other very well.

Pest control companion planting can work by deterring pests, or by introducing non-producing "decoy" plants.

Companion planting has traditionally been based a lot on folklore.

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Is there a guild between tomitillo, and purple orach?

I noticed my green Tomitillo and Purple Orach took off well together after I planted the tomitillo next to it. Is that a well known guild?
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Why shouldn't squash, and potatoes be planted together?

I did a little research on growing squash with potatoes, and was wondering why they're not good for growing together. Is this because they take up the same nutrients? Or is because the squash will cover all of the ground for the potatoes to be…
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A single large sunflower among herbs - a good or a bad idea?

My idea is to start no less than a giant sunflower ('Titan', I plan just a single plant) on the northern border of my small herb garden with thyme, salvia, arugula, parsley and such. The reason is to attract polinators, and add some vertical accent…
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Should comfrey be a companion of blueberries?

I have access to a lot of free comfrey, and was wondering if it would be a bad idea to plant comfrey around the blueberry bushes to get them more nutrients easily.
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Growing smaller plants between larger ones

Some plants, such as cauliflower and pumpkin, grow large and thus we plant them far apart. Is it a good idea to grow other, smaller plants between them though? An obvious example are most herbs, but perhaps there are other ideas?
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How important are companion plants in community gardens

My partner and I will be getting involved with our first community garden this year (with a number of policies to ensure safe social distancing, of course). Having never really done gardening before, we've been doing a lot of research about…
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Companion Planting Ivy/Something Creeping with Mounding Plants?

Is it a good or bad (or indifferent) idea to mix mounding plants like mondo grass or liriope with something like Asian jasmine or blue star creeper in the same bed, such that the spreading plant fills in the spaces I want to leave between the…
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Do kiwi berry guild well with with elderberry?

I've heard a lot about planting trees together, and was wondering if Kiwiberry will guild well with John/Adams elderberry.
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