5 Companion Plant Pairings for a Thriving Garden
Why I plant certain crops together with layout examples, photos, and more
As the gardening season ramps up, a common challenge is figuring out which plants to grow together, known as companion planting. I've extensively explored this area, experimenting with different combinations and observing how nature takes its course. I've identified five effective companion planting pairings, providing sample layouts, pictures of how it looks in real life and reasons for these choices. The goal is to maximize yield without harmful fertilizers and pest control, bringing the freshest produce directly to your table. These are my top five pairing recommendations, but there's a vast world of companion planting to explore. If you have questions about companion planting or related topics, please share them in the subscriber chat.
Legumes (Peas, Beans, Favas) and Heavy Feeders (Fruits, Squashes, Pumpkins)
I enjoy cultivating legumes such as peas, beans, and fava beans alongside crops that demand a lot of nutrients, like fruits, squashes and pumpkins. Legumes excel in nitrogen fixation, a process where atmospheric nitrogen is transformed into a form that enriches the soil, making it accessible for plants. Nitrogen is crucial for plant growth, serving as a foundational element for strong, vibrant vegetation. It's a key component of chlorophyll and proteins, vital for plant health. However, despite nitrogen's abundance in the atmosphere, plants can't utilize it directly, making nitrogen fixation by legumes invaluable.
Nitrogen deficiency in plants often manifests as pale, yellowing leaves due to its role in chlorophyll production. Recognizing this, I strategically incorporate legumes into my garden to enhance soil health. Before planting nutrient-hungry crops or in early fall around fruit trees, I plant legumes. While I harvest some for eating and compost the remnants, I also practice "chop and drop" with my fava beans, recycling them back into the soil as both a nitrogen source and convenient mulch. This not only replenishes nitrogen but also improves soil texture and insulation for subsequent crops. Utilizing legume cover crops under fruit trees has become an annual ritual to maintain soil vitality and structure.
Layout option 1:
In a 4’x10’ planting bed, use a vertical trellis down the middle to plant pole beans. Plant pumpkins, zucchini, and nasturtium. All of these crops are best sown directly from seed.
Layout option 2:
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