Companion plants are different types of plants grown close to each other because they provide mutual benefits or help one another in various ways. This gardening practice, known as companion planting, aims to enhance crop production, improve plant health, and manage pests and diseases naturally
Key Aspects of Companion Planting:
- Mutual Benefits: Some plants improve each other's growth, health, or yield when grown nearby.
- Pest Control: Certain plants repel harmful insects or attract beneficial insects that prey on pests.
- Soil Health: Some companions can enhance nutrient availability or fix nitrogen in the soil.
- Physical Support: Taller plants may provide shade or structural support for climbing plants.
- Weed Suppression: Interplanting can reduce weed growth by covering the soil effectively
Examples of Companion Planting Benefits:
- Corn, pole beans, and squash (the "three sisters") work together with corn providing support for beans, beans fixing nitrogen, and squash shading the soil to prevent weeds.
- Basil planted near tomatoes repels pests like thrips and disrupts tomato hornworm moths.
- Nasturtiums attract caterpillars away from brassicas like cabbage and kale.
- Herbs like mint and garlic repel aphids and other pests
In summary, companion plants are chosen to be grown together because their proximity helps each other grow better, reduces pests, improves soil, or offers other practical benefits in the garden
