Companion planting is a method the place completely different vegetation are grown close to one another for mutual profit. It’s reputed to reinforce progress, deter pests, and enhance pollination amongst vegetation. For instance, marigolds are sometimes planted amongst greens to repel aphids. There’s lots of anecdotal proof that this works within the floor, and a few scientific proof to again it up.
However does it work in containers? The brief reply is that, sure, it might probably typically. Nevertheless it’s vital to bear in mind that issues usually are not as clear lower when selecting the way to use companion planting in containers at your property, as a result of:-
- In containers, vegetation have entry to much less water, meals and root area than within the floor. This leads to extra intense competitors for assets between vegetation. It’s fairly widespread for one plant to battle and the opposite to take over. Which means that planting completely different vegetation collectively in the identical container does not all the time work in addition to within the floor. It additionally implies that companion planting methods usually tend to work in bigger containers.
- One of the best recognized companion mixtures had been developed in part of the world the place the local weather and circumstances go well with that mixture. Nevertheless, the identical mixture could not work as properly within the balcony or patio within the city and local weather the place you reside.
Examples of Nicely Recognized Companion Combos
The Three Sisters
Probably the most well-known companion plantings is the Three Sisters: rising squash, climbing beans and sweetcorn collectively. The corn gives top and construction, the beans climb up the corn and the squash leaves shade the soil, serving to to forestall the expansion of weeds. It’s a superb means of rising, developed by Native American Indians tons of of years in the past – and is extraordinarily efficient when grown within the floor within the American local weather.
Nevertheless, attributable to restricted area in a pot, it’s a lot tougher to get all of the vegetation to develop properly, significantly within the UK local weather.
It’s nonetheless a enjoyable one to strive – I like how the beans climb the sweetcorn… Simply don’t count on a bumper harvest. Right here is my try again after I lived in London. The foliage grew OK – however aside from a number of beans, I did not get a lot to eat from it. Others I’ve spoken to have had related experiences.
My try at rising the Three Sisters in a pot outdoors my London flat.
Tomatoes and Basil
For instance of how local weather influences the selection of which companion mixtures will work, contemplate tomatoes and basil. In hotter elements of the world the place basil grows properly outdoors that is doubtlessly an incredible combo for containers – as basil is reputed to repel some pests like aphids and likewise helps shade the soil. Additionally, basil and tomatoes are each wonderful selections for container gardens. However, the place I dwell within the north England, it is just too chilly to develop basil outdoors for many of the yr so this mix isn’t an choice.
Making use of the Rules of Companion Planting extra Broadly
In addition to searching for particular mixtures that can develop properly in the identical container, one other method is apply the overall rules of companion planting throughout completely different containers to realize related advantages. That is the best way I apply the concept of companion planting to my container backyard.
For instance, you may:-
- Develop a large variety of vegetation. Many pests discover their host vegetation by sight. By rising extra selection you make it tougher for them to search out these vegetation they most prefer to eat. It additionally reduces the chance that you’ll lose lots of vegetation in a single go, as a result of many pests are fairly plant particular.
- Add in some sturdy smelling vegetation like garlic, chives, rosemary and sage. Some pests use odor to search out their most popular vegetation, so this can assist to confuse them.
- Develop flowers to assist pollinating bugs. Nice selections for the container backyard embrace issues like borage, dill, pot marigold and herbs like chives, sage and rosemary.
In different phrases, vegetation should not have to be grown in the identical container to realize lots of the advantages of companion planting.
My entrance yard: by rising a large variety of vegetation contributes to a wholesome backyard.
Is companion planting the most effective technique to scale back pests?
Through the years, I’ve seen quite a lot of articles that convey the impression that companion planting is the answer to pest issues within the container backyard. I believe that is deceptive. Companion planting is only one means to assist forestall pests. Extra broadly, the precept of variety and rising completely different vegetation can also be extremely advisable for general backyard well being. Nevertheless, different issues like good watering, and utilizing a top quality, microbial energetic potting will often do extra to cut back general pest issues.
Your Flip – which plant mixtures do work properly in the identical container?
For companion planting to be related to container gardening, we have to study extra about which mixtures work finest in containers.
In the event you’ve tried any mixtures which have labored properly in your containers, I’d love to listen to from you within the feedback.
Hopefully over time we will develop a listing of companion mixtures which are properly suited to container gardeners.