Benefits of Buddies in the Garden

Having trouble in the garden? Don't really know how to lay things out? The way in which we put fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other plants in our garden is really important! Some plants like to spread out, and need a lot of space. Some grow tall, and take more sunlight. A great way to optimize space in your garden, or even on your porch, is by companion planting. Companion planting is the act of planting and growing species of plant next to each other to achieve various outcomes. The main purpose of companion planting is to reap certain benefits with the plants you've grown. What types of companion planting is there? What does it do? Well let me explain!

The Three Sisters

Three sisters companion planting is a form of companion planting that was developed by the Iroquois and Cherokee in North America. It takes Corn, Beans, and squash, and combines them in a unique way to grow lots of crops and allows natural advantages to occur. The first sister, is corn. Corn Stalks grow extremely tall, and are a sturdy support for the second sister, which is beans. Beans need a trellis to grow on, to act as support for when the plant produces it's vegetable. The Beans will eventually wrap around the corn stalk, and use it as a support for producing. The final sister is squash. The Squash plant has leaves that grow big, and stay on the ground, spreading out over longer distances. At the base of the corn stalk, squash leaves grow big, and act as ground cover. These leaves prevent sunlight from hitting the floor, preventing weed growth. The entire system of Corn, Beans, and Squash is a great way to produce the vegetables you love, with minimal space, resources, and effort. Of course, the garden is at your disposal. Feel free to replace beans with a form of pea, as they have similar properties. The same could be said with squash and cucumber, Pumpkin, or even Zucchini, as these plants are all apart of the same family. Just make sure you plant each sister one at a time, in the correct order, waiting a bit before planting the next.

Carrots and Tomatoes

Who doesn't love a nice carrot to dip in some ranch, or a juicy tomato for a burger or salad. The unfortunate news is that humans aren't the only creatures that like these plants. These vegetables are susceptible to many environmental hazards, like weather, poor drainage issues, and insects. When paired together however, they can help each other to eliminate some of the gardeners worst nightmares. Carrots are formed within the soil, requiring gardeners to get down in the dirt, and physically extract them. Tomatoes however grow upward, shooting stems into the air where tomatoes are formed. Having carrots grow in the ground expands and loosens the soil, allowing air, water, and essential nutrients to slip in. The long stems and leaves of tomatoes act as a shield against the harsh sun, giving some shade to the carrot stems, which don't like strong sun. Planting carrots and tomatoes together is a great idea to benefit both of these plants, and even reduce costs at the market!

Flowers and Herbs

If your still confused with the whole idea of companion planting, or don't really need to produce whole fruits and vegetables, Flowers and herbs are definitely the way to go. These plants are easy to grow, and extremely important to the environment. Flowers don't just grow with unique colors to liven up your living room, as well as herbs with their aromatic smells in the kitchen. These plants are programmed to do so in the wild from an evolutionary standpoint. The smells and features of these plants attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, spiders, and especially bees. Bugs like these can be helpful at killing the harmful insects that our fruits and veggies attract. They also aid the pollination process, leading to plant reproduction at a faster rate, which means more fruit for you. Planting herbs like basil, rosemary, oregano, and mint near your vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, and lettuce not only makes things convenient in the kitchen, but brings a swarm of advantages to your garden. I personally like to plant a row of flowers in front of my garden, to bring in pollinators that give me more food. Sunflowers, marigolds, nasturtiums, lavender, and so many others can give a touch of vibrancy to your home when harvested, but are even more impactful in your garden.

Mixing and matching plants of your very own can result in many different outcomes. There is a world of companion planting that can benefit every single plant you use. Any crop you decide to grow has a companion plant. If you want to minimize space, effort, time, and stress in the garden, then why haven't you started already?