Companion planting for garden symbiosis

Seasonal Companion Planting: Maximising Spring Gardens

What Is Companion Planting?

At its core, companion planting is about creating plant partnerships that benefit the garden as a whole. Some plants release chemicals or scents that deter pests from nearby crops, while others improve soil health, provide shade, or attract pollinators. By placing certain plants together, you can naturally optimise the health and productivity of your garden.

Benefits of Companion Planting

1. Pest Control: Some plants repel pests that harm nearby crops. For example, aromatic herbs like basil, mint, and marigolds naturally deter insects that prey on vegetables.

2. Attracting Beneficial Insects: Flowers like marigolds, calendula, and alyssum attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs, which help control pests.

3. Enhanced Growth and Flavour: Certain plant combinations, like tomatoes with basil, have been shown to enhance flavour and growth. Companion planting also optimises space, allowing plants to share nutrients and sunlight more effectively.

4. Soil Health: Some plants, like beans and peas, fix nitrogen into the soil, enriching it for other crops. Other plants, like radishes, help loosen the soil, making it easier for neighbouring plants to access nutrients and water.

Best Companion Planting Combinations for Spring

Here are some top companion planting strategies to try in your spring garden:

1. Tomatoes and Basil
   This classic combination has been said to not only improve the flavour of your tomatoes but also repels common pests like aphids, mosquitoes, and whiteflies. Basil’s strong aroma confuses pests and keeps them from damaging your tomatoes. And what's better than two of the key ingredients to a caprese salad growing right next to each other, ready to go! Yum!

2. Beans and Corn
   This partnership is a part of the indigenous North American traditional “Three Sisters” planting method. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for the corn, while the tall corn stalks provide a natural trellis for the beans to climb. Add squash (zucchini, pumpkin, etc) to the mix, and you’ll have ground cover that shades the soil, preventing weeds and retaining moisture, completing the three sisters growing triangle.

3. Cucumbers and Nasturtiums
   Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, attracting aphids away from cucumbers and protecting the vegetable from pest damage. In addition, nasturtiums attract pollinators, helping to boost cucumber yields.

4. Lettuce and Radishes
   These two crops grow well together because radishes are quick to mature and help loosen the soil for the slower-growing lettuce. Plus, radishes can help deter some pests from attacking lettuce leaves.

5. Marigolds and Vegetables
   Marigolds are a powerhouse companion plant for many vegetables. They release a substance called thiophene, which repels root-knot nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies. Try planting marigolds around beans, lettuce, tomatoes, or squash to protect them from pests and attract pollinators like bees. Try dotting marigolds between your vegetables for a delightful pop of colour along with all their helpful benefits.

6. Sunflowers and Vegetables

   Sunflowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects, providing a boost to crops around them. They can also act as a natural trellis for climbing plants, while their tall stems and broad leaves provide some shade for sensitive crops. However it's useful to remember, they have a natural defense mechanism called allelopathy. This means they release chemicals through their roots and decomposing leaves that can inhibit the growth of nearby plants. Vegetables like potatoes, beans, and tomatoes, as well as some other flowers, may struggle when planted too close to sunflowers. While they’re great for attracting pollinators, it’s best to give sunflowers their own space to avoid competition with other plants in your garden.

Companion Planting for Pest Control

If pests are a problem in your garden, companion planting can help you naturally keep them in check. Here are a few plants that deter common garden pests:

• Mint and rosemary: Deter cabbage moths and flea beetles, perfect for protecting brassicas like broccoli and cabbage.
• Garlic: Repels aphids, making it an excellent companion for roses, lettuce, and peas.
• Chives: Prevents aphids and Japanese beetles from invading roses and tomatoes.
• Catnip: Drives away flea beetles, making it a great companion for crops like eggplant and capsisum.

Tips for Successful Companion Planting

1. Know Your Plants: Some plants don’t get along well, so be aware of which combinations to avoid. For example, beans and onions don’t make good companions, as onions can stunt the growth of beans, by inhibiting nitrogen-fixing bacteria that these legumes rely on. Likewise, avoid planting potatoes and tomatoes together. Both are members of the nightshade family and are susceptible to the same diseases, like early and late blight. Planting them together increases the risk of spreading these diseases. Do a little research to identify other unfriendly neighbours. 

2. Consider Plant Heights and Spacing: Taller plants like corn or sunflowers can provide shade for more sensitive crops like lettuce, but make sure that shade lovers aren’t overshadowing sun-loving plants.

3. Rotate Crops: To avoid depleting the soil of certain nutrients, rotate your companion plants each season. This helps maintain soil health and prevents the buildup of pests and diseases. Keeping the same plant in the same spot year after year means the nutrients those plants use the most of will be depleted, and your crops will suffer.

4. Start Small: If you’re new to companion planting, start with just a few combinations and see how they work in your garden. Over time, you’ll discover what works best for your specific plants and garden conditions.