We all need to feel part of a family, don’t we? Perhaps you have a good companion that supports you when you are down, encourages you when you doubt and makes you stronger when you feel under the weather. In the plant world, it’s an intriguing thought that select plants can be paired in a binding relationship, a symbiotic association that can afford protection and stimulate mutual growth. In horticulture, we call it “companion planting”.
Take collards and catnip for example. Research shows that catnip can help minimize flea beetle damage on collards. In the case of dill and cabbage (or broccoli), dill can assist in attracting beneficial wasps that can deter cabbage cutworms, while cabbage can help the flimsy dill to be more upright. Each plant is stronger by benefit of the other. These mutual relationships not only help us to create more robust and beautiful gardens, but also inform us about how we move through the larger world.
What about you? Are you symbiotic with the Earth? Can we say that our daily activities are strengthening our family, our ecosystem and the environment upon which we depend? This might be a fair barometer of how we see ourselves living our lives.
Other companion plantings ideas:
Mint deters cabbage moth, so plant it near Tomatoes or Cabbage.
Tomatoes repel diamondback moth larvae that damage Cabbage.
Basil and Rue don’t like each other.
Dill doesn’t get along with Angelica, Carrots or Caraway.
Chives and Garlic are great around everything but Beans.
Garlic and Chives deter Rose pests.
Marigold repels nematodes and beetles.
Horseradish loves Potatoes, sending away Potato bugs.
Fennel doesn’t like Bush Beans or many herbs.
Catnip repels flea beetles.
Nasturtium can deter aphids, beetles and whitefly.
Tomatoes don’t like to be near Nut trees. The trees exude a root toxin that affects Tomato.
Tomatoes have common pests with Peppers, Eggplant, Potatos and Kohlrabi.
Carrots like Chives.
Zinnias attract ladybugs to protect Cauliflower.
Nasturtiums can deter Cucumber beetle and shelter predatory insects.
Chervil can increase the spiciness of Radishes. Radishes draw leafminers away from Spinach.
Don’t mix Eggplant with Potatoes or Tomato.
Pigweed and Ragweed may draw leafminers away from Peppers. (But get the seeds before they re-set.)
Beans like Corn. They attract beneficial insects that may eat leaf beetles, leafhoppers and armyworm that go after Corn.
Sweet Alyssum is a groundcover that spreads to form small flowers that draw beneficial insects, like predatory wasps.
Basil and Borage repel Tomato worm.
Rosemary can deter Cabbage moth and Carrot fly.
