The Organic Benefits of Companion Vegetable Planting

Companion vegetable planting is an effective organic strategy employed by successful vegetable gardeners in their fight against the sometimes savage impacts of nature on growing vegetables.  The underlying principle of companion planting is that some combinations of plants are better for both plants than the individual planting of these plants.

Broad beans growing on a trellis for example are likely to physically protect small lettuce seedlings from the wind.  Some plants for reasons not always fully understood, diminish or even eliminate pests that can harm their companion plant.  Traditionally, it is suggested that spearmint, garlic and even stinging nettles help reduce the spread of aphids.

Another very popular example of the benefits of companion vegetable planting is the marigold.  The scent of this flower covers the presence of cabbages and reduces the impact of the cabbage moth and its hungry caterpillars.  Marigolds are also the firend of potatoes as they reduce numbers of eelworms that can devastate a potato crop.

As if that weren’t enough, marigolds attract hoverflies which lay their eggs where they can feed on greenfly.  Any vegetables affected by greenfly will benefit from the companion planting of marigolds also.  Hoverflies attracted by the scent and color of marigolds planted next to tomatoes will lay their eggs on these vegetables.  When the hoverfly larvae hatch, they feed on any aphids found on tomato plants and prevent damage to the tomatoes.

Sometimes there is little or no evidence of why some companion vegetable planting works.  For example, tomatoes do very well when planted near basil and parsley.  Since these vegetables are great salad combinations, gardeners appreciate the need to plant in this way

Rows of cabbages and broccoli often benefit from being separate by a row of onions.  It is thought that the scent of the onions deter cabbage pests.  Leeks planted near carrots do a similar thing and repel carrot flies.  On the other hand dill and carrot should never be planted together.  To avoid woody carrots and less tasty dill keep them apart.

So to attract needed insets and birds, repel unwanted insects and create an attractive vegetable garden appearance and most importantly to boost the health of your vegetables investigate the best companion vegetable planting for your garden.