Small Garden-Companion Planting Part 4

In this small garden series, we are looking at some of the ways to have a successful garden... even when it is just a small one. We have addressed crop rotation, vertical planting and where to put more beds and today's topic is companion planting. Does it really matter where things get planted? Yes, it can be a big help.










I came across this book years ago, at the library, and I checked it out and read it. There was a lot of great information in it and I incorporated it into my garden planning... and it really helped. This is just one of the books I have found helpful.

A few years ago, I found this copy at a garage sale, so now I have my own book. There are many other books on companion planting now, but this was the first one I was exposed to and I have appreciated it.

 By the way, I have MANY other gardening books in my library and I love having sources to go to when I need them.

It tells facts about different garden crops - including what plants grow well together and which ones don't.  It gives gardening hints and tips... and is quite practical.

 At the time, I had to turn the book in to the library and couldn't keep it as a resource, so I made my own list that was more user-friendly for my purposes.....no, it wasn't neat, but it works. :) 

I also copied things that I thought would be helpful to me at the time. There is much more information in this book than I will share here... and other books also have a wealth of information. I take notes from many of them and keep learning.

As I have said before, I have a small area to garden (only a 1/4 acre city lot) and so I put my plants quite close together.... the arrangement in this picture wasn't my first choice, but it did work well that year for a second crop of cucumbers and a third crop of tomatoes.

In my garden beds, I usually have 2 of my 4'x 8' beds that have tomato plants going down each side. (10 total in each bed). In the middle of the bed, between the rows of tomatoes, I plant carrots and have also planted onions in rows in there as well...  it seems tight, but it works.

I have had dill and basil in my herb gardens, but I plan to plant basil in the regular gardens as well. I have been planting dill  "all over". :)  I love dill - such a wonderful herb.
Dill- Not Only For Pickles!
It can help other plants and still be harvested.

 Here are more of my notes on crop rotation... no, I don't follow all of them all of the time... but I appreciate having a guideline that has worked.

Apple Tree: Plant chives around to prevent scab
Fruit Trees: like garlic, chives, onions, nastursiums.... when fruit ripens, hang sliced onions in tree
Broccoli: likes dill, celery, peppermint, beets, onions, geranium, nastursium... does NOT like tomatoes, pole beans or strawberries.
 Carrots: like tomatoes, leaf lettuce, chives, onions, leeks, radishes; does NOT like dill.
Corn: likes geraniums and cukes, potatoes, peas, beans, pumpkin, squash, melon... does NOT like tomatoes
Cucumber: likes nastursium, beans, chives, peas, radishes, dill, sunflowers, and young orchards, but does NOT like beets.
Tomatoes: chives repel aphids; likes garlic, marigolds, mint and basil helps w/ insects and diseases and helps growth and flavor.

 A few more items...

Peas: like carrots, do NOT like garlic or onions
Onions: like dill, summer savory
Lettuce: likes dill, onions, strawberries, cukes, carrots, radishes
Peppers like basil
Strawberries like spinach

Dusty miller around plants can help repel rabbits

Melon, squash, cukes - Do NOT rotate with each other.
Squash likes nastursiums, icicle radishes

Oak leaves repel slugs
Roses - bury banana peels (potassium) 3 at a time. like garlic planted with them or as a spray,

There are many hints and tips.... it is helpful to gather them from books, gardeners, internet or more...  and put them into your own notebook, so that you have access to them.  These are only some of the things I gleaned early on in my gardening.... since then I have learned even more by trial and error, research... and necessity. With a small garden, some of the regular "rules" don't work as well, but with some creativity, the garden can still thrive.

When you have plant likes and dislikes to consider, it can become a bit like a puzzle to put it together.... it is not something to stress out over, and yet, it can be helpful.

I also plant marigolds around my garden beds and nastursium on the border... both can help to repel harmful insects.... AND nastursiums can be eaten in a salad. :)    Onions can be planted around a garden bed to repel rabbits... at least somewhat...  I need to try this and dusty miller more this year... last year, the rabbits ate my pepper, beet, and bean plants right down to the ground several times and I realized I should have followed this tip.   

I haven't found a successful help for squirrels, especially as we live in the city and are not allowed to "ping" them w/ a BB.  If you know of any squirrel helps, I would love to hear about it in the comments... those squirrels LOVE my tomatoes.  :)

There is so much to learn and I look forward to another year of learning and enjoying the fruits(and vegetables!) of our labors. :)  The information in this post is by no means, exhaustive, but maybe you will find some helpful tidbits here. I hope so... thank you for visiting.

 Small Garden Series

Small Garden-Crop Rotation Part 1

Small Garden-Growing UP Part 2

Small Garden-More Beds Part 3

Small Garden-Companion Planting Part 4



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