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September 17, 2024

This Week's Garden Gab:

Companion Planting

Hi Reader!

Remember the theme song "Thank You For Being a Friend" from the mid-80's sitcom The Golden Girls? I still love that song. Take a listen.

Education: What are Companion Plants?

As the definition states, companion planting involves planting two or more types of plants in close proximity so as they grow they will benefit each other in terms of helping to prevent weeds, or pests, etc. by being near each other. Even plants need besties.

Read Seven reasons to incorporate companion planting; interesting.

1. Deter pests
2. Attract beneficial insects
3. Shade regulation
4. Natural supports
5. Improved plant health
6. Improved soil fertility
7. Weed suppression

It's a natural way to achieve the best vegetables possible.

Application: How I use Companion Plants? Remember, these are not my ideas. These are only ideas I've learned along the way.

I was a season or two into gardening before I understood the benefits of companion planting. It's such a smart idea.

Here are examples of how I use companion planting.

[2] Each year when I plant these sunflowers I have to protect them with wire fencing as they grow because rabbits will come overnight and devour the tender sunflowers, leaves, stem and all, right to the ground. [3] This year I planted red onions all around two of my sunflowers. The smell of the onions kept the furry pests away until the sunflowers were too tall to be tackled by the bunnies. Companions!

[5] Every Fall I grow a large bed of garlic. Rabbits NEVER touch it. I learned that they hate the smell. In addition to planting garlic in the raised bed, I also plant a garlic clove or two around my other vegetables that I don't want rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks to bother. As most of the garden is in fabric grow bags it is quite easy to push a garlic clove into the bags, or any container you are using, as well as right into the ground. They usually grow the tall green leaves, which are totally edible. Companions!

Selection:

Sunflowers- I never knew there were so many varieties of sunflowers. Here are some suggested on The Pioneer Woman site.

Beans - When you buy beans, read the package to see if they are a BUSH bean variety that grows in a small bush shape or if they are POLE beans, which means you will need to grow them up a pole, trellis or buddy them up with a corn stalk. Bean details here.

Garlic - I wrote about garlic in an earlier edition. You can read it here. There are lots of varieties of garlic to choose from.

Corn - I grew corn for fun a couple of summers. It such a pretty and stately plant. All that is needed is at least a 4x4 size plot or raised bed. I even saw a video where a guy planted a bed of corn in a Kiddie Pool.

I grew sweet corn varieties, but there are also other types like field, popcorn and flour corn. Check out this article on 'Live Eat Learn'. Sarah gives a comprehensive review of some varieties of corn. I'm going to try 'popcorn' next summer. Follow me for the journey!

Edification:

🩶 Be the best bestie you can be! 🩶

That's all I have for this edition. Feel free to write me at jangardener@gardenease.org if you have any questions or comments.

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I'll see you in the next edition!

Jan🦋