Companion Crops - What grows well together....and what does not.

 When we look at are where plants grow wild, we see plants grow together....in harmony with the ability to mutually compliment one another.  Factors that contribute to their common success include the soil type, level of sunlight, moisture and climate.  These plants enjoy something refereed to in the Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening - ( 1975 ) as  " Natural Plant Association ".

The concept of " Natural Plant Association " can be applied to the garden setting.  Some plants will thrive when planted next to another type of plant, and others won't.  The question is how do we determine what plants grow well together ? What factors contribute to the " plant association's " success ?  

- First in line is the soil and what type of " feeder " are we planting.  Some plants are considered to be heavy feeders ( tomatoes, leafy greens, cabbage and perennials like blackberries and strawberries are heavy feeders ). These plants should be planted in the freshest most fertile soil.  Other plants are considered light feeders ( root crops like carrots and radishes as well as bush beans and herbs ) and can be planted in area previously used by heavy feeders.

- Second to consider is the level at which the roots grow or the amount of sunlight they require to exist. Good plant neighbors are those whose roots are at different levels in the soil or an ability to share the available light to best suit them both.

- Lastly, other plants grow well together because one protects the other.  An example would be asparagus and tomatoes.  Tomatoes are thought to repel the destructive asparagus beetle.  Another example would be planting mint and rosemary in the row next to your cabbage to repel cabbage maggots or planting onions on the edge of a strawberry field to keep critters out.

From my research and from information that came from Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer, here are some possible combinations that might work together.

Cucumbers and Corn or Cucumbers and Bush Beans.

Carrots and Peas.....go figure, they come in a can together as well.

Leeks and Celery.

More to come.