Spring comes, the sun warms up the earth, the hot season comes for the gardener. These days it is very important to plan the useful area of your site and distribute it under beds occupied by different cultures. Today we will try to optimize your planting together by talking about the compatibility of vegetables in the beds. It turns out that some plants are friends, help each other and protect against various pests, while the second, on the contrary, cause mutual growth inhibition and even death. But we are primarily interested in getting an excellent harvest. So, the compatibility of vegetables in the beds is a very important and urgent issue.
Is spring site planning necessary
Indeed, why every year to rediscover your garden, if you can once and for all build beautiful beds and plant cucumbers on one, tomatoes on the other, and so on? This is convenient, but somewhat irrational. Each plant requires its own set of trace elements, and it turns out that the garden bed, used for many years to plant the same crop, is oversaturated with unclaimed elements. Or, conversely, devastated by the most important to her. Therefore, crop rotation is necessary. However, on a small site it is sometimes difficult to provide a full replacement, mixed plantings are forced to be used, and therefore, for proper organization, they need to know the compatibility of vegetables on the beds.
What can be beds
We are used to the fact that our land is divided into neat rectangles, on each of which one culture grows. However, there are many options, and for your garden to be as productive as possible, you need to know the compatibility of vegetables in the beds. These can be narrow beds according to the Mittlider, which require the introduction of a large number of mineral and organic fertilizers, as well as tall and multi-tiered beds. The latter are quite difficult to arrange, but they are ideally suited for growing several crops. In this case, you should also be concerned about the compatibility of vegetables and flowers on the same bed, because the close proximity of plants allows them to influence each other.
Padded beds
Sowing several crops in one bed can significantly save space and at the same time get a good result. It should be remembered: it is a little easier to observe the compatibility of vegetables and flowers on the same bed than to plant several fruit crops at the same time. Here it is already necessary to take into account the difference in the periods of vegetation. However, let us return to the bright flower-fruit beds. Why use this technique, is it only for beauty? It turns out, no. For example, marigolds planted near tomatoes perfectly protect bushes from various pests. Other flowers serve as tidbits for insects. Plant nasturtium in the garden - all the aphids will concentrate on it, not paying attention to garden vegetables.
Vegetables and fragrant herbs
The compatibility of vegetables and greens on the beds has long been proven, they do not enter into competition, do not interfere with each other, but at the same time you save a lot of space and get a nice variety for your table. The grasses planted next to the fruit bed will give the vegetables an exquisite taste and will protect them from insects. Rosemary scares away bugs that attack beans, thyme does not like cabbage pests, aphids are afraid of onions and garlic. Oregano, like marigolds, is a reliable protection of the entire fruit plot from uninvited guests.
Every gardener, even if he does not have professional knowledge, should have an idea what is the compatibility of vegetables and greens in the beds. Not much is needed for this. So, a fast-growing salad, radish and other spring vegetables and greens can be planted between pumpkin and melons. By the time the powerful pumpkin stalks grow, the radish crop will have already been harvested. If you plan to plant shade-loving greens, such as spinach, then choose tall plants that will provide reliable protection. For example, it may be corn. In the neighborhood with corn, sunflowers also grow well, plants do not compete with each other.
We have discussed some general issues, now it will go directly to the types of garden plants. We will consider the compatibility of different vegetables in the beds. How to plant this or that species, the neighborhood with which will bring him more benefit than harm, and much more.
Favorite peas: what to plant next to
This is a plant that gardeners do not like for its creep. However, it is worth considering the compatibility of different vegetables in the beds - and the disadvantage turns into a virtue. The fact is that he gets along well with corn, and its powerful trunks will be an excellent support. Thus, you will collect two crops from one bed and save yourself the need to tie tender peas. But you can go even further and unify the bed by planting it around the perimeter with beans or carrots, lettuce, radishes, parsnips or turnips.
What else is pea compatible with? It can be planted among cucumbers, such a neighborhood will benefit both cultures. Eggplants and melons love peas, in addition, if you have potatoes growing in your garden, be sure to scatter the peas on planting, its roots will enrich the earth with the necessary trace elements. But onions and garlic should be planted away from peas, such a neighborhood is completely useless.
Carrot Beauty
We continue to consider the compatibility of vegetables in the beds. Leading agricultural companies give advice to gardeners, recommending planting carrots along the edge of a bed of tomatoes and peas. This root crop combines very well with various herbs. These are sage and salad, onions and rosemary. Therefore, you can make prefabricated beds with fragrant leafy greens and plant them with carrots. Or vice versa. But dill and parsley need to be moved away from carrots, such a neighborhood leads to a deterioration in the growth and development of the root crop.
Green onion
This is the first spring source of vitamins that is loved and grown in every garden plot. However, today we are talking about the compatibility of vegetables in the beds. The list of plants with which the onion is “friendly” is quite large. These are almost all the most important garden crops: beets and bell peppers, tomatoes and carrots, lettuce and broccoli. Very well compatible onions with spinach, potatoes and cabbage. However, in order to please your planting, avoid its proximity to beans, sage and peas.
Bell pepper
A capricious culture that does not grow as well in our climate zone as in the more southern regions. However, this can be slightly corrected by choosing the right neighbors. First of all, you need to remember that it can not be planted on the same bed with beans. But the neighborhood with tomatoes, on the contrary, is tolerated very well. Do not forget to plant greens and fragrant herbs in order to make full use of the compatibility of vegetables in the beds. About ten different herbs can grow in the garden at the same time. Peppers mix well with basil and coriander, onions and spinach.
Lettuce, a precious source of vitamins
Another plant that eloquently shows the compatibility of vegetables in the beds. In the country, you can count a dozen fruit crops, which from such a neighborhood will grow only more magnificent. These are asparagus and beets, sunflowers and tomatoes. Experienced gardeners recommend planting lettuce along with white and Brussels sprouts, carrots and corn, cucumbers. Considering that lettuce grows with a low curly carpet, it helps to preserve moisture, preventing the liquid from evaporating so quickly. Cucumbers really like this neighborhood.
There are many ways to plant different plants on the same bed. If this is an ordinary bed on the plane, and not a multi-tiered structure, then, in addition to interspecific competition, you need to consider the size of the plants. The central part of the garden can be occupied by sunflowers or tall tomatoes, cucumbers, then you can arrange onions and peas, eggplant. Or put peas on corn and plant lettuce around. All these plants complement each other well.
Potatoes
Often this particular culture occupies a significant part of the garden, which means that you need to carefully consider the compatibility of vegetables in the garden. Photos of garden plots by professional gardeners very often show the classic combination of potatoes and legumes. Indeed, beans and peas are excellently woven around the potato planting, bringing primarily benefits that enrich the land. Although the legume harvest will not be superfluous either. Potatoes go well with white cabbage and broccoli, corn and eggplant, garlic, lettuce and onions.
It is not recommended to plant melon and cucumbers, zucchini, sunflowers and tomatoes near potatoes. The farther these plants are from each other, the better your crop will be.
The friendliest neighbor is eggplant
Indeed, its compatibility with other vegetables in the garden is fantastic. He has no enemies, he well complements almost any culture. However, if we talk about the health and quality of growth of the eggplant itself, then experts advise planting it next to potatoes and legumes, in particular with beans and peas. Leafy vegetables will be great neighbors for eggplant. Seasoned gardeners recommend planting next to the blue basil and salad, spinach.
The question arises: "In what order to plant vegetables so that the bed is as effective as possible?" We offer such a scheme, which is used by German farmers. They arrange a bed for planting root crops very wide, about 1 meter. At the same time, potatoes are located in the center (early varieties can be planted in two rows, and later ones in one row). On the one hand, eggplant is planted on a line, and on the other, a lettuce, kohlrabi and cauliflower. All these vegetables can be alternated in one row. Two rows of spinach are sown along the edge of the bed, and the distance between them and the rest of the crops is sown with lettuce and radish.
Harvesting will take place as crops mature. The first lettuce green umbrella appears, it shades other, slowly growing crops and saves them from the scorching sun. First lettuce ripens, then spinach, then comes the turn of radish. After about a month, it’s time for a salad and cauliflower. Thus, the bed is gradually empty, leaving room for the growth and development of eggplant and potatoes. Now it’s clear how to use the compatibility of different vegetables in the beds. How to plant - the personal experience will tell you, and for the first time use the ready-made scheme.
Peanuts - exotic in our beds
Indeed, this culture is very rarely grown in the garden, but in vain. After all, agricultural technology is no more complicated than growing cucumbers, and you get a valuable and nutritious product. The compatibility of peanuts in the garden with vegetables is due to its high nutrient requirements. He gets along well with cucumbers, who also love tall, warm and fertilized beds. In addition, any beans can be planted with it.
Corn
A useful culture that is often undeservedly forgotten. However, it can serve as a natural backup for weaving cucumbers, in addition, corn does not like aphids, which means that your cucumbers will be under natural protection. Curly bean is also perfectly compatible with corn, they can be planted around the perimeter of the beds. These are beans and peas. She gets along well with melons and potatoes, zucchini and a sunflower. But it is better to plant tomatoes away.
Tomatoes
A row of tomatoes is not so disposed to the neighborhood, as voluminous bushes tend to capture all the free space. But you can use different planting methods, for example, to arrange a high mound in the center of the garden, on which to plant asparagus and basil, dill, lettuce, onions, parsley, spinach and thyme. Tomatoes love the legume neighborhood, so you can plant beans in the aisles. A great option for planting on the nearest bed will be carrots and melon. But cabbage and corn should occupy another part of the garden.
Cabbage
As you already know, there are a lot of varieties of this plant, with at least white cabbage and cauliflower growing in each garden. It would seem that they can easily be planted on one bed, since you will remove the colored one much earlier than its neighbor matures. But in fact, they do not tolerate each other, so when planning a common garden, it is better to give preference to beans and celery, cucumbers. Aromatic herbs also get along well with cabbage; they help scare away insects. These are sage and spinach, thyme, dill, onion. If the planting of white cabbage is not made too thick, then in the aisles you can grow enough greens, as well as radishes.
Cauliflower
She grows poorly next to her closest relative, but perfectly complements the beds with beans and beets, celery and cucumbers, sage and thyme. He does not like tomatoes and strawberries. Broccoli goes well with all these plants, but does not tolerate cauliflower, so you will have to form several beds for different types of cabbage. Brussels sprouts - one of the most tolerant, it is better combined on beds with other species. The only enemy is tomatoes, so tomatoes and cruciferous plants cannot be planted nearby under any circumstances. But dill and salad - please, you can add radishes and sage, spinach and turnips to the garden.
Cucumbers
When planting this crop, make sure that there are no potatoes, melons and aromatic herbs nearby, it is better to plant all the greens along with cabbage. Cucumber loves a high warm bed on which peas and beans, corn and lettuce, and radishes will grow well with it. As in the case with the previous example of a universal garden bed, we allocate the central strip for corn. It will become a support for cucumber, beans and peas, which can be sown not only mixed but also together, in one hole. Along the edge of the garden bed can be planted with lettuce and radishes, which will be cleaned quickly enough.
How to combine incompatible
This question is especially relevant if you have a greenhouse. All vegetables love comfortable conditions, but a large greenhouse should not be empty, and it is occupied by a variety of fruit plants. To separate poorly compatible plant species, film canopies are used, which divide the greenhouse into specific sections. This helps to create a kind of microclimate.
Summarizing all of the above, I want to note that planning mixed beds greatly helps to save space and significantly improves the quality of the crop. Soil resources are used more evenly, and the plants themselves serve as natural protection for each other from diseases and pests. It should be borne in mind that the planting scheme can be changed to suit the needs of your garden, we gave only general patterns. But be sure to observe the compatibility of vegetables. This simple rule always gives excellent results and does not require any additional costs and investments. From one bed, experienced gardeners remove 11-15 kg of a variety of vegetables. Proper planting on the bed also helps to save resources, since less water and fertilizer are required. Here, perhaps, is everything regarding what constitutes the compatibility of vegetables in the beds. A list of plants that are “friendly” and “not friendly” with each other is given at the beginning of our review in the form of a table. Use it - and you are guaranteed a good harvest!