Companion planting?

**Valerie in WA** · 01-17-2006, 05:07 PM

I've read quite a bit about companion planting, which is arranging plants to accomdate certain plants that 'like' - or don't 'like' growing by other plants. There are charts you can reference that explain how tomatoes like lettuce, but not potatoes. What it means is that they thrive best when planted that way.

I'm working on planning my garden, and am ready to pull out my hair. It's like dealing with siblings. "I don't want to sit by her!" "She's looking at me!"

So here's my question, in a garden that measures only 15 ft by 30 feet (5 metres by 10 metres), does it really matter? How far is far enough? How near is near enough?

TIA.

**forestdale** · 01-17-2006, 05:38 PM

Valerie, I think that in a small garden it doesn't matter .... much.

I grouped certain plants together in my garden plan 2006, but if I couldn't put them in a certain place, I didn't worry.

I think what is more important is to not plant the same crop in the same space every year.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-17-2006, 05:46 PM

I would worry either about that size of garden EXCEPT for putting tomatoes and potatoes side by side. If you do and get potato bugs, they will also destroy your tomatoes because both plants are from the same family.

Also as Rhonda said, always make sure you rotate your veggies every year. They shouldn't be planted in the same space every year.

guest7 · 01-17-2006, 06:02 PM

Valerie- I studied all the books on companion planting because I wanted to avoid the use of pesticides and I wanted to encourage the good bugs. garden size 5'x25' (and growing- don't tell dh!)

I wrote a list of each of the plants I wanted to plant and then picked it's companion that I wanted to plant. One of the reasons I chose this for my compact-raised-bed planting is to maximize my space for the most production and using companion plants maximizes the space. For instance- planting cucumbers to grow over a U shaped netting to shade the lettuce underneath. Or planting edible dandilyons around my tomato plants to ward off critters, keep the weeds down And eat the dandilyons in my salad.
With companion planting- you can get your herbs in between other plants. My problem was- I thought they were weeds and pulled them. I suggest a separate herb garden.
I think as long as you know the basics- like don't put nitrogen devouring plants together or you won't have a good crop of either- you'll do okay. Pick one plant you want and choose it's companion to inter-plant. period.
I keep fighting siblings on opposite ends of the garden. Works in real life and in gardening too.
Always rotate the crop each year.

**momof42003** · 01-18-2006, 04:32 PM

Definately rotate crops... I have had my tomatoes in the same place and this last year I go NO tomatoes... I have learned my lesson on that one... I need to read up on companion planting.. My DBIL used this in his garden and I turned our really well... He had a huge garden though and had the space to do the companion planting... Good luck with it...