Good proximity to plants and vegetableshas a very positive effect on their growth and cultivation. Currently, ecological gardening is very fashionable, where the selection of an appropriateplant neighborhoodis particularly important. It is worth finding out more about which plants interact positively and which disturb each other. All this is of great importance if you want to have a beautiful and he althy garden.
Good neighborhood of plants and vegetables. Lettuce, onion and carrots on a common plot.
Why is a good plant neighborhood so important
Plants and vegetables should be planted so that they do not limit each other. It is unacceptable to compete for water, sun or minerals between plants, because then it is known that sooner or later plants will either go to waste or will not be as attractive as they should be. Therefore, planting should be planned so that each plant has enough space for itself, both in the above-ground and underground parts. It is worth choosing plants so that they help each other in growth, e.g. increase resistance to various diseases or deter potential pests. Then we can say that in the garden there isgood plant neighborhood
Paying attention togood proximity to plants and vegetablesis especially important in ecological gardens, where no chemical means of fighting plant diseases and pests are used. Then the selection of a good neighborhood of plants and vegetables is often the most important form of fighting pathogens.
What to avoid to ensure good plant neighborhood
Breaking the rulesgood plant neighborhoodunfortunately it is very easy in the garden. A typical example of bad influence of plants are the white pine and currants, when these two species grow next to each other or even within a radius of several dozen meters, it is almost certain that they will get sickle-moth rust. It is the same with pears and junipers, whose close proximity causes the formation of pear-juniper rust, more commonly known as pear rust. To prevent these diseases, these species should never be planted close together. Unfortunately, it is currently difficult to avoid such unfavorable pairs of plants, because more and more often in one garden there is a place for both utility crops and ornamental plantings.
Avoidneighborhood of plantsthat have different soil and habitat requirements. Never plant acid-loving plants in one bed or in one pot.For example, acidophilic rhododendron should not be planted next to plants that prefer a neutral or alkaline pH, like many perennials or other shrubs. You should also always pay attention to whether in the vicinity ofsun-loving plants that you want to plant, there will be no large trees and shrubs, casting shadows on beds with smaller shrubs and perennials. It will certainly slow down their growth. The vicinity of taller trees that cast shade will, on the other hand, be beneficial for perennials and shade-loving shrubs.
Examples for a good neighborhood of vegetables
If we want to enjoy high yields of vegetables, it is also worth being interested in the best neighborhood in the vegetable beds. There have been many different experiments which clearly show that planting certain species of vegetables side by side increases their yield or prevents the occurrence of various diseases.
Good results are also combined with the cultivation of vegetables with the cultivation of certain spices or ornamental plants. Examples of suchgood proximity of vegetables toornamental plants are marigolds and marigolds - when planted near vegetable patches, they will protect vegetables against root nematodes.In turn, nasturtiums deter pests such as cabbage and aphids from vegetables, they also facilitate the fight against snails.
An example forgood proximity to vegetablesis planting the cucumber beds with basil, which significantly reduces the occurrence of downy mildew. The smell of the onion scares away carrot root pests. Onions also feel good growing with leeks and carrots. Pumpkin prefers beans, nasturtiums or corn. Peas can be sown next to all vegetables except those of the onion family. We do not plant cucumbers and potatoes next to tomatoes, but it is worth planting basil. Spinach grows well with radishes. Potatoes don't like carrots, peas, tomatoes, celery and sunflowers. On the other hand, the potato yield increases the proximity of corn, cabbage, spinach, broad beans and beans. Garden dill grows best when planted in a broadcast in various places in the garden, in small clumps. As a result, it gets much less sick than when it is planted in one large bed.
