Companion planting is all about planting things together in your garden that get along and benefit each other. One important benefit of companion planting is pest control. One plant can hide another plant from pests or produce odors that keep pests away. Some plants can be used to attract pests away from other plants. Another benefit is pollination where one plant attracts insects, like bees, which help pollinate the other plant. Some plants add needed nutrients to the soil that benefit their companion plants.
Companion planting has been done since the days of the Romans. Native Americans are known for their technique called the Three Sisters technique in which they planted corn, pole beans and squash together. The beans would climb up the cornstalks and the beans would provide nitrogen for the corn. The squash spreads along the ground preventing weeds and add mulch which retains moisture in the soil. Companion planting became popular in the seventies when the organic farming movement began. There is still limited science to support its benefits in large scale farming but home gardeners espouse its benefits.
Marigolds are a popular companion plant particularly for tomatoes. The smell of the marigolds keeps pests away because they don’t like it and French marigolds are known to keep nematodes away. Nematodes are microscopic worms that can harm plants. There are good and bad nematodes located in soil. The bad ones attack the roots. They are parasites and suck the nutrients out of the plant. It is hard to detect but if the leaves of your tomato plants are yellow you could have nematodes. Next year consider planting French marigolds near your tomatoes to protect them from nematodes.
Basil is a popular companion plant especially for tomatoes. They supposedly improve the flavor of tomatoes. For me they improve the enjoyment of growing tomatoes because every time I smell the basil when watering the tomatoes my mouth waters thinking about the delicious fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato salad covered with extra virgin olive oil I will enjoy. Basil also repels mites, aphids and mosquitoes.
Yarrow is an interesting companion plant used for a few different reasons. It provides a lot of nutrients for other plants and is a good companion for most plants. These nutrients really help if the yarrow is grown near a sick plant. Plants that offer healing benefits for sick plants are called Physician plants. Yarrow, marjoram and oregano are Physician plants.
It is worthwhile to consider companion planting for your next garden to improve the quality of your harvest. Rather than planting your tomatoes in one long row think about planting them near other plants that can assist in their growth by adding nutrients and repelling pests.
