Everyone needs a companion, even plants! If you’re an avid gardener, you’ve probably heard of the “three sisters” method of planting corn, squash, and pole beans together.
What is Companion Gardening?
Companion gardening is growing two or more plants close to each other in order to benefit one or more of the plants in someway. Companion planting is beneficial in numerous ways such as deterring pests, attracting beneficial pollinators, providing shade, natural support system, improved plant health, improved soil fertility, and weed suppression! Whew, that’s a lot of benefits!
Here are examples of how the three sisters method is beneficial:
- The corn provides support for the climbing beans
- The beans pull nitrogen from the air into the soil to benefit all plants
- The squash spreads low to the ground, providing shade to keep the soil from drying out too quickly and keeping the soil cooler.
- The prickly squash leaves keep away animals that may want to eat your precious veggies!
So, now you see how companion gardening can benefit the garden as a whole. Here are other companion plant combinations!
- Plant basil with tomatoes. Basil naturally deters insects that may feed or lay eggs on tomato plants. Basil can also help enhance flavor in tomatoes and peppers!
- Planting dill throughout your garden attracts ladybugs, which eat pesky aphids and mites!
- Garlic repels many different insects such as aphids, flies, moths, beetles, etc.
- Mint deters aphids, ants, and flea beetles. Make sure you plant mint in its own pot, or it’ll take over!
- Nasturtiums attract hungry caterpillars that may want to munch on your cabbage, broccoli, and kale. Planting these pretty flowers nearby will keep the caterpillars satisfied!
- Plant parsley between tomatoes to attract pollinating insects!
- Sage can repel carrot flies and reduce cabbage moths.
- Sunflowers provide support and shade for many climbing plants
Roots of a Southern Kitchen 