Have you heard of the sayings, “You are who you hang out with” or, “that kid is a bad seed?” Well, the same concept applies to plants…sort of.
In natural ecosystems, certain plants can help or prevent another plant from flourishing. The same applies to the vegetable garden sitting right outside your kitchen window. Some plants can sap nutrients from their counterparts, while others lend the very nutrients they need to keep them thriving.
While tomatoes and potatoes may be a nice combination on your plate, they will not prove to be the best companions if paired next to the other in your garden. Tomatoes tend to thrive better with basil, oregano, carrots, and celery, just to name a handful. While beans “get along” with plants such as cucumber, strawberries, lavender, sunflowers, brinjal, and cabbage, the opposite is true when it comes to beans paired with onion, garlic, and fennel.
Nasturtium is said to improve the taste of tomatoes if placed near each other. Not to mention, the combination repels white flies and spider mites. Talk about a double benefit! Calendula plus tomatoes can also keep the bugs in your garden at bay.
Now that you’re armed with this information, perhaps you can help your plants “hang out” with some “good” seeds.
