Companion Planting

[Protea]

Was at HDRA Ryton yesterday for a meeting with organic growers and learnt something very interesting about companion planting....

After a lot of experimenting and trials, it was found that carrots, parsnips and parsley were the best companion plants for brassicas (in terms of deterring and confusing cabbage root fly and other insect pests). They sowed the companion seed into the module with the brassica seed (at the same time) and planted them out together. The companion plant is not harvestable.

In the past they have looked at clover, birds foot trefoil (a perennial weed/wildflower, also known as lady's fingers) and other plants. Clover was found to be too vigorous which is interesting as i had already bought some clover seed to undersow my brassicas this year (had seen early trial results presented a year or so ago).

I will still undersow some of my brassicas with clover to see what happens, but i have also added some carrot seed to my brassica modules! I will keep you all informed of how it goes.

[Alice]

Thanks for that Protea. Very interesting. Have made a note of it - probably for next year now. Do let us know how you get on with it.

[JennieAtkinson]

That's very interesting Protea. How many carrot seeds per module did you put in, and what size are your modules (sorry nothing personal!).

[Protea]

That's very interesting Protea. How many carrot seeds per module did you put in, and what size are your modules (sorry nothing personal!).

I'm not sure how many they used in the trial - but it looked like 2 plants from the photos.

I have sowed 3-4 seeds per module as i'm not sure of the germ rate and i can always pinch a few out if its too crowded. The modules are approx 2x2 inches (a tray holds 15 modules), but that only because i pricked the cabbages out from a seed tray. I normally use slightly smaller modules (24 to a tray?) and would think that this would still be fine, particularly as things are growing a bit faster now (well - they are down here anyway!) and can be planted out afer a few weeks.