Companion planting

[annie8]

Was thinking what companion planting I should do this year and interested what others find effective. Will put some basil among my tomatoes in the GH and outside and probably marigold among the potatoes. I saw that rosemary and alliums are good at deterring carrot fly. Wondered if that might be worth trying along with the usual carrot fly detergents.

[Small pumpkin]

I do a bit of companion planting.
I use this book as a reference. I love it it's very good ( well I think so )
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Companion-P...anion+planting

As an example nasturtiums are good companions with apple, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kohlrabi, turnips, radish, cucumber and courgette.

There's lots of other threads on this subject. I'm sure someone smarter then me can point you in the right direction

[Bren In Pots]

Was thinking what companion planting I should do this year and interested what others find effective.

Annie I've found a few vine links for you to have a look at, hope this helps..


https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...nfo_58016.html

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ing_95722.html

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ing_92600.html

[Thelma Sanders]

Marigolds (the Tagetes kind) are very good for keeping whitefly off tomatoes and basil. tomatoes with Basil on it's own didn't work here.
They also help against flies, in amongst the brassicas. Plot looks pretty as well

[veggiechicken]

I grew Tagetes in the GH with toms last year and there were no whitefly - unlike the year before (when I didn't). Could have been the weather though?

Apart from that, I muddle everything up - they're all companions, like it or not!

[Aberdeenplotter]

French marigolds in the greenhouse. Done that for years and it really works in keeping whitefly away. I also use them in the allotment amongst my onions. Haven't been bothered with onion root fly since I started using them

[Penellype]

I may try french marigolds with the brassicas on the plot this year as I had bad problems with whitefly, especially in the tunnel. However, I have never managed to keep a french marigold alive for more than 1 day in my garden, as they are razored to the ground by snails (I'm talking the sort of size you buy in modules from the garden centre, about to flower). Last time I bought some, 12 plants disappeared over night, with the remains of the last one found underneath a snail.

My attempts at companion planting are limited, but I have tried nasturtiums next to beans and peas, as they are supposed to stop the beans from getting blackfly and to deter pea moth. The nasturtiums got blackfly very, very badly (most were killed), and the only beans that got blackfly were the ones near the nasturtiums. However, I have not had pea moth in peas near nasturtiums, whereas I do sometimes (but not always) get it when growing peas on their own.

[annie8]

Helpful thanks. Think i will change my plan to put leeks in with the carrots, and put basil with the tomatoes. Will also put some marigolds in some of the beds and in the greenhouse and maybe a few more herbs dotted around. I always used french marigolds not the tagetes/Mexican ones. Does it make a difference?

[Thelma Sanders]

Tagetes have a much stronger smell, and seem to work better than the bigger flowered ones.

[bramble]

Yes..tagates are the best ones to keep the white fly off the tomatoes.
Havnt had whitefly in the greenhouse since I started growing tagates.
I plant one in each container with the tomato plant.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I may try french marigolds with the brassicas on the plot this year as I had bad problems with whitefly, especially in the tunnel. However, I have never managed to keep a french marigold alive for more than 1 day in my garden, as they are razored to the ground by snails (I'm talking the sort of size you buy in modules from the garden centre, about to flower). Last time I bought some, 12 plants disappeared over night, with the remains of the last one found underneath a snail.

Whoah, whoah, whoah. First of all, marigolds are really easy to grow and very expensive to buy. I use Thomson and Morgans Colossus which have lovely big flowers. Sow a whole packet in a full sized seed tray and prick out when they are big enough to handle.

But, slugs and snails can be a real problem with them so you need to address that as a matter of urgency. Once things warm up, slug nematodes do a great job but meantime, swallow any thoughts you may have about slug pellets(It's a war and no holds barred) and slather them around your growing areas. I prop boards at an angle against fences, sheds, greenhouses etc so they are away from birds etc.

Interesting that nasturtiums keep pea moth away. Ta for that tip

[Thelma Sanders]

I find if you can get your peas in early (I warm the soil up with plastic and then sow them, leaving the plastic on 'til they're a couple of inches high) Then they crop before pea moth is a problem.

[Penellype]

Whoah, whoah, whoah. First of all, marigolds are really easy to grow and very expensive to buy. I use Thomson and Morgans Colossus which have lovely big flowers. Sow a whole packet in a full sized seed tray and prick out when they are big enough to handle.

But, slugs and snails can be a real problem with them so you need to address that as a matter of urgency. Once things warm up, slug nematodes do a great job but meantime, swallow any thoughts you may have about slug pellets(It's a war and no holds barred) and slather them around your growing areas. I prop boards at an angle against fences, sheds, greenhouses etc so they are away from birds etc.

Interesting that nasturtiums keep pea moth away. Ta for that tip

My problem with growing marigolds from seed is space. They are half hardy and all my covered spaces are taken up with veg - I don't have a greenhouse.

I always apply nematodes 2 or 3 times a year, but they don't kill snails, only slugs. Slug pellets are not on the agenda - the blue ones are going to be banned this year anyway. Apart from their effect on wildlife, metaldehyde gets into the drinking water, and is not removed by treatment plants.

I will give marigolds another try - my garden may have fewer snails than it used to due to regular removal, but I think the allotment will be a hopeless case as there are huge numbers of snails in the area.