Companion Planting

[Irie Jan]

Hi all!

Get your reading head on for a few mins and have a read of this! I found it very interesting and informative. Think I will have a go at some of the suggestions on here especially as I only have my garden which is not that big and a small greenhouse!

I want to grow as much food as I can within reason but did not fancy turning my whole garden into a veg patch! This is a good way of combining a few flowers with food crops.

I am interested to know have any of you tried this? Also What are your thought on the subject?

Just follow the link and all will be revealed! Companion Planting

[A Life Less Simple]

I sort of tried some companion planting this year, not sure how well it worked though as I didn't decide to do it until half through the year. I'm planning on carrying on with it next year though

[Adrastea]

Hi I have a small garden with a greenhouse also and have to combine flowers, veg and fruit all together. I haven't tried much of the companion planting, but want to give it a go. In a small garden I think it's hard to find space to grow enough of the plants to have an effect? The main success I've had is with mixing strong-smelling plants such as garlic and onions that seem to deter pests, growing flowers that attract bees have been good for pollinating my fruit & veg. I also follow the rule of not growing plants of the same family near each other and I grow slug-tasty plants near my veg to save my veg from being eaten. I'm certainly going to try clover under my grapevine next year! Thanks for the link

[maytreefrannie]

One guideline that someone told me is that things that go together on a plate will usually help each other when planted near each other, like tomatoes and basil for instance.

[di]

Woah!!You said pop your reading hat on for a few minutes!!!....Cheers!Will definately be having a proper read when it's not passed bedtime~a lot of interesting stuff!

[lynda66]

my problem with companion planting, is that most of the flowers are pink yellow or orange ...... which is rubbish when you have a black purple and red colour scheme

my nasturtiums did really well at keeping the cabbage whites off my broccoli though........ although, i got the massive ones that took over my whole garden, so i had to pull a load up. next year, i'm going for some mini ones.

[Two_Sheds]

my problem with companion planting, is that most of the flowers are pink yellow or orange ...... which is rubbish when you have a black purple and red colour scheme

I don't like yellow and orange either ... so I plant red nasturtiums and red French marigolds. I tolerate English marigolds because they're so good for the hoverflies

[lynda66]

i did get red nasturtiums .... it's about time someone started thinking about garden colour schemes and invented new colours

[zazen999]

I put Red Flax in this year, it looked fab. Then there's white cosmos, blue cerinthe, red sunflowers, red rudbeckia...loads of non-yellow and non-orange flowers. I try and stay away from the orange, and found lemon tagetes for the marigold situation. My OH also ordered the black nasturtiums for next year.

[Irie Jan]

Woah!!You said pop your reading hat on for a few minutes!!!....Cheers!Will definately be having a proper read when it's not passed bedtime~a lot of interesting stuff!

Hi Di! Yes there is some food for thought in that link! I read some of it when it went a bit quiet at work the other day. I must admit when I get a chance I think I will print a hard copy to keep to hand ready for when I start planting next year!

Thanks peeps for your thoughts so far! I have just ben online looking for some chilli seeds, so many tantelising ones about! I had to be tough on myself due to lack of space, I wish I had a bigger greenhouse!! It looks like my little greenhouse will be bursting with toms, peppers and chillies, am also going to try and squeeze some dwarf aubergine and lemon cues in there as well!

It will be interesting to compair the difference on how things go because whatever I put in my greenhouse some of the same will be dotted around the garden. Although I intend to start most off at the same time I am hoping that my greehouse crops will be a bit earlier to fruit than the outdoor ones! That way I hope to get more out of my seeds.

Keep it all irie = good peeps

[MrsC]

I grow lots of herbs, not only for the taste etc but they really do attract pollinators, chives, marjoram, mint are covered all year with bees etc.

[lynda66]

I put Red Flax in this year, it looked fab. Then there's white cosmos, blue cerinthe, red sunflowers, red rudbeckia...loads of non-yellow and non-orange flowers. I try and stay away from the orange, and found lemon tagetes for the marigold situation. My OH also ordered the black nasturtiums for next year.

ooooo where did he get black nasturtiums from?? i have black pansies, hollyhocks, purple violas, black and purple aquilegias, dark red sunflowers, black cornflowers, red roses and red and purple dangling things(the name escapes me) and black and red poppies ...... the nasturtiums are at one end of the bed, and although they are mostly red, it has thrown lots of orange and yellow flowers, and it's way too big. some black ones would look great

[FionaH]

I am so glad I am not the only one who cant be doing with orange and pink stuff! the only exception is my japanes anenome which is seriously lovely and the first plant that flowered in my new garden. I had to go buy some marigold seeds at the weekend cos hubby "tidied up" the marigold heads drying on the windowsill. I wouldnt mind but hes not normally tidy at all!