Combining veg - wise or foolish?

[Cutecumber]

Help me get my head round this concept...

If you consider that we normally weed our crops to avoid competition for water and nutrients, and, these days, many of us use a thick mulch where there is bare ground, is it still considered a good idea to underplant slow growing veg with quick crops?

In previous years I have always grown one type of plant in a large container - one cordon tomato, three mini cauliflowers etc - with a thick mulch. They're dull, but they produce.

So is there really any merit, in the case of container gardening, to underplant or mix crops? I don't have loads of room, nor an endless supply of large containers, so I thought maybe I should try getting more from my existing space by combining things - add a lettuce or two in the pot with the calabrese, some basil with a tomato, more lettuce with the broad beans. I have read a lot about traditional companion planting, with interest, but I'm not sure how to apply it.

Mixed plantings do look great - at least, they are more attractive than a single straggly plant supported on a cane - but are they good from a crop point of view? Is it just a case of "as long as there is enough food and water for all", or is that naive?

So many questions! I'd love to know the answers

[Nicos]

Can't see a problem, they just need a bit of extra feeding that's all!

[Cutecumber]

Do you see what I mean about the comparison with weeds, though - what is the difference?

[Helenclare]

You don't mind an under planted crop nicking food and water from the bigger plant but if weeds were doing it that would be daylight robbery and a waste of resources.....we don't tend to eat weeds but do eat lettuce, radish rocket or whatever you chose to underplant with. It could work well too as companion planting, I would go for it if I were you!!

[Nicos]

Do you see what I mean about the comparison with weeds, though - what is the difference?

You don't eat the weeds!!!
You only really need to be careful when planting shallow rooted fruit and veg together so they don't have to compete too much.
Check out the companion plants on the 'search' button for good plants to put together.
Also be aware that plants growing more closely together are prone to more diseases, such as fungal infections, as there is less air flow.
But on the other sida of the coin- companion planting is actually beneficial!
We have grown more closely than suggested for years and have had great crops.

[Nicos]

Great minds eh Helen??

[Cutecumber]

I like the way you guys think - I think!!

Nicos, you've been growing things more closely than suggested for years - I've been growing cauliflowers successfully from day one, in pots, in a north facing garden. None of those things should be possible if you go by the books!

I do love a challenge

[carlseawolf]

I got a great tip the other day about mixing carrot seed and spring onion in the same sowing as it does the same job as mixing sand to carrot seed but you get the extra crop as well.

[Cutecumber]

Yes, I've heard that one - and you can mix in some annual flower seeds for a bit of colour. Probably does quite well in fooling the carrot fly.

[serenity]

I am trying this mix as well. A couple onion seeds and a couple of carrot at each station aprox 4 inch apart each way in a raised bed. I then plan to make one harvest of mini veg from each and leave the rest to mature.

I too like to play around

[Raised Beds]

Went to the allotment tonight and planted a row of radishes between my mammoth onions. One as cover to for the soil to prevent water loss and two to counter weeds which are aplenty. A few weeks from now the radishes are harvested and the mammoths left to grow on. The mammoths are spaced at 300 mm (12").

Thinking about it, lifting the radishes will loosen the soil.

All part of the learning curve.

[Pottypotter]

planted my brussels it said to plant 2 half feet apart at that rate I will run out of room what can I plant inbetween that will come out before the brussels are ready.

[nick the grief]

I like the way you guys think - I think!!

Nicos, you've been growing things more closely than suggested for years - I've been growing cauliflowers successfully from day one, in pots, in a north facing garden. None of those things should be possible if you go by the books!

I do love a challenge

My dad onece bought some 2.5" pots of a chap who was experienting with growing Cauli's under glass for supermarkets ...... he had a million of them !!!

One reason for not letting weeds in is they are more vigorous - thats why they survive so well and also if you allow weeds in they can harbour peststhat will attack your crops. Most intercropping is usually a fast maturing one in with a slower grwing one that will be in the ground sor some time.

I usually earth my spuds up as I plant them and plant little gem lettuces in the bottom of the rows where they enjoy the shelter and extra moisture

[Tyto Alba]

Carrots with spring oninons, lettuce with the spuds.....this sounds brilliant. I like the ideas. Thanks.

[rustylady]

I like the way you guys think - I think!!

Nicos, you've been growing things more closely than suggested for years - I've been growing cauliflowers successfully from day one, in pots, in a north facing garden. None of those things should be possible if you go by the books!

I do love a challenge

Don't ignore the books completely but remember rules are made to be bent a little. If everyone stuck to doing things the way they've always been done there would be no advances and we would still be living in caves (on second thoughts after the day I've just had that may not be a bad idea - no mobile phone, no unpaid overtime!)