Companion Planting

[Sian Bunney]

Hello all,

For our September Allotment Inspiration pages, I'd like to know what companion planting you like to use on the plot.

Let me know your ideas!

Sian

[rary]

Hello Sian, I plant French marigolds with my tomatoes and strawberries, and nastursium with my climbing beans, don't know if it give protection but dose make the climbing frame more colourful, and a good edition for salads. I also use strawberries to keep the vine weevil of some of my flowering plants

[Scoot]

I've just moved a big 20 litre pot full of nasturtiums right over near my brassica patch to try and keep the cabbage whites off them.

[Guest]

French marigolds, African marigolds, pot marigolds and mainly variegated nasturiums get planted everyway provided they grow in the first place. I have very few this year due to slugs. I allow odd poppies to grow as they are pretty and must attract something helpful in. Squashes at the bottom of tall plants as ground cover and the fact I have more than I have space for . Herbs get planted about depending on issues. I have on my list to put some pots of mint in amongst my brassicas.

[cilla]

French marigold with my tomatoes. Last year I did not seem to get aphids and touch wood none so far but do not want to push it. Sweets peas with my peas for attracting bees. Nasturtiums with broccoli but the broccoli died because of me trying to kill the flea beetles so do not know if it would work.

[Bigmallly]

Due to growing in Square Foot Beds, the whole area becomes one bed of companion plants whether it be fruit, veg or flowers.

[ESBkevin]

Marigolds and onions/leeks with carrots to ward off the carrot fly. I'm also trying a small hugalkulter bed this year where the lack of monocrops should assist with pest avoidance, so far it's not very well populated with plants and whats there is having mixed results. We'll see.

[bario1]

Marigolds under my tomatoes for me as well, though it's more for decoration than anything else, as tomatoes seem impervious to pests.

[muddled]

I'm finding that strawberries near to potatoes are doing better than the others (an accidental discovery when volunteer spuds popped up un the strawberry bed ) so I will do that deliberately next year.

[Small pumpkin]

I plant sage, dill, beetroot and nasturtiums with cabbages they all seem to get on very well and very little evidence of bugs or there damage

[Jungle Jane]

Marigolds under my tomatoes for me as well, though it's more for decoration than anything else, as tomatoes seem impervious to pests.

That's because your marigolds are there,whitefly love tomatoes but can't stand French marigolds & slugs will eat tomato leaves unless there's a nice big marigold in front of them.

[bario1]

Maybe you're right, JJ - though at the moment, the marigolds are only 10cm high, whereas the toms are 4' high and no slug damage that I can see. I like the idea of companion planting though, as it motivates me to grow flowers where I wouldnt normally bother, and I appreciate that later in the year when the polytunnel has some nice colours in it!

[bario1]

Last year I planted DFBs between my toms and they really got slugged - they were meant for cropping, but served a different purpose in the end I guess.

[rollingrock]

three questions:1. do you want winter pairings only? 2 when is the deadline for submissions?
do you want planting diagrams and spacing include with the submissions?

[goosander]

Planted marigolds and nasturtiums amongst by toms. Do not know for sure if it helps but makes the greenhouse look a lot brighter.
Bob