Companion planting

Companion Planting

Companion planting means growing plants that benefit each other in the same space. In this lesson, I'll introduce you to some of my favourite companion plants and explain how they help me to garden organically.

The benefits of companion plants might include attracting pollinators, attracting predators or providing protection such as shelter from the sun or a break from the wind.

Companion planting is another weapon in the organic grower's armoury and helps the natural systems of the garden to work in harmony.

Companion Planting for Better Pollination

Some great plants to grow for pollinators include:

• borage
• calendula
• poached egg plant
• dandelions
• thistles
• nettles - these provide a place for butterflies to breed

Companion Planting for Pest Management

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are a great edible plant, but you can also use them as a sacrificial plant as they attract black fly and cabbage white butterflies. By planting these near crops that are affected by these pests - such as runner beans and brassicas - we hope that the nasturtiums will bear the brunt of the attack and our prized crops will be left alone.

Cosmos, Fennel, Dill

If you allow all these plants to flower in your garden they will attract lacewings and ladybirds, whose larvae predate on aphids.

Companion Planting for Pest Management in a Brassica Bed

After the crops in my brassica bed have overwintered and I have got all the leaves I want from them, I let them flower. This provides early nectar forage for beneficial insects right at the start of the year and will hopefully encourage more predating insects to breed in the garden.

Companion Planting for Pest Management in a Tomato Bed

Mexican Marigolds

The strong odour of this flower is said to deter black flies and other sap suckers.

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums will also attract black flies and hopefully keep them away from my crops.

Both of these flowers will also attract pollinators, which I want to encourage to come to my tomato bed to pollinate my tomato plants.