Companion Planting
Herbs as Companion Plants
Some herbs and other plants can be planted strategically to ensure they have maximum effect on protecting those crops intended for harvest. Inevitably, every budding grower will discover that certain crops intended for the one will end up being the other. Take comfrey, for instance. When we moved onto our property, it was growing like a weed in one corner but, on discovering that slugs and snails like to eat it, we planted it out to protect our valuable lettuces and other coveted crops. It subsequently has grown big enough to feed all the insects that like to indulge themselves, while still producing enough to provide fodder and medicine for pigs and horses respectively. We even then have enough left over to concoct and sell herbal treatments from it!
So some plants intended purely as pesticides, sometimes prove to be much more. Here are a few that we Peas have discovered that have dual purpose:
Borage Borago officinalis
This is an excellent companion plant, as it accumulates silica and potassium, which are great for flowers and fruits. Borage is especially good planted among strawberries and seems to enhance the flavour as well as the yield. It is a good companion to cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, pumpkin, tomatoes and squash, and its blue flowers attract bees to your garden.
Borage also has culinary uses and is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins. It can also be used to reduce fevers, soothe insect bites, swellings and bruising. Taken as a tea at night it is both delicious and aids a peaceful night’s sleep.
Good companions
As established in the introduction to this section, this method operates on a number of different premises. This first list is based on the concept of creating a diverse crop population where each vegetable lives happily alongside its neighbours – which is a lot more than can be said for many humans! Imagine planting Madonna next to the Pope – it’s obvious that their needs and routines will lead them to live less happily in such close proximity to one another. That’s kind of the way it works with plants but, like husband and wife, there’s also some that bloom in the company of others:
Beans and potatoes grow happily together
Peas and carrots get along like peas in a pod
Peas and turnips flourish as neighbours
Cabbage and beetroot live together in perfect harmony
Spinach and cauliflower enjoy one another’s company
Spinach (a bit of a tart) also likes aubergine/eggplant/zucchini – which doesn’t mind him either!
From personal Pea experience, we have also found that radishes and peas grow well together, with radishes benefiting both from the shade and the nitrogen-fixing properties of the peas. The peas just like radishes because of their cute red bottoms. There are numerous planting guides on the web so browse a little and you’ll inevitably find one that works for you.
Another facet of companion planting is to plant certain species precisely because of their beneficial effects on other plants.