Tuesday, February 26, 2013

My Top 5 Veggies and Companion Planting

This is a quick and easy list of my top 5 easiest veggies to grow and a short description of their companion plants.  I sent our this information in a newsletter.  If you have not yet signed up you can send me a private email to mari_backtonature@yahoo.com with the subject "Newsletter."

Enjoy!

Back in December I asked all of you what YOU would like to see in our weekly/monthly newsletters.  So far I've shared  Container Gardening (part 1 and 2), along with Composting basics and New Arrival announcements.

Brand NEW items:  Rosemary,  "Allergy",  Chamomile and "Flashes"
Tincture Kits are NOW available!
***Seed Specials and Announcement below!!!***


Companion Planting Made Simple - Top 5

Below is a list of our top 5 varieties. 

Companion planting means based around the idea that certain plants can benefit others when planted next to, or close to one another.
Companion planting exists to benefit certain plants by giving them pest control, naturally without the need to use chemicals, and in some cases they can give a higher crop yield .

You can find a complete list of Companion plants at Back to the Basics.




Companions-asparagus, basil, bean, Borage, carrots, celery, chive, cucumber, dill, garlic, head lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, pea, pepper, marigold, pot marigold and sow thistle. One drawback with tomatoes and carrots: tomato plants can stunt the growth of your carrots but the carrots will still be of good flavor. Borage deters tomato worm, improves growth and flavor.

Enemies- corn and tomato are attacked by the same worm. Kohlrabi stunts tomato growth. Keep potatoes and tomatoes apart as they both can get early and late blight contaminating each other. Keep apricot, dill, fennel, cabbage and cauliflower away from them. 



Sweet Peppers: tomatoes, parsley, basil, geraniums, marjoram, lovage, petunia and carrots, onions. Don't plant them near fennel or kohlrabi.

Hot Peppers: Chili peppers have root exudates that prevent root rot and other Fusarium diseases. Tomato plants, green peppers, and okra are good protection for them. Teas made from hot peppers can be useful as insect sprays. Hot peppers like to be grouped with cucumbers, eggplant, escarole, tomato, okra, Swiss chard and squash. Herbs to plant near them include: basils, oregano, parsley and rosemary. Never put them next to any beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts or fennel.




Companions: beets, broccoli, bush beans, pole beans, carrots, cucumbers, onion, radish and strawberries. Keep lettuce away from cabbage.
Chard: bean, cabbage family, tomato, onion and roses. Don't grow chard near cucurbits, melons, corn or herbs. Plant dill and parsnips away from carrots.

Spinach: peas and beans as they provide natural shade for the spinach. Gets along with cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, onion, peas, strawberries and squash.



Companions: corn and beans, peas, beets, radishes and carrots. Radishes are a good deterrent against cucumber beetles.
Dill planted with cucumbers helps by attracting beneficial predators. Nasturtium improves growth and flavor.
Keep sage, potatoes and rue away from cucumbers.


Eggplant
Companions:  amaranth, beans, peas, spinach, tarragon, thyme and marigold.
Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family and does well with peppers as they like the same growing conditions.

Have you enjoyed them so far?  If you missed any of them or they were "lost in the mail" just let me know and I'd be happy to send you a copy.
Below are all new seeds specials and NEW stuff over at Mary's Heirloom Seeds!
Do you have additional questions or suggestions for future newsletters? 
Let us know what you think!

Sincerely,
Mary
NEW!
Have you ever considered making your own herbal remedies?
Do you already make your own herbal "medicine"?
Brand NEW items: Rosemary, "Allergy", Chamomile and "Flashes" Tincture Kits are NOW available!
**Order before March 10th and get a pack of Basil seeds FREE**

Seed Specials Feb 26th-March 10th
Long Island Brussels Sprouts, Black Beauty Eggplant, Snowball Self-blanching Cauliflower, 5 Color Silverbeet Swiss Chard,
Tom Thumb Lettuce and Emerald Green Tomatoes.


*Linking up HERE and Wildcrafting Wednesday*

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think I knew about dill & tomatoes not getting along. Thanks!

Heavenly Bodies said...

Thanks for blogging this, I got the newsletter, but couldn't pin it, now I can thanks.

Unknown said...

I grew tomatoes last year, for the first time in years. I need tips!!

Linking with my Ladies

http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/

Diana of Diana Rambles said...

This year will be my 2nd for a garden!

Unknown said...

Great gardening minds must think alike. These are my faves to grow, too. I'll be planting tomatoes this weekend!!!!

Unknown said...

Visiting from Lovely Crafty Home! What planting zone are you in? Thank you for sharing these tips! Planning my first mini garden!

Anonymous said...

I was very surprised last year at what a difference companion planting can make! In particular, it was fantastic growing radishes and carrots between my rows of lettuce and spinach, since the shade from the lettuce kept the root veggies from getting those hard, nasty cores.

Came here via Chic on a Shoestring. If you haven't already, I'd love if you'd come join my How To Tuesday link party, too.

http://housewifehowtos.com/link-party-2/how-to-tuesday-link-party-10/

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing! Some great information for when I start my vegetable garden. I can`t wait to read more of your blog, since I`m a beginner gardener. :)

New follower from Sew Many Ways!

-Cole
http://youngmommymemoirs.blogspot.ca/

Barb said...

Except for the eggplant, those are all our top ones. Every year, we plant about 40 tomato plants.

Thanks for linking up at Fabulously Frugal Thursday.

cassandrasminicorner said...

Hmmn, yum! Fresh veggies are always the best! I can't wait to start my garden and plant my vegetable seeds..

http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2013/02/how-to-make-green-papaya-pickle-filipino-style.html

Stopping bu from Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop- hope you can stop by :)

Ellen said...

I can't wait till spring so I can get outside in the garden again!

Unknown said...

I'm so excited it's nearly spring and time to get out in the garden! I grow all the favs except the eggplant...never tried it. I stopped by from the Sincerely Paula blog hop. I wanted to invite you to share your post at my party going on now.

Anonymous said...

Great post, Mary!

Thanks for sharing at the Blog Fest! Always a pleasure to find your posts in the list!

~Kristi@Let This Mind Be in You

Betsy Pool said...

Great information!! Thanks for sharing!

Lisa Lynn said...

Thanks so much for sharing this on The HomeAcre Hop! Hope to see you tomorrow for a special hop and announcement! :)
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/the-homeacre-hop-9.html

Unknown said...

Thanks for the tips! I'd like to put more thought and energy into companion planting, so this post is the perfect thing.
(stopping by from An Oregon Cottage)

Lisa Lynn said...

Such great veggies! Thanks for sharing your talent on The Creative HomeAcre Hop!
Our next party goes live Sunday morning at:
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/the-creative-homeacre-hop-6.html

If you have a blog hop, please check out The Linky Love Party...a place to share your parties with other bloggers! Grab the button for an easy way to search for parties every week!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/lets-party.html