Companion Planting

This is a cultural system where two or more plants are grown in close
proximity in order that they may provide some form of benefit to one or all of
them. This could be to deter or act as a decoy for pests and diseases, or to
improve growth and flavour. Sometimes it is the aromatic foliage or flowers of the
companion plant which deters the pest or draws it away.

 The improvement in growth or flavour is probably due to the

companion plant adding some of the micronutrients or the roots
may support microorganisms such as mycorrhizal fungi which
improve their uptake. In the case of legumes they fix nitrogen, and
White Clover is included in some grass seed mixes, for this reason
- it is also drought resistant so 'greens up' quicker than grass when
used in lawns.

 Some plants exude protective chemicals called allelochemicals

from their roots or foliage which can deter pests, eg. African
Marigolds produce thiopene which repels nematodes so it makes a
good companion plant for root crops which are attacked by
nematodes. This is given the title Allelopathy. The chemicals cam
also inhibit germination of seeds; this occurs under the canopy of
many plants, most notably in pine forests where the floor remains
relatively clear of competing plants even where light can get
through, the decaying debris from the trees releases the inhibiting
compounds. Ethylene gas is produced and released from plant
tissues and it has a hormonal effect by either promoting or
inhibiting processes in plants such as germination of seeds or
ripening of fruit.

 Tall plants can provide shelter for lower-growing ones and create a
microclimate allowing them to thrive where they may not normally
grow. This may also protect them from pests. This effect is used in
the Permaculture growing technique and land which would not
support a crop grown on its own, or where space is at a premium,
 can become productive, as several crops together provide mutual
benefits.

 Beneficial insects can be attracted to a cropping area by planting

something which they use as a food nearby, eg. adult Hover Flies
feed on nectar, but their larvae feed on aphids so planting
nectar-rich flowering plants will attract them and they will lay their
eggs on plants where there are pests.

Marigolds and Garlic have a reputation for repelling a number of insect pests
such as Aphids and Carrot Root Flies. The Mexican Marigold, Tagetes minuta or
Muster-John-Henry, is an annual which grows to about 1.2 m (the species name
refers to the flowers not the height of the plant) The roots have an insecticidal
effect on nematodes and some effect on keeled slugs. The secretions
responsible begin about 3 months after sowing and also affect the growth of
Ground-elder (Aegopodium podagraria), Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis),
Couch grass (Agropyron repens), Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria ) and
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea). It is grown as a half-hardy annual which can
be planted out after the risk of frost has passed, but this does not usually give
them a long enough growth period to flower and set seed in Britain.
Deadheading prolongs the growth for protection purposes.

In sub-Saharan Africa the maize and sorghum crops are greatly weakened by a
parasitic weed called African Witchweed (Striga hermonthica) which attaches to
the roots and extracts nourishment. Using a herbicide wouold kill the host plant
as well. Fortunately there is a companion plant, the Cowpea (Desmodium
uncinatum) which releases an allelopathic chemical that kills the weed seeds as
they germinate.
The Cowpea is also a deterrent to a moth, the Spotted Stemborer (Chilo
partellus ) which lays its eggs on the stems of maize and sorghum, then the
developing caterpillar eats its way up the inside of the stem. This deterrence is
helped by planting another companion or trap crop, around the maize which
appears to be a better place for the moth to lay its eggs, but the plant, Napier
Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) produces a gummy sap that kills the caterpillars.
This growing method has been given the name "push-pull" as the Cowpea
pushes the moth away while the Napier Grass pulls them towards it. This is a
much more sustainable method of increasing crop yields than developing
genetically modified plants

CROP COMPANION PLANTS INCOMPATIBLE WITH

Asparagus Tomato, Parsley, Basil

Beans Most Vegetables & Herbs

Potato, Cucumber, Maize, Strawberry,

Beans, Broad Onion
Celery, Summer Savory

Beans, Onion, Beets, Kohlrabi,

Maize, Summer Savory, Radish
Runner Sunflower

Aromatic Herbs, Celery, Beetroot,

Cabbage Dill, Strawberries, Runner
Onion Family, Chamomile, Spinach,
Family Beans, Tomato
Chard

Pea, Lettuce, Rosemary, Onion Family,

Carrots
Sage, Tomato

Onion & Cabbage Families, Tomato,

Celery Dill
Broad Beans, Nasturtium

Cucumber Beans, Maize, Pea, Sunflowers, Radish Potato, Aromatic Herbs

Aubergine
Broad Beans, Marigold
(Eggplant)

Lettuce Carrot, Radish, Strawberry, Cucumber

Potato, Broad Beans, Pea, Pumpkin,

Maize (Corn) Tomato
Cucumber, Squash

Melon Maize, Nasturtium, Radish,

Beetroot, Carrot, Lettuce, Cabbage

Onion Family Beans, Peas
Family

Parsley Tomato, Asparagus

Carrots, Radish, Turnip, Cucumber, Onion Family, Gladiolus,

Peas
Maize, Beans Potato
 Beans, Maize, Cabbage Family, Pumpkin, Squash, Tomato,
Potato
Marigolds, Horseradish Cucumber, Sunflower

Pumpkins Maize, Marigold Potato

Radish Pea, Nasturtium, Lettuce, Cucumber Hyssop

Spinach Strawberry, Cauliflower, Celery

Squash Nasturtium, Maize, Marigold Potato

Strawberry Broad Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach Cabbage

Basil, Onion Family, Nasturtium,

Potato, Fennel, Cabbage
Tomato Marigold, Asparagus, Carrot, Parsley,
Family
Cucumber, Mint

Turnip Pea Potato

This is a table of herbs which can be used to repel insects and the plants they
can be used to protect. The final column gives the plants for which they are bad
companions and some other points of note.

COMPANION PESTS
HERB INCOMPATIBILITIES
FOR REPELLED

aphids, carrot
vegetables, fruit flies, moles, tree
Allium (Onion Family) peas and beans
trees borers, and
weevils

Angelica (Angelica
Dill
archangelica)

Basil (Ocimum
Tomatoes Flies, Mosquitoes Rue
basilicum)

Bay leaves beans or grains weevils and moths

Borage (Borago Tomatoes,

Tomato Worm
officinalis) Squash,
 Strawberries

Caper Spurge or Mole

poisonous, irritant
Plant (Euphorbia Moles and Mice
milky sap
lathyris

Good for
Caraway (Carum carvi) loosening the Avoid Dill
soil.

Castor Oil Plant seeds extremely

Moles
(Ricinus communis). poisonous

Catnip (Nepeta
Aubergine Flea Beetle, Ants
cataria)

Chamomile
Cabbage, Onion
(Chamaemilum nobile)

Coriander (Coriandrum
all vegetables Aphids attracts Bees
sativum)

Chervil (Anthriscus
Radish
cerefolium )

Chives (Allium
Carrots Root Flies
schoenoprasum)

Dill (Anethum
Cabbage Carrots and Caraway
graveolens)

Fennel (Foeniculum
Most plants
vulgare)

Feverfew
(Chrysanthemum
attracts Aphids
parthenium syn. Roses seeds freely
away
Tanacetum
parthenium)

Roses,
Garlic Aphids
Raspberries
Henbit (Lamium General Insect
amplexicaule) Repellent

Hyssop (Hyssopus Cabbage, Cabbage White

Dislikes Radishes
officinalis ) Grapes Butterflies

Moths - make
sachet with
Lavender (Lavandula southernwood,
angustifolia) wormwood and
rosemary, use in
doors

Marigolds (Tagetes Good

Nematodes,
sp.) most have companion to
Aphids and others
aromatic foliage most plants

Good insect
Mexican marigold
repellant, inhibits
(Tagetes minuta),
ground-elder and
Muster-John-Henry
some other weeds

Cabbage White
Cabbage, Butterflies,
Mint (Mentha sp. ) invasive roots
Tomatoes Aphids, Flea
Beetles

cabbage,
cauliflower, a trap crop to
Mustard (Brassica
radish, brussel attract many
juncea)
sprouts, turnips, insect pests
and kohlrabi

Radishes,
Cabbage, Aphids, Squash
Nasturtium
Squashes and Bugs, Striped
(Tropaeolum majus)
Pumpkims, fruit Pumpkin Beetle
trees

Oregano(Origanum Brassicas Cabbage

vulgare) Butterflies

Pennyroyal (Mentha Flies, Mosquitoes,

Roses invasive roots
pulegium ) Fleas, others

Petunia (Petunia
Beans
hybrida)

Tomato Worm,
Pot Marigold
Tomatoes Asparagus
(Calendula officinalis)
Beetles, Whitefly

Pyrethrums Dried flower

(Chrysanthemum heads make an
cinaeriofolium) insecticide.

Cabbage, Cabbage
Rosemary
Beans, Carrots, Butterflies, Bean
(Rosmarinus officinalis
Sage Beetle, Carrot Fly

Roses and
Rue (Ruta gaveolens) Japanese Beetles Dislikes Sweet Basil
Raspberries

Rosemary, Cabbage Moth,

Sage (Salvia
Cabbage, Carrot Fly, Flea Dislikes Cucumbers
officinalis)
Carrots Beetle, Slugs

Southernwood Cabbage
Cabbages
(Artemesia abrotanum) Butterflies

Summer Savory
Beans Bean Beetles
(Satureia hortensis )

Flying Insects,
Fruit Trees, Japanese Beetles,
Tansy (Tanacetum
Roses, Striped Cucumber
vulgare)
Raspberries Beetles, Squash
Bugs, Ants, Flies

Thyme (Thymus
Cabbage Cabbage Worm
vulgaris)

Wormwood (Artemisia Moths, Slugs, Fresh material will

absinthium) Carrot Fly. Plant stunt growth of young
at boundaries to plants, use dried sprigs
keep animals out
of the garden.

Plant near
Attracts Hover
aromatic herbs
Yarrow (Achillea Flies and their
to enhance
millefolium ) larvae prey on
production of
Aphids
essential oils.