What can and can't be planted next to peppers: neighborhood rules

Garden crops have varying effects on the development and flavor of peppers. Some should be planted next to hot peppers, while others will cross-pollinate and affect the flavor of the fruit. There are crops that increase yields and repel pests, while some plants, on the contrary, inhibit the development of poorly chosen neighbors.

Advantages and disadvantages of mixed plantings

Mixed plantings of different crops in a garden bed have been used since the times of the ancient Slavs and Native American tribes. This combination has its advantages. It's important to choose the right plants.

1. Garden space can be used wisely and economically. With careful selection of neighbors, you can harvest up to 15 kg per square meter.².
2. Prevent soil depletion. Plant crops that require different nutrients to grow. This will ensure a balanced composition of the soil.
3. Many plants produce phytoncidal substances that repel insects and kill bacteria and spores. Some crops also attract beneficial insects.
4. It's easy to create a favorable environment on your property. Tall crops provide natural shade from excess sun.
5. By choosing the right plants, you can improve the taste of your vegetables.

There are virtually no downsides to growing well-chosen neighbors. The only drawback is that different crops are more difficult to care for and provide favorable conditions.

You may be interested in:

Planting hot pepper seedlings - timing and features
Along with such common vegetable crops as cucumbers and tomatoes, cucumbers are very popular in the middle…Read more…

Features of crop rotation when growing hot peppers

If you follow crop rotation rules and choose the right crops for rotation, you will be able to grow a healthy, good harvest without depleting the soil.

Plants from the nightshade family require a lot of nutrients to thrive, and their presence can significantly deplete the soil. For this reason, it's best to plant easy-to-grow plants after peppers, which can also enrich the soil with nutrients.

Beans, peas, and broad beans are ideal crops to plant near peppers. These crops have a distinctive aroma that repels many insects. Legumes release nitrogen into the soil as they grow.

Favorable neighborhood

There's a list of plants that have a positive effect on the development of hot peppers. Their proximity to each other promotes faster formation of tasty fruits rather than drawing nutrients from the soil. Therefore, when planning a garden, consider in advance which plants can be planted next to hot peppers and which ones should be avoided.

Grasses make excellent neighbors, but don't overgrow them. Large thickets of weeds draw nutrients from the soil that nourish nightshades and also create a breeding ground for pests and bacteria. A few plants can be placed along the edge or in the center of the plot:

• nettles;
• spinach;
• chamomile;
• coltsfoot;
• salad.

They accelerate the process of fruit formation.

Cilantro, dill, basil, and thyme thrive alongside peppers. They also enhance the pepper's flavor. Since peppers prefer full sun, be sure to avoid shade from neighboring plants.

Tomatoes are planted in the same greenhouse as peppers. These two crops promote each other's faster and better growth. And if garlic is planted between the rows, pests are less likely to be a problem. Cucumbers can be planted next to hot peppers in a greenhouse, but be careful that the vines don't shade the shorter pepper.

Good neighbors in open ground are also carrots, cabbage, onions, celery, garlic, and any legumes.

What not to plant hot peppers with

There's a list of garden crops that are simply incompatible with hot peppers. Even if they're planted in a nearby bed, their negative impact is noticeable. With some neighbors, the peppers wither and fail to thrive, while negatively affecting the taste of others.

Don't plant hot peppers near fennel in the garden, as the plants will wilt and produce no fruit. Fennel, like its neighbor, requires a lot of nutrients, and it will quickly take them from the soil.

Also, avoid planting beets nearby. The vegetable grows quickly and vigorously. Beets shade the short, hot peppers and also have a detrimental effect on the root system. Potatoes should be planted as far away as possible. Tubers require a lot of minerals to develop, and as they grow, potatoes will absorb them from the soil, leaving none for their neighbors.

Do not plant in the same bed next to sweet and hot varieties of peppersAs the crop grows, it cross-pollinates, which affects the flavor of both varieties. Hot peppers should be planted at least 15 meters apart from sweet peppers.

Beneficial and harmful precursors

Crop rotation involves annually replacing plants on a plot of land. The rate of development and yield of peppers depend on the plant that grew in the previous season. Good yields of this pungent crop are achieved if green manure (clover, mustard) was planted in the same area the previous season.

Any legumes are good predecessors. They enrich the soil with nitrogen and potassium, so peppers thrive and don't get sick after them. Hot peppers also thrive after early cabbage (cauliflower or cabbage).

The following may also be predecessors:

• carrot;
• cucumbers;
• onion;
• garlic;
• pumpkin;
• zucchini;
• melons;
• squash;
• watermelon.

Avoid planting hot peppers after sweet peppers, tomatoes, late cabbage, corn, or beets. These crops significantly deplete the soil over the course of a season, resulting in slow growth and poor flavor.

For which plants is pepper a good predecessor?

Also, don't plant any other crops in the same bed after peppers. For some, peppers are an unfavorable predecessor. Avoid planting nightshade family crops in this spot, as the plants are very similar and susceptible to the same diseases. Avoid planting tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes for three years.

After hot peppers, you can place the following in the beds:

• legumes;
• cabbage;
• onion;
• corn;
• carrot;
• parsley;
• basil.

Green manure crops will do an excellent job of restoring the soil.

You may be interested in:

The main differences between sweet and hot pepper seedlings
If you've lost track of the pepper varieties after planting, you can still distinguish between bitter and sweet pepper seedlings by their appearance...Read more…

Mixing hot peppers with other crops yields positive results. Choosing the right neighbors is crucial. Adhering to other crop rotation principles is also crucial, such as selecting plots of land where favorable predecessors for peppers were previously grown.