"Friends" and "enemies" of sweet peppers - you need to "know them by sight"

Gardeners strive to wisely plant their crops in their gardens. Mixed planting can help grow a diverse crop of vegetables even in small plots. Bell peppers can be planted with a variety of plants, but it's important to know which ones will be pleasant neighbors and which ones will be bitter enemies. When doing this, it's important to follow the basics of crop rotation.

Advantages and disadvantages of mixed plantings

Bell peppers are a finicky vegetable and love warmth. That's why they're planted in greenhouses, but they also thrive in open ground. Space is limited indoors, and the plants are often close together. Humid indoor conditions encourage disease growth. Preventing potential diseases is important. Crops that repel harmful insects and prevent bacterial growth are ideal companions for peppers.

Gardeners have long been mixing different crops. The advantages of this method:

• the land is used economically;
• self-defense of plants;
• energy saving, less watering and fertilizing;
• different plants are grown at the same time;
• the taste of vegetables improves noticeably.

Neighborhood options

You can plant next to bell peppers:

1. Corn. If planted lengthwise, it will provide shade from direct sunlight and cold winds. To prevent corn from blocking direct sunlight, plant it on the north side.
2. Eggplant. They belong to the same family. Therefore, they have similar growing requirements. They require timely watering and similar weather conditions. These factors make care easier.
3. Cauliflower and white cabbage grow well alongside our Bulgarian guest. However, it's important to keep in mind that cabbage requires a lot of moisture. It's best to plant them in nearby beds in open ground. Cabbage's large leaves will provide shelter from the cold.
4. It's not recommended to plant carrots together because of the fly. The disease can spread to the Bulgarian carrots as well. Carrots can be planted in a nearby bed, and they will coexist peacefully.
5. Zucchini are also acceptable as a neighbor. However, their leaves will slightly shade the surrounding area.
6. Beans are a suitable neighbor. They enrich the soil with nitrogen and also provide protection from pests that are intolerant of legumes. Gardeners plant bush beans, considering them particularly beneficial. Peas and legumes have a negative impact.
7. Tomatoes and peppers can grow together outdoors. However, since tomatoes prefer a ventilated area and peppers prefer warmth, it's not a good idea to plant them in the same greenhouse.
8. Onions and garlic are also known as plant healers. They take up minimal space, "helping" plants grow and bear fruit. They release phytoncides that repel pests and bacteria from growing crops.

Herbs have similar properties. For non-self-pollinating pepper varieties, they help attract insects.

Even harmful weeds and flowers can benefit peppers. Dandelions, nettles, marigolds, and daisies promote rapid ripening of the vegetables. They protect against disease, enrich the soil with essential minerals, and make gardening easier. In greenhouses, they should be kept singly, otherwise they will overtake the entire space. Dandelions promote rapid ripening of the fruit.

What should not be placed nearby

Many vegetable crops coexist peacefully with the Bulgarian plant, but there are some that should never be planted nearby. Under the influence of these enemies, the plant's yield will decrease, and the entire plant may die.

Unfavorable neighbors:

1. Potatoes. The vegetables will compete for nutrients, with potatoes winning because they produce larger tubers. These crops share similar problems, so they will be susceptible to insect pests and fungal diseases.
2. Beets. A constant battle for minerals, beets rob the plant of most nutrients and sunlight. The situation is very similar to that of potatoes, only slightly different, but essentially the same.

Other pepper relatives have similar growing conditions. They could be neighbors, but there's a catch. For example, a hot and a sweet pepper can cross-pollinate. The entire crop could be somewhat bitter.

It is best to place different types of peppers in different corners of the plot.

Correct placement in an open area

In open ground, "Bulgarian" thrives alongside many crops that have phytoncidal properties and a distinctive aroma. The aroma provides protection from insects. This combination can be achieved by creating mixed beds. Several plants are planted in a bed and cultivated simultaneously. Various plants are planted between the rows. The crop requires support and protection from the wind, with the addition of herbs. You can plant a few:

• thyme;
• basil;
• dill.

Carrots, eggplants, and zucchini require similar care. They thrive in open ground. Maintaining them will save the gardener's energy. Some ornamental plants stimulate the ripening of fruits. For example, nettles and chamomile will help peppers develop faster. However, it's important to monitor the spread of these weeds and weed them regularly.

In a greenhouse

Since greenhouses are small and humidity is high, plant companions must be chosen carefully. Diseases develop quickly in a humid environment. Gardeners strive to plan their greenhouse space as best they can to prevent disease infestations.

It is not advisable to plant crops from the same family:

1. Tomatoes and eggplants suffer from the same diseases.
2. Infections are easily transferred from one bush to another.
3. Poor ventilation threatens the loss of the entire harvest.

Ornamental plants (chamomile, dandelions, nasturtiums) have a beneficial effect on vegetable crops, increasing their yield. Legumes, peas, and beans are quite dangerous in greenhouses. Beets and certain varieties of cabbage negatively affect crop development. Fennel is an aggressive plant. Its aromatic compounds are detrimental to many crops, including peppers.

Predecessor vegetable

It's best to grow vegetables in different beds each year. Plants can be grown in the same soil for up to three years. Pepper relatives should also not be planted in the same spot. It's best to rotate the location each year.

After peppers it is not recommended to plant:

• cucumbers;
• zucchini;
• pumpkin crops.

They'll completely absorb all the nutrients from the soil. The soil will become depleted. But other vegetables will easily replenish the balance.

Reviews

All gardeners should be aware of crop proximity and adhere to it. This will help them manage crop distribution within their plot. Many recommend creating a crop rotation plan for the following years.

Natalia, 32 years old

I always plant onions and peppers in open ground. Several bulbs are planted between the plants. When the onions ripen, we pull them up for food. However, the vegetable still has time to sprout and begin to bear fruit. Thanks to their proximity, the bulbs are larger than in a separate bed. The peppers are disease-free.

Love, 65 years old

To protect against diseases, I use an infused liquid. I soak nettles, dandelions, and other plants in water. After soaking for several days, I water my bell peppers with this liquid. It's excellent for fighting diseases and insects. Zucchini grow next to the bell peppers in the greenhouse.

Everything is growing well, the whole bed doesn’t take up much space.

Kristina, 47 years old

For a long time, I couldn't figure out why my harvest was so small. The reason turned out to be simple. In my garden, my peppers are planted in an open area, with beets growing right next to them. It turns out the beets were taking all the nutrients the peppers needed for proper development.

Now I have corrected the situation, the harvest is coming in!..