Everything you need to know about mixed plantings on your property

Mixed vegetable plantings Many renowned agronomists use this technique. By planting certain crops together, you can reap a large harvest even from a small plot. This approach saves space, protects plants from disease, and improves the appearance of your garden beds.

What are the advantages of mixed plantings?

Even those with large plots of land can find it difficult to fit everything they want to plant. Ordinary gardeners, whose plots rarely exceed 600 square meters, face this problem even more often. Mixed plantings can be a very successful solution. Several crops can be planted in a single bed.

Each garden plant has its own unique growth characteristics, soil requirements, and light levels. Some have roots that extend deep into the soil, while others are located near the surface, drawing nutrients from the topsoil. Some plants repel pests that attack more susceptible garden crops. By properly combining these characteristics, you can not only save space but also naturally provide plants with all the nutrients they need, protect them from pests, and speed up the ripening of fruits.

Mixed plantings are not only beneficial and healthy, but also beautiful. These beds look unusual and attract attention. Some gardeners combine crops to create a beautiful appearance. There are many varieties of lettuce and cabbage with unusual leaves and colors. They can be planted next to familiar plants, and the appearance of the garden will immediately change. Mixed plantings have other advantages as well:

• the harvest can be collected throughout the season;
• planting some plants directly into the beds attracts a large number of pollinating bees;
• weeds need to be removed less frequently;
• the frequency of watering is reduced;
• Microelements secreted by the roots of some plants have a positive effect on the size and taste of fruits growing nearby.

What plants should be planted nearby?

When planning garden beds, it's important to consider the different characteristics of crops to ensure they can be combined correctly. For example, tall, sturdy plants act as support when planted next to vines. Corn and cucumbers are classic companions in this case. Corn provides some shade for the cucumbers, acts as a trellis, and protects the vines from the wind.

A striking example of a successful combination is the joint planting of corn, beans, and pumpkin. These crops, growing side by side, are known as the "three sisters." Corn serves as support for the climbing beans. Pumpkin shades the soil surface with its thick leaves, preventing moisture evaporation and reducing the need for weeding. Beans, acting as a green manure, enrich the soil with nitrogen, which is essential for corn and pumpkin.

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Experienced gardeners actively use aromatic and flavorful herbs, as well as plants from the onion family, to create companion plantings. Lettuce or cabbage and plants from the labiate family (mint, sage, lemon balm, monarda, hyssop, or rosemary) make excellent companions. Mint, sage, and rosemary are very fragrant. This scent repels slugs, which attack the delicate leaves of lettuce or cabbage.

Onions and garlic also repel many pests. A very successful combination is growing onions and carrots in the same bed. This provides a double benefit. The pungent smell of onions repels carrot flies, and the smell of carrots is disliked by onion flies, which attack the bulbs and can destroy the crop.

Peppers prefer moist soil, so dwarf basil can be planted nearby. This herb not only helps retain moisture in the soil when planted very densely, but also repels aphids and spider mites. It can be planted next to strawberries. Based on the growth habits of various crops, it can be concluded that ideal companion plants include:

• corn - beans, cucumbers, pumpkin, melon;
• pepper - carrots, cucumbers, basil, dill, coriander, onions;
• cucumbers - corn, beans, lettuce, radishes, cabbage, sunflower;
• tomatoes - carrots, garlic, parsley, onions;
• onions - carrots, cabbage, lettuce;
• carrots - onions, marigolds, greens;
• white cabbage - marigolds, beans, celery, rosemary.

When planning your garden beds, consider the root depths of different crops and their ripening times. For example, you can plant several plants at once, each ripening at different times, thus avoiding interference. Other important points to consider include:

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• the main vegetable crop is planted in the center of the bed, which will eventually occupy the entire area;
• for side planting, choose low-growing plants with a weak root system;
• If plants are located close to each other, it is worth planting greens or radishes between them.

Mixing different garden crops together allows you to grow a bountiful harvest, save space, and protect plants from pests. Herbs, onions, and garlic repel insects that can destroy some root vegetables. Planting honey plants in garden beds is very beneficial for improving fruit set.