Companion Planting - Comparison of Garden Pro Advice

OBJECTIVE: This guide surveys four companion planting guides to reveal the relative degrees of agreement among four selected gardening book authors (see references). However, regardless of consensus, companion planting recommendations are not always effective due many influences on a vegetable garden. Record your own observations to determine the best companions in your garden! HOW TO READ THE TABLES REFERENCES LEGEND • Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for GOOD companion Gardeners, Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press. • Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Pownal, VT: GOOD companion; some references do not Storey Publishing. comment if good • Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion BAD companion Planting, Sandy, UT: Silverleaf Press BAD companion; some • Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s references do not comment if bad BIBLE, North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD copyright © 2009 Plangarden

COMMON PLANT FAMILIES Brassica/Cabbage – cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, bok choi, kohlrabi, turnips, brussels sprouts, kale, radish Legume – “grain legumes”, e.g. beans, peas, soy beans, peanuts; and “forage legumes”, e.g. alfalfa, clover and vetch Lettuce (genus Lactuca sativa) – variety of garden lettuces Onion/allium – Onions, garlic, chives, leeks Nightshade (Solanaceae) – potato, tomato, petunia, eggplant, bell and chili peppers (Capsicum genus), tobacco, bella donna Parsley (Apiaceae) – celery, carrots, parsnips, parsley, dill, coriander/cilantro Spinach (Amaranthaceae) – spinach, Swiss chard, beets Squash (Curcurbitaceae) – zucchini (summer squashes), pumpkin, butternut ( winter squashes), cucumber, melon varieties Mint (Lamiaceae) – mint, basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, marjoram and other herbs copyright © 2009 Plangarden

Table I Beans, bush/pole Bell Peppers Table II shows other companions Brassica-Cabbage Carrots Corn Cucumbers Lettuce Onion/Allium Peas copyright © 2009 Plangarden Potatoes Radishes Spinach Tomatoes Zucchini/squash

Table II Beans, bush/pole TREE & PLANT ALERTS! Bell Peppers • Apple trees can harm potatoes Brassica/Cabbage • Black walnut trees can harm Carrots tomatoes and many other vegetables; keep it at a Corn distance from veg garden. Cucumbers • Keep absinthe wormwood Lettuce out of veg garden Onion/Allium Peas copyright © 2009 Plangarden Potatoes Radishes Spinach Tomatoes Zucchini/squash

LEGEND Beans, bush/pole* Companion rating Beets / GOOD companion Cabbage / GOOD companion; some references do not Carrots comment if good Corn BAD companion Fennel / BAD companion; some references do not Onion/allium family comment if bad Squash CONFLICTING info; some references say Strawberries / GOOD; others say BAD *Bush beans and pole beans can have opposite reactions to companion plants. Check your companion planting guides to make sure that the type of bean is specified. See Tables I and II. REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Bell/Sweet Peppers Companion rating Basil GOOD companion Beans GOOD companion; some references do not Carrots comment if good Fennel BAD companion Kohlrabi BAD companion; some references do not Onions comment if bad Oregano & Marjoram CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Brassica/cabbage Companion rating Aromatic herbs/Mint family GOOD companion Beans, bush GOOD companion; some references do not Beans, pole comment if good Celery BAD companion Onion/Allium family BAD companion; some references do not Potatoes comment if bad Strawberries CONFLICTING info; some references say Tomatoes GOOD; others say BAD Ref. 1 – Keep lettuce away from decomposing cabbage family crops like broccoli, as the latter exudes a toxic chemical. Ref. 1 – Unlike the nightshade family, brassica generally don’t mind being planted next to other cole crops as long as the soil is rich in nutrients. REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Carrots Companion rating Chives/Onions GOOD companion Dill GOOD companion; some references do not Cucumbers comment if good Lettuce BAD companion Peas BAD companion; some references do not Radishes comment if bad Sage CONFLICTING info; some references say Tomatoes GOOD; others say BAD Ref. 4 – Carrots do not appear to thrive near other members of the parsley family, like dill and celery. Ref. 2, 3 - Carrots give off a fluid or “exudate” that seems to help peas grow more vigorously. REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Corn Companion rating Beans GOOD companion Cucumbers GOOD companion; some references do not Melons comment if good Peas BAD companion Potatoes BAD companion; some references do not Squash (winter & summer) comment if bad Tomatoes CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Cucumbers Companion rating Aromatic Herbs/Mint family GOOD companion Beans GOOD companion; some references do not Brassica/Cabbage family comment if good Celery BAD companion Corn BAD companion; some references do not Lettuce comment if bad Potatoes CONFLICTING info; some references say Radishes GOOD; others say BAD Sunflowers Tomatoes REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Lettuce Companion rating Beets GOOD companion Brassica/cabbage GOOD companion; some references do not Carrots comment if good Cucumbers BAD companion Radishes BAD companion; some references do not Strawberries comment if bad CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD Ref. 1 – Research has shown that lettuce is sensitive to toxins found in decaying broccoli & broad beans; when these decomposing plants touch developing lettuce roots, lesions & rot occur. REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Onion/Allium family Companion rating Beans/peas GOOD companion Beets GOOD companion; some references do not Cabbage comment if good Lettuce BAD companion Sage BAD companion; some references do not Strawberries comment if bad Tomatoes CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Peas Companion rating Brassica/cabbage GOOD companion Carrots GOOD companion; some references do not Corn comment if good Cucumbers BAD companion Onion/Allium family BAD companion; some references do not Potatoes comment if bad Radishes CONFLICTING info; some references say Spinach GOOD; others say BAD Tomatoes REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Potatoes Companion rating Apple trees GOOD companion Beans GOOD companion; some references do not Brassica/cabbage comment if good Corn BAD companion Peas BAD companion; some references do not Tomatoes comment if bad CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Radishes Companion rating Beans GOOD companion Brassica/cabbage GOOD companion; some references do not Carrots comment if good Lettuce BAD companion Peas BAD companion; some references do not Squash comment if bad Tomatoes CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Spinach Companion rating Beans GOOD companion Brassica/cabbage GOOD companion; some references do not Celery comment if good Onion/Allium family BAD companion Peas BAD companion; some references do not Potatoes comment if bad Strawberries CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Tomatoes Companion rating Asparagus GOOD companion Basil GOOD companion; some references do not Brassica/cabbage comment if good Carrots BAD companion Celery BAD companion; some references do not Fennel comment if bad Onion/Allium family CONFLICTING info; some references say Parsley GOOD; others say BAD Potatoes Ref. 2 - Tomatoes generally do not mind being replanted in the same area year after year as long as it is free of disease and the soil is healthy and rich in nutrients. REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

LEGEND Zucchini/s.squash Companion rating Beans GOOD companion Corn GOOD companion; some references do not Potatoes comment if good Radishes BAD companion Sunflowers BAD companion; some references do not comment if bad CONFLICTING info; some references say GOOD; others say BAD REFERENCES: 1. Carr, Anna 1985. Good Neighbors: Companion Planting for Gardeners, Rodale Press; 2. Riotte, Louise 1975. Carrots Love Tomatoes, Storey Publishing; 3. Little, Brenda 2008. Secrets of Companion Planting, Silverleaf Press; 4. Smith, Edward C. 2000. The Vegetable Gardener’s BIBLE, Storey Publishing. copyright © 2009 Plangarden

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Companion Planting - Comparison of Garden Pro Advice

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