Complementary Crops That Will Boost Your Yields

Complementary Crops That Will Boost Your Yields

Companion planting is a gardening practice that involves planting different types of plants together to benefit each other. There are many different benefits to companion planting, including:

• Increased yields
• Improved pest and disease control
• Enhanced pollination
• Improved soil health

When choosing companion plants, it is important to consider the needs of each plant. Some plants, for example, attract beneficial insects that help to control pests. Others, such as legumes, fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit other plants.

There are many different companion planting combinations that you can try. Here are a few examples:

• Beans and corn: Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which corn can use. Corn provides shade and support for beans.
• Cabbage and tomatoes: Cabbage attracts pests away from tomatoes. Tomatoes release a chemical that helps to repel cabbageworms.
• Lettuce and carrots: Lettuce shades the roots of carrots, keeping them cool and moist. Carrots help to suppress weeds that can compete with lettuce.
• Peas and onions: Peas fix nitrogen in the soil, which onions can use. Onions repel aphids, which can damage peas.
• Potatoes and marigolds: Marigolds repel nematodes, which can damage potatoes. Potatoes provide shade and support for marigolds.

These are just a few examples of companion planting combinations. There are many other possibilities, so experiment and find what works best for you.

Benefits of Companion Planting

There are many benefits to companion planting, including:

• Increased yields: Companion planting can help to increase yields by attracting beneficial insects, suppressing pests and diseases, and improving soil health.
• Improved pest and disease control: Companion plants can help to repel pests and diseases, which can help to protect your crops. For example, marigolds repel nematodes, which can damage potatoes.
• Enhanced pollination: Some companion plants attract pollinators, which can help to improve pollination and fruit set. For example, lavender attracts bees, which can help to pollinate tomatoes.
• Improved soil health: Companion planting can help to improve soil health by fixing nitrogen, suppressing weeds, and providing shade and support for other plants.

How to Choose Companion Plants

When choosing companion plants, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• The needs of the plants: Consider the needs of each plant when choosing companion plants. For example, some plants need full sun, while others prefer partial shade. Some plants need well-drained soil, while others prefer moist soil.
• The purpose of companion planting: Are you planting companion plants to attract beneficial insects, suppress pests and diseases, improve pollination, or improve soil health? Once you know the purpose of companion planting, you can choose plants that will help you achieve your goals.
• The compatibility of the plants: Some plants do not get along well together. For example, tomatoes and potatoes should not be planted together, as they can compete for nutrients. Do some research to make sure that the plants you are considering are compatible.

Conclusion

Companion planting is a great way to improve your yields, control pests and diseases, and improve soil health. There are many different companion planting combinations that you can try, so experiment and find what works best for you.

Complementary crops are plants that benefit each other when grown together. They can attract beneficial insects, repel pests, improve soil quality, or provide shade. There are many different complementary crop combinations, but some of the most popular include:

• Tomatoes and basil: Basil repels thrips and other pests that can damage tomatoes. It also improves the flavor of tomatoes.
• Carrots and onions: Onions repel the carrot fly, which can damage carrots. They also help to keep the soil around carrots loose and friable.
• Beans and corn: Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits corn. Corn provides shade for beans, which helps to keep them cool.
• Marigolds and cabbage: Marigolds attract beneficial insects that prey on pests that damage cabbage. They also help to deter rabbits and other garden pests.

If you're interested in learning more about complementary crops, I recommend visiting Garden Wiki. This website has a comprehensive list of complementary crop combinations, as well as information on the benefits of companion planting.

FAQ of complementary crops examples

Q: What are complementary crops?

A: Complementary crops are plants that are grown together in a way that benefits each other. They may attract different pollinators, deter pests, or help to improve the soil.

Q: What are some examples of complementary crops?

A: Here are some examples of complementary crops:

• Beans and corn: Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits the corn. Corn provides shade for the beans, which helps to protect them from pests.
• Carrots and onions: Carrots repel onion flies, while onions repel carrot root fly.
• Lettuce and tomatoes: Lettuce shades the tomatoes, which helps to protect them from sunscald. Tomatoes attract pollinators, which benefit the lettuce.
• Peas and peppers: Peas fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits the peppers. Peppers deter aphids, which can be a problem for peas.
• Spinach and strawberries: Spinach shades the strawberries, which helps to protect them from the sun. Strawberries attract pollinators, which benefit the spinach.

Q: How do I choose complementary crops?

A: When choosing complementary crops, there are a few things to consider:

• The plants' growth habits: Some plants, such as beans, grow tall and need support, while others, such as lettuce, grow low to the ground.
• The plants' nutrient needs: Some plants, such as tomatoes, are heavy feeders, while others, such as spinach, are not.
• The plants' pest and disease resistance: Some plants, such as onions, are resistant to pests and diseases, while others, such as peas, are not.

Q: Where can I find more information about complementary crops?

A: There are a number of resources available to learn more about complementary crops. Here are a few suggestions:

• The Rodale Institute has a comprehensive website with information on companion planting.
• The University of California, Davis has a publication on companion planting that is available online.
• The National Gardening Association has a blog post on companion planting that provides tips and advice.

Image of complementary crops examples

5 different images of complementary crops examples from Pinterest:

• Beans and corn: Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which corn benefits from. Corn provides shade for beans, which helps to protect them from pests.
• Carrots and onions: Carrots and onions repel each other's pests, so they can be planted together to help keep each other healthy.
• Lettuce and tomatoes: Lettuce shades the soil around tomatoes, which helps to keep the soil cool and moist. Tomatoes provide support for lettuce, which can be top-heavy.
• Peas and marigolds: Peas attract pollinators, which help to fertilize marigolds. Marigolds repel pests, which helps to protect peas.
• Spinach and strawberries: Spinach shades the soil around strawberries, which helps to keep the soil cool and moist. Strawberries provide support for spinach, which can be top-heavy.