Today is the last series of small articles about the urban gardens that we have been writing about in our blog of Discovery Menorca. And we finish by answering one of the questions that we have been sent by some of our readers who want to know if it affects negatively or positively growing different plants together.
The answer is that it depends on the plant because there are some that compete for light, water or the same nutrients, in addition to transmitting diseases. However, planting by poly culture (different plants in one site) helps the growth and flavour of the crop because the accompanying plant adds micronutrients and even sometimes generating toxic chemical protectors for competitors or microorganisms that damage the plant partner.
So, what can we do? Let’s make a list that will be worth your while saving or memorizing to know which ones are good to mix and which aren’t.
Garlic and onions can not be planted with asparagus, French beans or peas. Onions can be planted with beetroot, carrots, chard, lettuce, peppers, cabbage, strawberry and tomatos.
Tomatoes cannot be planted near cabbages because they will stop growing, nor near sweet corn or potatoes. However; tomatoes can be planted near asparagus, carrots, celery, cucumbers, onions, parsley, peppers or mint.
Strawberries cannot be planted near any family of the cabbage, but are fine with beans, lettuce, onions and spinach. Thyme and borage protect strawberries from insects and diseases.
Zucchini can not be planted near potatoes, but goes well with sweet corn, melon, pumpkins and cucumber. Borage, calendula, capuchin and oregano provide protection.
Peppers can not be planted close to fennel or cabbage, but coexist well with carrots, eggplants, marjoram and especially with onions.
Peas stop growth if planted near garlic or onions, but are happy near beans, carrots, sweet corn, cucumber, radishes, turnips and strawberries. They benefit being near chives and mint.
Finally we would like to say that it is advisable to combine in the same area, long and short cycle plants, this way you can make better use of the space. The mixing of plants is important, but we always have to leave space for them to breath and not compete with each other.
