Companion Planting Tips and Techniques

Companion planting is the practice of creating a healthy garden environment by putting certain plants near and others away from each other. These techniques are used by organic gardeners to ensure a healthy harvest.

Different plants thrive in different conditions. Some like sweeter soil, others prefer acidic. Some plants attract bugs that will improve the garden or eat parasites. Plants affect other plants via the nutrients they take and the by-products they deposit into the soil. Create a healthy garden by putting plants that help each other together.

Good Neighbors

Tomatoes are an easy and extremely popular crop to grow among amateur organic gardeners. When tomatoes are planted next to carrots, onions, or asparagus both crops are likely to do well. Tomatoes and parsley are also good neighbors.

Carrots do well next to peas and lettuce.

Lettuce crops like radish, strawberries, and cucumber as well as carrots.

Spinach and strawberries are good to each other. Spinach and cabbage are good neighbors, but cabbage and strawberries are not (see below.)

Peas and beans are good neighbors.

Potatoes and cabbage family plants, such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts like to be next to each other.

Bad Neighbors

Tomatoes do not thrive when planted near anything in the cabbage family. This includes broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Potatoes are also better kept away from tomatoes.

Peas and beans do not like onions.

Cabbage and strawberries do not get along.

And if you want to plant sunflowers, keep them away from the potatoes.

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs

Tomatoes and corn are eaten by the same bugs. It is advisable to keep them far away from each other, because if one crop becomes infested you will lose both crops if they are close to each other.

Slugs and snails love beer. If you place shallow bowls of beer in your garden, slugs and snails will drown themselves in it.

Sunflowers attract bugs that eat aphids.

Many bugs that destroy squash and squash plants avoid nasturtium; plant nasturtium flowers around your squash rows.

Asparagus beetles do not like tomato, which is yet another reason to plant asparagus and tomatoes next to each other.

Onions deter potato bugs.

Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Nasturtium are relatively good all-purpose pest deterrents. Try planting them around the perimeter of any vegetable garden.

And if you are bothered by mosquitoes, try planting basil and garlic.

About pH Levels

Lowercase "p" stands for "potential," and uppercase "H" stands for "Hydrogen." So, the soil's pH level refers to the plants' ability to attract Hydrogen ions, which everything needs in some amount to survive.

Alkaline soil is "sweet" soil, and has a high pH balance. Plants, such as tomatoes, that thrive in sweet soil need lots of Hydrogen. Acidic soil has a low pH balance. Plants, such as evergreen trees, that thrive in acidic soil need less Hydrogen.

Levels of pH in soil are measured on a scale of 0 to 14. 0 is the most acidic, and 14 is the most alkaline, or sweet. Most vegetables like a pH level of anywhere from 4.5 to 8. You can buy kits at garden supply stores to test the pH levels in your garden.

If your soil is too acidic and you want to make it sweeter, try mixing lime or wood ashes into the soil in the fall, in preparation for next growing season, or early spring, before planting. Lime can be also be purchased at garden supply stores.

If you want to make your soil less sweet, purchase either aluminum sulphate, for immediate results, or sulphur to be mixed into the soil in late fall, in preparation for next growing season. Warning: both of these compounds will burn plants with which they come in direct contact. Do not use them in areas where you currently have plants growing.

For more information, read Louise Riotte:

Use Beer in Organic Gardens

Whether there is old, flat beer taking up space in the fridge or perhaps a dozen half-empties after a party, beer is a form of gold to organic gardeners. From taking care of plants to exterminating pests, beer is a useful gardening tool.

Natural Slugs and Snails Pest Control in the Garden

Slugs and snails are attracted to beer, and will drown themselves in it if given the chance.

Dig a few shallow holes around the perimeter of the garden. Place shallow bowls in these freshly dug holes and fill with beer. Slugs and snails will stop for a drink on their way to demolish the garden, climb into the bowl of beer and never climb back out. It is best to check these slug and snail traps every day to see if they need to be dumped and replenished with more beer.

Mouse Pest Control

Gardeners who live in the country or have compost piles will have field mice around. Mice present the biggest problem when they are able to nibble their way through the walls of houses and enter people's homes. Beer is a useful tool in controlling mice populations. A mouse beer trap can be set up outside or inside.

Beer kills mice in much the same way that it does away with slugs and snails. In order to drown mice in beer, pour beer into a bucket at least one third of the way full. Leave this bucket on the ground wherever there are signs of mice infestation. Lean a board such as a 2 x 4 against the bucket. The mice will smell the beer, climb the board and jump in. They can't climb back out and will drown.

Natural Fertilizer

Beer helps keep
these tomatoes
healthy!

Beer is full of sugars and nutrients that grass and plants absorb and use. Pouring beer on bare patches of lawn will cause the grass to grow, and pouring beer on patches of dead grass will bring the patch back to health.

For the garden, pour beer into a spray bottle and spray lightly on the soil. When sprayed lightly on the leaves, beer seems to have some anti-fungal properties. Use organic beer, such as Wolaver's brand organic beer, as organic fertilizer for an organic vegetable garden.

Composting with Beer

Students at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin put together a study to determine whether beer was useful in compost piles. At the completion of their carefully controlled study, they concluded that beer is useful as a compost accelerant in the warmer months.

Therefore, pouring beer into the compost pile helps the compost break down more quickly than compost piles without beer. Even for teetotalers, beer is useful in the garden.

Soap Insecticide to Keep Organic Tomato Gardens Healthy

Soapy water, herbs and spices make a green pest control recipe that has beneficial effects for tomato plants.

Tomatoes are a relatively easy crop and a great crop for beginning gardeners. That being said, many uninvited guests will find and destroy a tomato garden left unprotected. Aphids, caterpillars, mites and beetles are only some of the enemies that must be kept at bay.

Spray Soapy Water on Tomato Plants

Home made soapy water spray should be on every organic gardener's list of tools. Start with a natural, organic, liquid castile soap. Dr. Bronner's Peppermint is an excellent choice, but any biodegradable liquid soap will work well. The soap must be biodegradable so that it will break down easily in the soil and not hurt the roots of the tomato plants.

Mix only 2 tablespoons of the castile soap into a quart of water in a bucket. Increase the efficacy of the mixture by adding roots, herbs, or spices.

Roots and Spices to Repel Insects

Make a tea with any of the following herbs, roots, or spices. Their pest-repellent characteristics add benefits to the soap spray. Choose from among:

• Hot peppers
• Garlic
• Ginger root
• Horseradish root.

Chop up the plant material and place the it in a mason jar. Cover with boiling water and allow to steep overnight. Use this tea as part of the quart of water in the soap recipe. For example, if you made a pint of tea, add a pint of water and two tablespoons of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap.

Any tea that you do not use within a week should be frozen, however. Otherwise, it may spoil.

The strong smells and hot spice will repel tomato pests. The soap in the recipe smothers and dehydrates insects that dare to come close to the tomato plants.

Soap vs. Detergent

Soap and detergent are two different things. Soap is a naturally occurring salt caused by a chemical reaction between fats and oils and sodium hydroxide. Pure soap is biodegradable.

Detergents are made with petroleum based oils and will kill your tomato plants. Do not use detergent in this recipe!

Store-Bought Pest Control Sprays

There are natural pesticide sprays on the market, however, a thorough reading of the ingredients indicates that they are easy and cheap to make at home. One brand lists the main ingredient as "potassium salts of naturally occurring fatty acids." That means soap. As long as the soap is organic and biodegradable, it will do the same job. Choose soap for this project wisely, however, because soaps full of chemical perfumes or preservatives will kill tomato plants.

Using Soapy Water in the Organic Garden

Spray this soapy water recipe on tomato plants daily. This recipe is gentle and non-toxic; therefore, it may be safely used right up until harvest time.

The University of California's Pest Management Program website has a plethora of information about tomato pests, fungi and diseases.

To maintain a healthy, organic vegetable garden with a bountiful tomato harvest, use soapy spray, beer, and companion planting techniques. Enjoy organic tomatoes grown without poisons and chemicals this season and every season.
 

Cold Frames and Mini Greenhouses

I first wrote about portable greenhouse options for Suite 101 back in 2009. I have updated the information for Under Cover Gardening.

Gardeners with small spaces or in urban areas often use portable or small greenhouses to create gardening space where there is no yard. As with any greenhouse, mini-greenhouses also serve to extend the growing season, which is why even gardeners with lots of space benefit from the versatility of portable grow racks and flower houses.

Flower House Greenhouse

Some hobby gardeners enjoy using pop up flower houses. Pop up flower houses are especially easy to assemble and use. They are temporary, small, and portable structures that are brought out every year, enjoyed through the season, then stored for the winter until next growing season. They quite literally "pop up" like a tent while being assembled, and require no building skills or tools.

Once the flower house is open, gardeners place plant pots and containers inside the door. The structure provides protection and warmth to the growing plants. In the fall, pop up flower houses may be simply wiped out with a sponge soaked n water and biodegradable soap to prevent mildew. They must be treated gently, however, because they can rip. Pop up flower houses are flat when unassembled, and easy to store over the winter. pan>
                                                          

Grow Racks

Grow racks are portable structures sold as complete greenhouse kits with removable shelves and a plastic greenhouse cover.

Grow Racks are usually a couple of feet long and a foot or so wide. A six foot tall Grow Rack will typically have four removable shelves. There are also shorter two and three shelf varieties. The plastic cover is fitted and therefore the kits are not interchangeable.

Setting up a grow rack on the patio or deck is easy. The plastic cover that comes with a grow rack has a zippered opening for easy access to plants and for ventilation. Shade cloths for grow racks are available and advisable for patio gardeners who live in extremely sunny, hot areas. 
                                                  


Cold Frames

A cold frame is essentially a raised bed with a lid. Cold frames can be either portable or built in as part of a gardener's backyard landscape.

When planning a portable cold frame, remember that the bottom must be perforated for proper drainage. When setting up a cold frame on a porch or patio, place a large enough tray underneath to catch the draining water.

Permanent cold frames are built on the ground the same as a raised bed. Cold frames are deeper than raised beds to accommodate growing plants under the hinged lid. Some cold frames have domed lids to give plants additional space for upward plant growth. 
                                                     


Attached Greenhouse, Lean-To, and Mini Lean-To


An attached greenhouse is attached to the gardener's house. The outside wall of the home is one side of the greenhouse. Attached greenhouses are usually built on the South wall to get the most possible light and warmth from the sun.

"Lean-to" and "attached greenhouse" are synonymous terms. A mini lean-to, however, is a portable structure. Mini lean-tos are smaller than attached greenhouses, the same shape, and sit well next to the outside wall of the gardener's home. They can be set up next to the wall on a patio, deck or porch.
                                                   
 With the variety of portable greenhouses available, gardeners with small spaces are able to find the perfect solution to fit their individual needs. The benefits of greenhouse gardening include a protected, warm space for plants and an extended growing season. 

Ideas 4 Lanscaping

I came across "Ideas 4 Landscaping" and got rather excited. I love DIY home projects and I love gardening.

This package includes plans for garden designs, garden landscaping and vegetable garden designs, to name a few. The plans are easy to apply to various landscapes. For example, there are small garden designs and patio garden designs as well larger plans.

If you are an aficionado of English gardens or Japanese gardens, you won't be disappointed. I am truly impressed with the variety and versatility in this package. And it makes it easy for do-it-yourself-ers (like me) to save money on expensive hired help.

So, check it out!