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Companion Planting & Garden Design
Andy Waltke, M.S.
Creighton University
Common Soil Seed Library Lecture Series
Companion Planting
• This term describes the growing of different species of plants together for benefit to one or both involved.
• Thought to be a large component in successful organic pest management in the garden.
• HOWEVER, each garden space is unique and it is always best to test examples and weigh results.
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GOOD vs BAD Plant Lists
• A good guide, but many relationships may not be clearly proven.
• Often difficult to digest or interpret.
• Monoculture creates an insect pest haven, so above all companion planting only helps to embrace the diversity and benefit of plants!
• Always experiment and get creative!
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Terms to Consider
• Biomimicry – mimic the patterns & processes of nature, or using nature as a tool instead of attempting in its domination.• “Natural Systems Agriculture”
• Intercropping or Interplanting – mixed planting of species. Will maximize the use of space and potential benefits of plants.
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Whole Picture Thinking
• Temporal and Spatial Companions
• Functional Companions• Increased Growth of plants• Increased Qualities of Plants – flavors, etc
• Plant Pest Protection• Attracting Pollinators or Beneficial Predators
• Visual Companions• Size companions
• Color companions
What we are really talking about is…
PLANT FRIENDSHIPS!
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Space and Time
• Spatial – where to put the plants in the garden. Select plants that benefit each other through size, color, or chemistry.
• Temporal – growing many types of the same or closely related plant to produce blooms all year long.• Crop rotation over time
Goldenrod
• Together will yield yellow Goldenrod flowers most of the year!
• Solidago speciosa• Blooms early in the season July through September
• Solidago ridiga• Blooms later in the season August through Fall
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Showy GoldenrodSolidago speciosa
Rigid GoldenrodSolidago rigida
Crop Rotation
• Rotate crops each year in the garden by groups of plant families
• Prevents pests to build up in the soil and infect the same plants the next year
• Allows soil to regenerate between plantings of larger plants or heavy feeders.
• Track what you grow and where, then simply rotate what bed plants go in
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World Wide Web of Fungi
• Almost all plants will grow in combination with fungi and those in turn will link plants or plant communities together!
• How plants communicate with one another
• Often the vehicle to deliver compounds between two different plants
Plants for Increased Growth
• Mainly those of the Fabaceae or Bean family
• Harbor bacteria in nodules within their roots that will take nitrogen from the air and make it into a form used by plants
• Difficult to accomplish!
• Place next to large plants or those that will produce lots of fruit –heavy feeders.
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Intercropping of Beans/Peas
• Pole or climber beans AND peas are great to add between rows of shorter plants
• Add to plantings of other climbers like smaller squashes
• Good companion to all plants EXCEPT onions and garlic
Three Sisters Planting
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Plants Will Increase Some Plant Compounds in Another
• Borage will increase the sugar production in nearby crops• Great companion for tomatoes or other crops you want to be sweet
• Beets will break down and add minerals to soil making them available to nearby plants
Protection from Plant Pests
• Three primary tactics utilized
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gold!
• This plant smells so pungently that it will mask the odor of a host plant confusing a pest insect
• These compounds will also functionally serve as pesticides to some insects making the plant toxic upon consumption
• Controls below ground nematode pests – entire genus Tagetes
Onions and Garlic
• Not to be planted around beans/peas
• Both are smaller and compact plants making them versatile and useful in intercropping
• Beneficial companions for any most any other garden plant
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Another Tactic: Distract Pests
• Growing one plant that is a preferred host over the crop you are growing• Radish with cucumbers with distract beetles
• Growing one plant to attract pests away from your crops• Tobacco around the garden will attract whitefly and other pest insects
Wild Tobacco
• Smells amazing, but only at night!
• Pollinated by Hawkmoths among others.
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Pollinator Attracting Plants
• Make gardens a third to half of all plants flowers!
Also About Beneficial Predators
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Native Wildflowers to Attract Pollinators
• Blanket Flower
• Echinaceae
• Bee Balms
• Asters like Black Eyed Susans
• Milkweeds
• Leadplant
Prairie Garden
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Example of Biomimicry
Visual Companions
• Look at the shape of leaves and try pairing plants with different textures in appearance.
• Think grasses with wildflowers!
• Gardening as an endeavor in art and your own personal habitat!
• Think primary, secondary, and complimentary colors
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Plant Textures
Complimentary Colors
• Red and Green
• Yellow and Purple
• Blue and Orange
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Garden Design
• Efficiently use space above and below ground!
• Plant root crops by plants with above ground crops.
• Grow vertically when possible
• Realize you have the ability to rotate space around the garden, but also in time so no need to pack it all in at once!
Ideas
• Grow smaller squash on a trellis onto lower rooftops
• Make covered areas for peas or climbers to grow up that will grow leafy greens below
• Plant larger plants or grasses where water may need to be controlled
• Conversely, plant drought tolerant plants where others may not grow well…
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Archway
There’s Always Shade
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Considerations…
• Go Native when possible!
• All plants have an adult size they will reach, so space plants accordingly!
• Space plants so they will nearly reach one another to minimize soil water evaporation.
• Combine this design with other good garden practices like proper cleanliness, mulching and soil amendments like composting.
Conclusions
• This all yields an increase in garden diversity!
• Pollinator plants will become critical to helping those insects to survive
• Using any means necessary to limit chemical usage in the garden will be beneficial to our health and the environment
• Become a participant in citizen science!
• GET CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!
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Lots more is possible!
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Common Soil Lecture Series
• April: Pollination, Wildflowers, and Importance of Beneficial Insects
• May: Plant Pests and Diseases, and Organic Methods to Control them in the Garden
• June: Soil Health: Composting, and the Benefits of Intercropping and Cover Crops
• July: Harvesting, Storing, Canning, and Fermenting Foods
• And Then…seed saving!
Online Resources
• Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
• USDA PLANTS Pollinator Conservation Program
• Wikipedia
• Prairie Moon Nursery
• Xerces Society
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Book Resources
• “Corn Among the Indians of the Upper Missouri River” by George F. Will
• “Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden: Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indians” by Gilbert Wilson
• “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials” by Marshall Craigmyle
• “Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening” by Anna Kruger
