Gardening
Best companion plants for spinach
Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that grows best in cool season. Growing spinach near herbs and other plants can help to repel many pests and insects from attacking your spinach. It also helps to diversify your garden and helps to use up soil space. Here are some of the best companion plants for spinach. Best companion plants for spinach: 1. Beans Spinach is a heavy feeder, growing beans near spinach can help to fix nitrogen in the soil. By planting beans and spinach together you can diversify your garden. 2. Nasturtiums Planting nasturtiums at a distance from spinach can help to attract pests towards nasturtiums and this saves your…
Best companion plants for basil
Basil is an aromatic herb used for its medicinal and culinary purposes. There are many varieties of basil, the common varieties being holy basil, purple basil, sweet basil, Italian basil and Thai basil. Basil is a great companion for many vegetables and flowering plants. The pungent smell produced by basil deters many pests. Basil also helps to attract bees and butterflies to your garden. Companion planting is a practice where two plants are grown close to one another to benefit from each other. Practising companion planting can diversify your garden, maximise space, improve soil fertility, repel pests, attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Here are some companion plants for basil. Best…
What to plant near fruit trees (companion plants for fruit trees).
Fruit trees are similar to vegetables and herbs and they benefit from companion planting. Planting shrubs, herbs and flowering plants near your fruit trees can help to attract beneficial insects repel pests and improve soil fertility. In permaculture, it is referred to as fruit tree guilds where small shrubs, herbs, other fruit trees and flowering plants are grown near the fruit trees. Diversifying can keep the soil in shade, and provide a habitat for beneficial insects which help to control pests. Find out what to plant near your fruit trees. What to plant near fruit trees Here are some companion plants for the following fruit trees. 1.Apple Chives, Chamomile, Basil…
Best companion plants for watermelon
Introduction Watermelon is a heavy-feeder summer crop that grows best in well-draining, fertile soil conditions. Companion planting is a great way to improve pollination, attract beneficial insects, and repel pests. Here are some of the best companion plants for watermelon. Best companion plants for watermelon Flowers: Cosmos, Sunflowers, Marigolds, Zinnias and Coneflowers. Cosmos: Cosmos helps to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Cosmos grows well in average soil conditions and does not compete with watermelons for nutrients. Sunflowers: Sunflowers help to attract beneficial insects that prey on pests. Sunflowers are heavy feeders, so make sure the soil is fertile before planting sunflowers and watermelons. Marigolds:Marigolds help to repel pests that attack…
10 Best companion plants for lavender
Introduction Lavender is perennial shrub that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It can grow upto 3 feet tall and wide. Lavender is a drought and frost-tolerant flowering plant that repels pests and mosquitoes. Growing the right plants together can help them benefit from one another. Let’s find out the best companion plants for lavender. Best companion plants for lavender: 1.Gaillardia Gaillardia and lavender are both drought tolerant plants that attract pollinators and beneficial insects to your garden. Growing both of them together can add diversity and provide habitat for beneficial insects. Both of these plants are also low maintanence which is another benefit. 2. Catmint Both catmint and lavender are…
Best companion plants for Dill
Dill is an herb that grows best in fertile soil conditions. It can grow well with several flowers and vegetable plants. Companion planting for dill is a good way to reduce pest attacks on other plants. 10 Best companion plants for dill 1. Marigold Marigolds are low maintanence flowering plants that help to attract beneficial insects and repel pests. 2. Oregano Growing both oregano and dill together can help to improve the aroma in your garden repelling pests from your garden. 3. Basil Basil is another aromatic herb that when grown together with dill can help to improve the aroma of plants. It can help attract beneficial insects and pollinators…
10 Best Companion Plants for bell peppers.
Bell peppers or Capsicum are native to Mexico, Central and South America. It is a cool season crop that requires fertile, well-draining soil to grow well. Bell peppers are vulnerable to pests and insects so it’s best to practice companion planting. 10 Best Companion Plants for Bell Peppers 1. Zinnia Zinnias are heat-loving flowers that attract pollinators and beneficial insects to your garden. These beneficial insects prey on pests that attack your bell peppers. 2. Oregano, Basil, Chives, Majoram Herbs are one of the best companion plants for bell peppers. Planting herbs next to your bell peppers is a great way to reduce pest attacks on your bell peppers. Herbs…
Benefits of planting Vetiver grass
Vetiver is a bunch grass that has an Indian origin. It grows well in tropical and temperate regions. Temperatures must be above 10° C for vetiver to grow. It needs full sunlight to grow well. Growing this grass in shady areas slows down its growth. It can be propagated by division. Planting vetiver grass is an effective way to control soil erosion and conserve water. It can tolerate extreme climatic and soil conditions. It has a complex root system that can reach up to 7m within 36 months. The leaves are thin and sharp-edged. This attribute helps vetiver to prevent soil erosion. Also, it helps to recharge groundwater and revive…
Benefits of having a diverse garden
Creating a diverse garden is a great way to create ecosystems that are sustainable and resilient. Diversity is used in sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry and polyculture. You can create diversity in your backyard gardens too. Growing a variety of herbs, shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables has a lot of benefits. Benefits of a diverse garden 1. Improves soil fertility Growing different variety of plants leads to a significant increase in soil fertility because the microbial population in the soil increases. The root systems in plants share a complex relationship with microbes in the soil. These microbes are responsible for the improvement in soil fertility because they feed upon…
What are permaculture principles
Permaculture can be described as designing landscapes by replicating patterns that are found in nature that benefit man and the environment. The word permaculture is from “ permanent agriculture”. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren are the founders of permaculture. Permaculture designs can be used in various fields. They are more sustainable and benefit humans. There are 12 permaculture principles and they can be used in any field. Be it having your own kitchen garden, building a house or starting a small scale business you can use these permaculture principles. Including these principles can help you to create sustainable permaculture designs. Permaculture principles 1.Observe and Interact Before planning a kitchen garden…