Your desire to marry the beautiful and the useful can play tricks on you. This means that it is important to know the companion plants that stimulate a good vegetable harvest. Otherwise, you could end up with beautiful flowers next to nutty vegetables. Curious to discover the pot of roses? Well, that’s what our research has revealed!

What is the role of companion plants in the garden?

Did you know that summer favorites, zucchini, are capricious compared to their neighbors? Choosing the right location to plant them determines the yield. The pros are clear about the combination of vegetables and the reasons are enough. Whether it is to refer to space, or considering the height of the plants and the speed with which they grow. In any case, companion plants should not be ignored.

The good gardener learns over the years to observe his garden with a competent eye. Once he has finished harvesting the garden for the year, he should sit down with a notepad to jot down losses and successes. These notes will help him plan planting for the following year.

What to consider when planning your vegetable garden?

From new seeds you can try the arrangement of the next spring vegetable seedlings. Do not forget that the rotation of your cultures and their good association is winning.

One of the observations you will make is that some flowers have a positive impact on vegetables, while others, on the contrary, are harmful. The garden is more productive if you choose to plant marigolds, zinnias and nasturtiums near vegetables, and the results are surprising. Who knows, thanks to the arrangement or the equation, but it has to work.

Of course, we must mention the non-botanical factors that favor the winning bet: raised beds, natural insecticides such as black soap, and companion plants.

What is fellowship in the garden?

Companion planting is the act of planting certain types of plants next to each other to enhance the effects that one or the other possesses. When placed correctly, companion plants work together to increase fertility, suppress weeds, attract pollinators, repel pests and diseases, and/or increase yields.

Not only that, but a garden surrounded by flowers is almost always more beautiful and functional. Some of the most common companion plant pairs include flowers, but there are also bad companions.

Companion plants should not be confused with trap crops, because the term “trap crop” is often used in relation to pest control in the vegetable garden. While a companion plant grown for pest control will often repel pests from the plant, a trap crop will attract pests to the plant.

Choose another location for tall plants

Aside from its imposing appearance that overshadows its neighbors, the sunflower has allelopathic properties. These are biological characteristics that influence or affect nearby plants. On the one hand, growing sunflower prevents weeds from growing and spreading and this characteristic is highly used by farmers. On the other hand, it attracts pollinators. Profit point when the fallen seeds release toxins that inhibit the growth of potatoes and green beans, for example. So be careful to plant sunflowers at least a foot away from your vegetable garden or next to the shade-preferring rhubarb.

Avoid planting bulb flowers next to vegetables

Tulips are great for borders, but their presence can produce serious side effects. Along with daffodils, they contain harmful alkaloids that cause symptoms such as convulsions, dizziness and abdominal discomfort. Although all parts of the plant can produce these effects, it is the bulb that contains the highest concentration. Do you understand what we have in sight? If these pretty flowers are near your bulbous vegetables, there is a risk of them being eaten.

Beautiful gladioli make it difficult for peas and beans to develop, because they grow too quickly.

Learning about poisonous flowers, so ignore them as companion plants

Knowing poisonous flowers will save you a lot of worries. Even if it would be reasonable not to plant them in the vegetable garden, birds can bring seeds. So be careful with rustic oleander, foxglove and sweet peas, which should not be included in your salads.

The list of poisonous flowers is long and sometimes, due to ignorance, one can ignore the difference between a poisonous plant and a medicinal plant. Be careful with colchicum, aconite, datura, foxglove and castor oil plant. Also some flowers are dangerous for cats, if you have one.