How to Grow More Vegetables : And Fruits, Nuts ... - Shroomery

THREE-CROP COMPANION PLANTING
Circles show average root growth diameters.
C = Corn (15� C)
B = Beets (4� C)
B = Bush beans (6� C)
Using the sun/shade technique is
one way to make the most of your
plants’ physically complementary
characteristics.
Lettuce plants can be nestled among
other larger plants for the partial
shade they need.
Corn can provide the shade that
cucumbers enjoy.
148 COMPANION PLANTING
C
B
B
25�
B B C B B C B B C B B
B B B B B B
B B B B B B
B C B B C B B C B B C
1 1
5�
10 /2� 9 /2�
B B B B B B B
B B B B B B B
C B B C B B C B B C B B
B B B B B B B
B B B B B B B
B C B B C B B C B B C
15�
yields, lower-quality vegetables, and less healthy plants. Or you
might try to alter your diet to one that is still balanced but more
in line with the balances of nature. At any rate, you can see it is
useful to plan your garden in advance. You will need to know
how many pounds of each vegetable you want during the year,
how many plants are needed to grow the weight of vegetables
you require, when to plant seeds in flats and in the ground,
when and how to rotate your crops, and when to raise and transplant
herbs so they will be at the peak of their own special influence.
Use the Master Charts at the end of “Seed Propagation” to
assist in this work. Herb plants should be reasonably mature
when transplanted into a bed for insect control or general beneficial
influence to have their optimum effect as companions. Try
to plan your garden 12 months at a time, and always at least 3
months in advance.
Physical Complementarity
25�
Sun/Shade—Many plants have special needs for sunlight or
a lack of it. Cucumbers, for example, are very hard to please.
They like heat, moisture, a well-drained soil, and some shade.
One way to provide these conditions is to grow cucumbers with
corn. The corn plants, which like heat and sun, can provide
partial shade for the cucumber plants. Having lettuce or carrot
plants nestle among other plants for partial shade is another
example. Sunflowers, which are tall and like lots of sun,