Long before man, nature was already making an association of culture for millennia. This is a very effective technique which consists of associating one plant with another. This alliance can be used to repel pests that tend to harm the plantation, but it also serves to accelerate the growth of other plants.
This is an alternative that is making a comeback since it makes it possible to avoid the use of chemical phytosanitary products.
There are several levels between plants. When it comes to a cultural association, this interaction can be divided into four distinct families:
To help you, here are two concrete examples of friendly plants to put in the garden.
The ideal time to associate plants is at the time of sowing. These must be mixed, sown at the same time before being planted in the same line.
If you decide to mix radish seeds with carrot seeds, be aware that the rapid growth of radishes allows the carrots to spread out. Thus, the harvest of the radishes finalizes the thinning to ensure the development of the carrots.
Of course, the associated plant remains on site and will serve as plant cover, green manure to repel auxiliary insects and pests. Plants grown in greenhouses maximize the benefits of each plant. However, this type of crop requires good organization in planting, especially in crop rotation.
Some plants can only unfold in the presence of another. They grow best producing more due to the conditions provided by either and the nutrients that are provided. Indeed, one of the plants has the ability to extract nutrients from the earth by transforming them bioavailable for its neighbors.
The nasturtium improves the taste of the radishes and the lettuce sweetens their flavors. The taste of cabbage is enhanced by tarragon and dill. Marjoram promotes the yield of eggplants, cucumbers, squash without forgetting beans. This list is not exhaustive. In any case, legumes make nitrogen available to other plants. It would be interesting to associate them with plants that need nitrogen.
Not all plants have the same shape and size. They each have their specificities, some of which are more elongated and narrow while others are bushy. In addition, the root system is quite different.
Cabbage absorbs its food from the top layer of soil. Corn, on the other hand, has to dig its roots deep to find nutrients.
Before planting anything in your vegetable garden, you still have to take into account the harvest period and the depth of rooting. Normally, its information is recorded on the culture sheets. When you have harvested, replant immediately to avoid empty spaces and promote the chance of weeds.
