Companion Planting

Many Allotmenteers are turning to companion planting, a method gardeners around the world have used for centuries, for many reasons but mainly to protect against a variety of pests. Other gardeners use companion planting to improve pollination.

Companions to try

Carrot and onions

It is believed that carrot and onions make good bedfellows. One, the carrot is a deep root vegetable whilst onions shallow rooted, so they don’t compete for nutrients and water. It is said that onions disguise the smell of carrots from the blight of carrot flies. For best results onion should outnumber carrots at a ratio of four to one.

Cabbages and beans

There is anecdotal evidence that cabbages root fly need to have a sufficient supply of cabbage to support their young. The theory is that, after landing on one or two cabbages, they will get discouraged and fly away if the second or third plant they land on is a bean, or some other non-cabbage.

Other combinations

Some companion planting might be as simple as cultivating shade-loving, low- growing crops alongside taller, sun- loving varieties (a technique sometimes known as ‘nurse cropping’).

Vitalis (plot 11) is a good example of this method, growing quashes in amongst his tall crops of maize.

Complex companion planting

Some plants are known to exude chemicals that suppress pests, which is why some Allotmenteers swear by planting rows of strong-smelling garlic and chives between other crops. Similarly, marigold roots are known to release a nematode repellent so, in theory, they could help repel potato cyst eelworms. An added advantage of planting flowers like marigolds is their bright blooms, which help attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies and bees. Strong-smelling French marigolds are also said to repel whitefly.

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