The Sunday Mail
Andrew Mangwarara
Most garden plants have symbiotic relationships that can be exploited for better results.
As an avid gardener, it is your duty to recognise these associations and take advantage of them.
You have to know the nitrogen fixing ability of most legumes such as peas and beans.
Most bean species will support the growth of carrots, beet, cauliflower, maize and celery, whilst peas will promote beet, carrots, radish, cucurbits and potatoes.
Groundnuts, another legume, can help maize or soya beans.
Legumes are also known for regenerating grasses in the pastures.
However, do remember that your allium species such as onions or garlic inhibit the process of nitrogen fixing.
Whilst some plants require a certain pH, usually in the case of acid loving plants, they are best planted together. This helps you to create a special corner for them. Grow your azaleas, gardenias, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, begonias, caladiums and magnolias in that corner.
Other acid loving vegetables and fruits are sweet potato, parsley, peppers, potato, onions, gooseberries, grapes and apples.
Herbs can really be good companion plants as their fragrant foliage helps other plants to repel pests and diseases. Apparently, plants like nasturtium attract pests to themselves. This helps to rid your desired crop of harmful pests.
Plant marigold with most plants, particularly the tomato family as this will assist you to control beetles and nematodes.
Mint repels moths, spearmint repels ants, wormwood repels cabbage butter fly and rue repels rodents.
Compartmentalise your onions with beet, lettuce and carrots.
The very common onion chives in our gardens will do very well with all leaf crops such as kale (rugare), mustard greens (tsunga) and rape because it repels aphids. Leeks also grow well with your carrots, celery and onions.
There are many other interesting combinations you can try in your garden.
Lettuce does well with strawberry whilst carrots benefit from growing with legumes. Grow your fruit trees like apple with lavender, rosemary, hyssop and rue. Citrus grows well with nasturtium and guava. Also try your grapes with mulberry and your legumes. However, avoid mixing sunflower and potatoes, onions and legumes, fennel and tomatoes, beans and sunflower, cabbage and cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage, cabbage and strawberries or tomatoes next to cabbage and cauliflower. This summer, try your own combinations and record these for future reference. Always share your valuable lessons with others.
Happy gardening!
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