Yesterday we saw the basic requirements of the most common vegetables in the pot, regarding the size of the pot, the planting distance, the need for tutoring, etc. Today I bring you one crop association table for urban garden.
La crop association It is an agricultural technique that seeks to maximize the productivity of a crop area by combining different plant species that benefit each other. This approach not only improves the yield of each crop but also optimizes the use of resources such as space, water, and nutrients. If you'd like to learn more about this, you can check out our article on annual crop calendar.
It is important to take into account what species it is compatible o incompatible the crop that we are going to plant, in order not to plant two in the same container incompatible species that are harmed during their development and seek associate species that benefit each other. To learn more about this technique, you can visit the article on when to start planting a garden.
In general, species of the same botanical families They should not be planted together. If they both absorb the same nutrients, have equally deep roots, and require the same amount of water, obviously will compete with each other to survive, harming their development. To know them, you can consult the post of vegetables, by families.
However, there are mutually beneficial families, because one provides the soil with the nutrients that the other needs or because a large plant provides the shade that a smaller one needs, for example. This is essential to optimize the types of humus in the soil and improve crop health.
Benefits of Crop Association
Implementing crop associations in urban gardens has multiple benefits. The most significant are highlighted below:
- Retrench of space: By combining crops that occupy different soil levels, the use of the growing area can be maximized.
- Increase performance: Plants can grow healthier and more productively by benefiting from each other.
- Natural pest control: Some plants, such as calendula, attract beneficial insects that reduce the presence of pests. For more information on this, see our article on the benefits of hoverflies.
- Soil improvement: Legumes, for example, have the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it.
- Disease reduction: Crop diversity helps reduce the incidence of pests and diseases.
What Plants Can Be Associated?
It's important to know which plants get along well with each other and which ones are best avoided. Below are some of the most effective combinations:
- Tomato and basil: Basil improves tomato growth and repels pests.
- Carrots and lettuce: Both plants thrive well together, with the lettuce providing shade for the carrots.
- Corn and beans: Corn provides support for climbing beans, optimizing the use of space.
- Peppers and onions: Onions help repel pests that can affect peppers.
- Strawberries and garlic: Garlic protects strawberries from various pests.
Crop Association Table
Below is a table summarizing the best crop combinations:
| PLANT: | COMPANIONS | Our partnerships | ENEMIES |
| ASPARAGUS | Basil, parsley, tomato, fennel. | Calendula deters beetles. | Garlic, onion and potatoes. |
| BEANS | Beetroot, cabbage family, carrot, celery, chard. | Marigold deters Mexican beetles. | Garlic and onion prevent beans from growing. |
| CABBAGE FAMILY | Chard, cucumber, lettuce, onion, potato. | Chamomile and garlic improve growth. | Cabbage and tomato compete. |
| CARROT | Beans, lettuce, onion. | Chives enhance the flavor. | Dill retards growth. |
| APIO | Beans, cabbage family, spinach. | Chives deter aphids. | Dill. |
Tips for Crop Association
To maximize the benefits of companion planting, keep the following tips in mind:
- Planning: It is advisable to plan planting according to the growth cycles of each plant.
- Diversity: The greater the variety of crops, the greater the benefits.
- Crop rotation: Moving plants around each year helps maintain soil health and reduces pests and diseases. You can learn more about this at provencal gardens.
- Pest control: Use plants that attract beneficial insects around your most vulnerable crops.
When planning the vegetable garden, it is recommended to use a crop notebook to record plantings and results. This not only provides valuable information for future seasons, but also allows for observing patterns and learning about the needs of each plant.
Crop associations are key to a successful urban garden, where each plant plays a role in improving the ecosystem and productivity general overview of the cultivated space.
