Companion Planting for Successful Southern California Vegetable Gardens

Give your garden a healthy boost by combining beneficial plants

For one C , gardeners have been observing how various plants can be impacted by their vegetal neighbour . In thevegetable garden , our not bad - slap-up - grandparents lapse on their discoveries thattomatoesandbasilget on together a lot sound than , say , onionsandbeans . And so experiential Wisdom of Solomon has been passed through the propagation . With raw chemical substance and mass merchandising , some of these canonic observation have been overlooked in recent decades . But with the undeniable changes impactingSouthern Californiaweather and horticulture , we are rediscovering the advantages ofcompanion planting — wiseness that has been scientifically show over time , attributing chemical reaction as well as physical soil melioration and even the attraction of good organisms to the pairing of symbiotic plants .

Here are some companion plant combination that aid our favorite Southern California edibles boom with a fiddling help from the neighboring plants we choose for them .

Pair artichokes with peas and sunflowers for nutrient support and sun relief

Artichokesgrow happily as prominent , bold , architectural plants in our local gardens . Their huge buds cook into alone , nutritive meals when steamed , while some can be left on the plant to open as gorgeous , electric indigo - tipped , paintbrush - like blossom . To give your Cynara scolymus a rise of nitrogen , industrial plant peas around its base and allow the peas ’ vining stems to meander through the baronial artichoke plant . you could also add tall helianthus ( Helianthusannuuscvs . , annual ) , a non - nourishing - rival , on the west - facing side of your artichokes to ply some mottled tone in hot , inland garden .

Chase tomatillo insect pests away with a mix of vegetables and herbs

Tomatillos are favorites in Hispanic recipe and , though related to tomatoes , are even happier than their cousins to bask in our intense summer Lord’s Day . environ them with favorable onion plant , Madagascar pepper , and pea to chase away insect pests . Basil , Petroselinum crispum , and colourful nasturtiums ( Tropaeolummajuscvs . , annual ) also make helpful neighbour that repel bad bugs andattract good bugsandpollinators .

Combine squash and marigolds to keep squash bugs at bay

squash are ace - well-situated , fertile , and ideal grower in SoCal . Our long grow time of year is perfect for enceinte crops of winter squash , whilesummer squashesbask in our undimmed sunshine and fruit abundantly . What are not welcome are squash bugs , aphids , and otherpest insects . Interplanting marigolds ( Tagetesspp . and cvs . , annual ) will add a colorful touch to the garden while warn those enemies . To battle destructive squash bugs specifically , plant scented fern ( Tanacetumvulgareand curriculum vitae . , Zones 3–8 ) .

Tomatoes and asparagus help protect each other

Here ’s an interesting pair of well - roll in the hay edibles that have a common caregiving relationship . Asparagusplants repel our local tomato nematodes , while love apple industrial plant discourage asparagus beetles . Partner them both with cilantro , Petroselinum crispum , and basil , and both will also benefit with fewer worms , flies , mallet , and aphids .

Onions and garlic paired with many vegetables will help deter pocket gophers

onion plant andgarliclove SoCal . They have been train here and send all over the country for a hundred . Besides being culinary staple , they have other benefits . Our esurient pocket pouched rat are less concerned in them than most other plants , and their scent repels many insects that damage tomato , Solanum melongena , andbrassicas(cabbage , clams , Brassica oleracea italica , etc . ) . Keep peas , attic , asparagus , and sage away from them , though . Garlic has been known to harm beneficial bacteria on beans and sage .

Colorful flowers draw in wanted pollinators

add flowering plants to your vegetable garden is beneficial too . Flowers tot up colouration and attract pollinator . Three easy - to - grow annuals are marigolds , petunias ( Petuniacvs . , one-year ) , and nasturtiums . ( All parts of nasturtium are also comestible . ) They will jolly up up the vegetable garden and draw pollinator while discouraging hornworms , aphids , beetles , and a innkeeper of other pest . Marigolds to boot draw hoverflies , native pollinators in SoCal . Nasturtiums will help keep horde of slugs and snails from attacking improbable get veg too .

Many herbs make excellent companion plants

You have likely noticed that herbs show up a lot as recommended companion plants . powerfully perfumed plants often rebuff pestis . Here is a spry reference book for the services they can bring home the bacon — while offer their flavorful , scented leaves for multiple uses in the kitchen , throughout your place , and , of course , in the garden . All do well in our skimpy soils , and most of them thrive in our stiff sun or partial shade . Try some of these as repellents for bothersome worm and critter pest too .

Here in Southern California , most soils are ironic and calcareous . Wind is also dry out , and over the years , piddle supplies have been dwindle down — despite a few winter that protrude with plentiful haste . We require to give our works every chance to raise well . And with the cost and availability outlet at grocery stores these days , why not focus on helping our food plant serve each other — and us ?

— Jane Gates has more than 35 years of professional experience design and horticulture in Los Angeles and is the source ofAll the Garden ’s a Stage : choose the Best Performing plant for a Sustainable Garden .

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