A Sweet Little Companion Garden
I am what many would call an urban micro-farmer. That means I don't have a lot of space to grow. Corn fields are out. Small gardens throughout the yard is what I can do. Companion gardening is the best way I have found to get the most out of the space I do have. Companion planting places plants that help each other in close proximity in the garden. The companions may help improve flavor, bring in beneficial insects or help each other grow. Everything in the companion garden is there for a purpose.
One small area along the back wall I have planted a beautiful little plot - well, it will be when it comes in. Three green-pea tee-pees are lined up, surrounded by colorful flowers. Small patches of lettuce and mesclun are in the center and the whole thing is framed with a soft carpet of sweet alyssum. I've tucked in a few onions to help keep the snails and slugs away from the lettuce as well. You can find the garden diagram here: A Small Companion Garden: Peas, Greens and Blossoms.
I started the peas early because they are a cool weather crop, as is the lettuce and mesclun. When the weather warms, the peas will die off and be replaced with pole beans. Pole beans grow fast and will in the tee-pees in no time. I'll be able to leave the flowers in and put new plants in where the lettuce was growing. Eggplant is very friendly with pole beans in the garden. I will use some miniature varieties to fill in after the lettuce comes out. Eggplants grow in more colors than purple and white. There are striped versions, red, yellow and green eggplants. They will be a great way to bring more color and texture into the garden.
Companion planting takes some planning, especially if you will be gardening throughout the season. You need to plan for what to put in when something comes out, and make sure it will be friendly with all of the plants that are staying put. It isn't difficult, and if you make a mistake, it isn't the end of your garden. Mistakes are easily corrected for the most part by taking out what doesn't belong.
If you are short on space but dream of bushels of fresh veggies, consider companion planting throughout your landscape. It works great in container gardens, too.
Eggplant Brings Edible Color into the Garden
