The secrets to companion planting
Companion or complimentary planting has always enjoyed success with gardeners but scientists were a little skeptical. The idea smacked too much of using astrology and other types of lore to plant. Which is not to say that these ideas don’t work too. Gardening is as much folklore as it is science. But scientists have begun to see things our way and complimentary planting has become a mainstay at garden clubs and agriculture fairs.
I found two wonderful older books last week about the subject. They are both by the late gardening advocate Louise Riotte. One is called Carrots love Tomatoes and the other is Roses love Garlic. The books have some little secrets in them about companion planting that are very interesting and I love Riotte’s common sense, simple language.
For instance, did you know planting borage close to strawberries is good for them? Borage provides organic potassium, calcium and other minerals to the soil. Also, nasturtium planted under fruit trees helps repel borers.
I was really intrigued by the idea of chopping up banana peels and composting them into the soil around roses to help improve them. I usually compost banana peels into my vegetable garden but I will put them in my roses now.
There are other good ideas as well. I grow Jerusalem artichokes every year and learned that they are good companions to corn. Also, morning glories will help melons grow when planted close to them.
There are hundreds of ideas in these books. It will take some time to go through all of them. I love when folklore proves to be correct by science standards. It takes those science folks a while to come around to what gardeners have known for hundreds of years. it brings a smile to my face when it happens.
In reading some old companion planting books last week, I learned that azaleas should never be planted near black walnut trees. This is because a chemical in the trees’ makeup, juglone, will wash off the trees and kill the azaleas.

Photo by Joyce Lavene