Embedded Files
companion planting
companion planting
Companion planting is the practice of strategically placing plants together to improve growth, control pests, and maximize space efficiency. In Alachua County, where sandy soil conditions and humid summers can present growing challenges for gardens, companion planting can be a useful strategy for enhancing plant health and resilience.
TABLE 1. TYPES OF COMPANION PLANTING
TABLE 1. TYPES OF COMPANION PLANTING
Table_Type of Companion Planting.pdfunderstanding companion planting
understanding companion planting
Timing is also a crucial factor in companion planting. If a pest-repellent companion is planted too late, it may not deter pests in time to protect vulnerable crops. For example, for marigolds to be used as an effective nematode deterrent, it should be planted two months before the desired crop. Similarly, plants that provide shade or structural support need to be well-established before companion plants rely on them. Understanding the growth cycles of each plant ensures optimal benefits and a well-balanced garden ecosystem.
planting combinations for residential gardens
planting combinations for residential gardens
Lots of gardening charts online will provide you with long lists of plants that repel insects or grow well together, but these are not always accurate or backed by research. Differences among recommendations demonstrate the importance of management factors, including regional growing conditions, plant varieties, and pest populations.
TABLE 2. plant pairings for Florida home gardens
TABLE 2. plant pairings for Florida home gardens
Plant Combination.pdf
Implementation Tips for Residential Gardens
Implementation Tips for Residential Gardens
Follow these best practices to successfully integrate companion planting into a home garden:
Plan Your Layout Carefully – Group compatible plants together in space and time to maximize benefits.
Practice Crop Rotation – Rotate crops each season to maintain soil fertility and reduce pest issues.
Improve Soil Health – Incorporate compost and mulch to improve soil quality and reduce the need for additional fertilizers.
Leverage Natural Pest Control – Attract and support beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings to help manage pests.
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute Episode Archive. Episode #111. Original air date 08/03/2020. UF/IFAS Extension Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program. https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/ffl-minute-radio/2020-archive/august-2020/companion-planting/
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute Episode Archive. Episode #111. Original air date 08/03/2020. UF/IFAS Extension Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program. https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/ffl-minute-radio/2020-archive/august-2020/companion-planting/
Kluson, R. 2012. Organic Vegetable Gardening: Companion Planting. UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County. https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota-docs/ag/OrganicVegetableGardening_CompanionPlanting.pdf
Kuepper, G. and Dodson, M. 2016. Companion Planting & Botanical Pesticides: Concepts & Resources. The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA). https://attra.ncat.org/publication/companion-planting-resources/
Lee, J.C. and Heimpel, G.E. 2005. Impact of flowering buckwheat on Lepidopteran cabbage pests and their parasitoids at two spatial scales. Biological Control, Vol. 34, Issue 3 September 2005 pp. 290-301. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964405001386.
Legaspi, J.C., Bolques, A., Ospina, F.E., Tian, S., Diaz-Perez, J.C., Hodges, A.C., Pitcher, A.J., and Zhao, X. 2024. “Push-pull” Technology and Companion Planting: A Dual Strategy for Insect Pest Management in High Tunnel Vegetable Production and Organic Systems. UF/IFAS Extension Publication #HS1486. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1486
Saldanha, A.V., Gontijo, L.M., Carvalho, R.M.R., Vasconselos, C.J., Correa, A.S., and Gadra, R.L.R. 2019. Companion planting enhances pest suppression despite reducing parasitoid emergence. Basic and Applied Ecology, Vol. 41 December 2019. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179119302816
Stonecipher, A. 2023. Companion Planting: What is it? UF/IFAS Extension Gardening in the Panhandle. https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2023/02/21/companion-planting-what-is-it/
Treadwell, D.D. and Brown, S.P. 2023. Organic Vegetable Gardening in Florida. UF/IFAS Extension #HS1215. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1215
Thei, R.S. 2023. The effectiveness of several repellent plants to control thrips (thrips sp.) in samll chile (Capsicum frutescens L.). Journal of Sustainable Dryland Agricultural Systems Vol. 1 No. 2 December 2021. https://jurnalpasca.unram.ac.id/index.php/josdas/article/view/440
UF/IFAS Extension Gardening Solutions. Designing Your Vegetable Garden. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/designing-your-vegetable-garden/
Authored by Dr. Cynthia Nazario-Leary, Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County
Photos by IFAS Photo Database
Page updated
Report abuse