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Karen’s Corner: Companion plants for your vegetable garden

by Karen 

May 5, 2024

Category: Karen’s Corner

No matter the size of your garden, did you know that growing certain plants alongside vegetables can be very beneficial? Some “companion” plants, as they are called, repel insects, while others shade or enhance the flavor of veggies with which they are co-planted. Pests can be a big problem in a garden. I have stepped outside on our deck, and to my horror, witnessed an entire blueberry bush stripped of its leaves and covered in caterpillars! Companion plants are a good alternative to spraying pesticides.

Read this article for details. It is lengthy, but if you scroll around one-third of the way down, there is a chart of vegetables and suitable companion plants, and how they will enhance your gardening efforts. It was provided by a longtime favorite, the folks at Farmers Almanac.  

In my experience, Marigolds are great companions in a flower garden, as well, to keep pests away, and the little lizards that at one time frequented our deck, are repelled by the smell of Basil, an easy to grow and edible herb. Lemon-scented and mint plants may also keep mice & chipmunks away.

Please forgive the many pop-up ads, but the site is well worth bookmarking on your computer. Happy Planting!

Link to Farmers Almanac Article, “Companion Planting Chart and Guide for Vegetable Gardens”: https://www.almanac.com/companion-planting-guide-vegetables

about the author

A black woman wearing a grey headband and silver earrings is smiling at the camera. She has grey hair styled in long thin locs and is wearing a blue jean jacket. There is green grass and sunshine in the background.

Hello! I’m Karen. The basics: happily married 33 years, 2 adult sons, and 2 adopted dogs (now 12 & 13); retired (twice) as an Operations Manager for a giant telecom company; post 2nd retirement went on to teach middle school Special Education (loved it) until my diagnosis with SCA III around 2009. I love just learning and all things creative. My hobbies include photography, furniture & decor up-cycling, gardening, dog behavior-modification training and genealogy. An absolute favorite item I hope to review is the Aerogarden indoor hydroponic gardening unit, which makes growing anything indoors from seed, flowers to salad greens & tomatoes, a breeze! My mantras: Someone said, “I don’t know how you do it.” I said, “I wasn’t given a choice.” And from poet Mary Oliver, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

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