Tag Archives: companion planting

Companion Planting Mint

No garden is complete without a patch of mint, the colour, the smell, the taste. These are all very attractive reasons for growing mint. Another reason is discovered by companion planting mint. Companion Planting Mint Mint is a perennial plant that has many varieties and varied culinary uses and is commonly used to flavour drinks, food etc… Mint is also an excellent companion plant known to deter:- Ants Fleas Flea Beetles Cabbage White Butterflies Aphids Rodents Earwigs Mealy bugs Spider mites Grow mint close to Cabbages and Tomatoes to improve both health and flavour. As mint deters Cabbage White Butterflies… → Read More

The Benefits Of Companion Planting

As anyone who follows my blog will know, I am a big fan of companion planting. I have, over a number of years witnessed the benefits of companion planting both environmentally and financially. So this post is dedicated to sharing some of these benefits with you. What’s The Idea Behind Companion Planting? It’s a really simple concept, by growing certain plants close to other types of plants you will encourage increased yields and much more vigorous growth. In a nutshell, healthier plants and more produce without the need for harmful chemicals. Companion planting is by no means a new concept,… → Read More

Why It’s Important To Encourage Predators Into Your Garden

Why It’s Important To Encourage Predators Into Your Garden Anyone who has spent any time watching nature will know just how brutal it is. From the jungles of South America, to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean all life depends on the demise of some other form of life. So the short answer to why it’s important to encourage predators into your garden, is to control pest numbers naturally. Pests And Predators I am based in Essex and there aren’t generally too many seriously invasive pests to worry about. That said without proper control, Aphids can get to biblical proportions…. → Read More

How To Grow Peppers And Chilli Peppers

I have had a few people ask me for the best way to grow peppers and chilli peppers lately, so this post is my answer to those questions. I’ll take you through the whole process from seed germination to harvesting. Here’s the best way I’ve found for how to grow peppers and chilli peppers. How To Germinate Pepper And Chilli Pepper Seeds Peppers and chilli peppers grow best in hot climates, so it’s best to give them some heat to start them off. There are 2 ways to do this, the first is to wait until the soil in your… → Read More

How To Grow The Tastiest Tomatoes

How To Grow The Tastiest Tomatoes No matter how many gardeners you talk to, they will all have their own preferences as to which variety of tomato is the best to grow. I have heard so many stories that if I had any it would make my hair curl. 🙂 So in answer to the question how to grow the tastiest tomatoes let’s break it down to basics. The Secret To Growing Tasty Tomatoes As with all crops the first thing is to get the growing medium right. If you’re growing outside add plenty of well rotted manure or compost… → Read More

Companion Planting Nettles

Most gardeners spend a considerable amount of time trying to eradicate nettles along with other weeds. It’s true that left to get out of control a small patch of nettles will eventually take over the plot. However companion planting nettles can be of great benefit to the organic grower. Companion Planting Nettles Nettles spread so rapidly due to their quick growing root system but if kept under control, they can be a worthwhile addition to the vegetable patch. Why Grow Nettles ? Many beneficial insects are attracted to a patch of stinging nettles including :- Ladybirds Bees Butterflies (Particularly the Red… → Read More

How To Grow Poached Egg Plants In Pots

Poached Egg plants are such a useful plant to grow in your vegetable patch. Even if you don’t have a large garden and you grow all your plants in pots it is still a very beneficial plant to grow. So here’s how to grow poached egg plants in pots. What Is A Poached Egg Plant? The poached egg plant ( Limnanthes douglasii ) is an annual plant but as it produces so many seeds gets classed as a perennial. It’s common name comes from the flower, a bright yellow centre surrounded with white petals which looks like a poached or fried… → Read More

Companion Planting Plum Trees [Get More From Your Plum Trees]

Companion Planting Plum Trees ( How To Get The Best From Your Plum Trees) As fruit trees go, plum trees including Damsons and Gages are relatively trouble free but as with all plants companion planting will help you to attain the best possible results. Companion planting plum trees is all about the benefits that will be achieved including :- Healthier trees Healthier fruit Larger yields Less disease All grown in an organic, non chemical environment creating less impact on our already fragile planet. Growing Plum Trees Plum Trees have the reputation of thriving on neglect so if you select the… → Read More

Companion Planting Dandelions (no…really!)

This post might surprise a few of you gardeners out there. Companion planting dandelions ??? well it surprised me too. Companion Planting Dandelions Every body knows what a dandelion looks like and most of you will think of them as weeds. To be pulled up and destroyed as soon as they are spotted but on closer inspection dandelions are very useful little plants. Dandelions are great companion plants Allowing dandelions to grow near to early flowering fruits and vegetables will attract pollinators on the look out for nectar. Fruits and vegetables like :- Broad beans Early strawberries Apricots Plums Peaches… → Read More

Companion Planting Comfrey

Comfrey is nature’s wonder plant. It’s uses in the garden are legendary, so welcome to companion planting comfrey. Companion Planting Comfrey What is Comfrey? Comfrey (Symphytum) is a herb with a deep tap root that can break through the deep soil and uptake minerals that other plants cannot reach. Why Grow Comfrey? As stated above comfrey reaches minerals in the soil that other plants can’t, so it is a good source of minerals to feed your plants. Comfrey is a particularly valuable source of fertility to the organic gardener. It is very deep rooted and acts as a dynamic accumulator,[6]… → Read More