It is probably safe to say that most veggie gardeners practice companion planting in one way or another. It could be as basic as planting basil and tomatoes together, using nasturtiums as a trap crop for aphids or planting a border of marigolds to repel insects.
But did you know that you can take companion planting to another level? It is called polyculture, which means planting a mix of crops in a single space. It is an age-old practice that predates monoculture (single cropping) that was introduced with the advent of large-scale mechanised agriculture.
All the basics of companion planting apply in polyculture, such as using plants that have a beneficial effect on nearby plants, add nitrogen to the soil, as well as plants that either repel insects or attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.
But there is a difference. While companion planting will focus on a specific crop and companion plants that can be grown with it, polyculture looks at creating an eco-system in the same space by combining different plants that are of benefit to the whole.
The objective of polyculture is to make better use of space on a continuous basis, with greater biodiversity that leads to more stable yields.
An often-quoted example of polyculture is the 'three sisters' method of planting. It consists of maize that supports the climbing green beans, which in turn fix nitrogen in the soil and trailing squash (butternut or pumpkin) that provides shade for the roots of the maize and beans and supresses weeds.
Getting started
Polyculture can be applied to any space; a single bed or a whole veggie garden (once you get the hang of it) and even vegetables grown in containers. It can be extended to the flower garden too.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2023 من The Gardener.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2023 من The Gardener.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A Touch of Class
A cut above the rest and attractive enough to fill all the spaces you can see in your garden or in pots...
Bordering on food aggression!
The economy, fires, drought, Russians, fuel prices, and politicians, dictated what we ate in my youth. The only exception was that Eskom worked...
Quarantining new koi fish
Give your new koi the best start
Big deal GLADIOLI
To get balance in a flower bed, we rely on tall flowering plants to provide height and show off amazing blooms. One of our favourites to plant are gladioli. They might look impressive, come in some gorgeous colours, and are great for a vase, but they are also easy to grow with a few golden rules.
PRETTY FILLER Scabiosa
There are over 70 varieties of Scabiosa (pincushion flower) in both the annuals and perennials categories with arguably some of the best ones local to our country, and excellent pollinator attractors too.
TRIPLE treat
A floral combo that's bursting with colour
CHLOROSIS how to fix it
Chlorosis is not a death sentence for your plants. With prompt identification and the right interventions, you can restore your plants to their lush, vibrant selves.
COREOPSIS 'UpTick'
For an easy-to-grow, tough perennial, with masses of pretty blooms, plant Coreopsis hybrids and watch the bees and butterflies come into your garden.
Decorative Dahlias
With a little basic care, you can grow these showstopping plants in your own backyard with minimal effort.
The beauty of BEGONIAS
For endless colour and a garden that looks vibrant throughout the seasons, these are your go-to choices.