In our last post we already gave you an insight into how we organize ourselves so that we don’t lose track of seeds, varieties and cultivation. The next step is to get the vegetables into the bed in such a way that we can harvest a varied and abundant crop over as long a period as possible. But before we share our bedding plans for the new season with you, we would first like to write about an exciting topic on which all our planting plans are based.

Even though our garden structure is very geometric and orderly, we basically like it wild. With different plants, which bring different colours, heights and structures into the garden, we break up the straightness again and give the kitchen garden, even if it is artificially arranged, the necessary naturalness. We find combining plants with each other to be wonderful from a purely visual point of view. For us, however, it has another, much more important meaning.

In order to leach the soil as little as possible and prevent diseases, we grow our vegetables in mixed crops. The plants are combined in such a way that they can benefit from each other. This allows one plant to absorb nutrients from the soil that the neighbouring plant does not need or only needs in small quantities. However, plants themselves also release various substances from their metabolism that can be useful for the soil and their neighbours. This creates an interplay of giving and taking. It can take place underground through root excretion, or above ground through scents such as essential oils. Other plant properties also favour certain combinations. For example, deep-rooted plants are combined with shallow-rooted plants or high-growing plants with soil-covering ones.

This interaction promotes plant growth and, in the best case, even fends off pests and plant diseases or counteracts them preventively. Such a balance makes it possible to intervene little and can save a lot of work and annoyance.

All ecological cycles that nature has perfected over many millennia are based on this principle. Take a forest or a meadow. The individual species growing there have adapted to each other over time to form a community in which everyone gets the amount of light, water, space and nutrients they need. The goal in our bed planning is to take advantage of just such good neighborhoods between the cultivated plants and avoid bad ones. Fortunately, we can draw on knowledge and experience based on decades, sometimes even centuries, of observation to achieve this. Step by step we would like to be able to better understand and comprehend these relationships.

But first of all it helped us a lot to get an overview of the different plant families. Plants of the same family are usually not good partners. They do not have a positive effect on each other, because their nutrient requirements are similar, they attract the same pests or are vulnerable to the same diseases. So whether you grow a whole row of cucumbers, or alternate them with pumpkins and courgettes would have no effect on plant health, as all three belong to the same plant family.

 

At the end of this article, we have put together a detailed table so that you can easily read which crops are good neighbours and which should not be planted together. We would like to introduce you to a few mixed cultures that we have already planted successfully.

Pumpkin, corn and beans

One of the probably oldest mixed cultures is the so-called “Milpa”. For centuries the Maya and their descendants have combined the “three sisters” pumpkin, corn and runner beans. The mutual benefit takes place here on very different levels. The corn plants serve as a climbing aid for the beans, which in turn supply corn and pumpkin with nitrogen via their roots. The pumpkin covers the soil with its spreading leaves and protects it from dehydration and unwanted weeds.

 

Cabbage, celery/celeriac and tomatoes

Last season, one of our patches consisted of cauliflower, celeriac and tomatoes. The nutrients that the celery cannot utilize are growth-promoting for the cauliflower and thus more easily accessible. Celery’s scent also keeps cabbage pests at bay. The tomatoes also keep cabbage whiteheads away and protect the celery from rust diseases.

We also plant red and white cabbage together with tomatoes to reduce the infestation of cabbage whiteheads.

 

Leek and carrots

The gases emitted by the growing carrot root have a growth-promoting effect on leeks. This in turn, like other onion plants, keeps the carrot fly away.

 

Kohlrabi and spinach

A nice mixed culture in spring is kohlrabi and spinach. The spinach secretes saponin, which promotes the growth of kohlrabi. Many other vegetables can also benefit from this. The saponins improve the absorption of nutrients by neighbouring plants. The spinach also shades the soil and thus keeps water in the soil and annoying weeds away.

 

Onion plants and strawberries

Between our strawberries we put onions and garlic, as both are effective against spider mites and soil fungi due to their bactericidal and fungicidal agents. Other onion plants such as chives or leeks can also protect against strawberry grey mould.

Herbs and flowers in mixed crops

A large part of kitchen herbs can be enriching for vegetable plants. Thyme, hyssop, rosemary and sage are said to drive away cabbage white butterflies, cabbage or carrot flies by emitting scents. In general, herbs, spices and medicinal plants are among our favourite mixed cultures.

 

Savory

Beans and savory are not only a good combination in the cooking pot. The herb expels the bean fly and the black bean aphid. The fragrances of the savory also promote the growth and aroma of the legumes. Beetroot and salad also benefit from the seasoning herb.

French Marigold and calendula

Tagetes and calendula protect against certain species of nematodes. The nematodes occur in several thousand different species and can be useful, but most of them are harmful. By penetrating the root system, nematodes can severely impair the metabolic cycle of plants. Peas, beans, carrots, cabbage, beets, onions, leeks or potatoes especially like these usually microscopically small worms as host plants. It is therefore a good idea to cultivate them together with tagetes or calendula. Tagetes are also said to keep away certain viruses, whiteflies and lice. Between the rows, calendula have a beneficial effect on e.g. tomatoes. They excrete plant-promoting substances especially through their root system.

 

Chamomile

On the edges of beans and peas, between lettuce and spinach, chamomile promotes resistance to fungal diseases. It is also said to have a positive influence on the growth of tomatoes and their flavour.

 

Borage

Borage does not only look pretty in the patch, it also attracts countless insects with its many flowers. Thus it acts as an excellent pollination aid. Cucumber, zucchini and pumpkin benefit from it in particular. The spice and medicinal plant is also said to have a pest-repellent effect on kohlrabi and other cabbages. The hairy leaves also keep snails away. However, the plant should preferably be placed at the edges of the bed, as it grows enormously and can quickly compete with cultivated plants for light, water and nutrients.

Nasturtium

It fends off harmful insects, especially lice, with its pungent odor. Here, however, you should opt for a small, ground-covering variety, as otherwise it will spread quickly in the bed and, like the marigold, will leave a lot of seeds at the end of the season. These should be harvested before maturity if the plants are not to spread wild.

 

Sunflowers

Sunflowers can serve as soil conditioners. This year we want to integrate a low-growing species in the kitchen garden.

 

Basil

Basil also grows in various places in our garden because of its beneficial effects. We use it against mildew and whitefly, for example on cucumbers or cabbage.

 

Dill

Dill promotes the germination capacity of seeds and its fragrances keep pests such as aphids at bay. Carrots, cucumbers, cabbages, beetroot, onions and broad beans benefit from it. We sow dill, in many of our beds, between the vegetable plants.

 

Of course, it must be added that planting in mixed crops does not guarantee that you will not have any pests in the vegetable patch and only drag out full baskets of harvested produce from the garden. But growing vegetables in mixed cultivation can make a good contribution to a healthy garden. We also think it looks beautiful how the different types of vegetables grow together in the bed, colourful and on different levels.

Mixed crops table

Artichoke Eggplant Cauliflower Brokkoli Bush bean Chili Chinese cabbage Peas Lamb's lettuce Kale Cucumber Autumn turnip Potato Garlic Fennel Kohlrabi Lettuce Pumpkin Leek May turnip Chard Carrot Bell pepper Parsnip Broad bean Radishes Radish Brussel sprout Beetroot Red cabbage Arugula Black salsify Celeriac Asparagus Spinach Runner bean Tomato Green cabbage Savoy cabbage Zucchini Sweet corn Onion
Artichoke
Eggplant
Cauliflower
Brokkoli
Bush bean
Chili
Chinese cabbage
Peas
Lamb's lettuce
Kale
Cucumber
Autumn turnip
Potato
Garlic
Fennel
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Pumpkin
Leek
 May turnip
Chard
Carrot
Bell pepper
Parsnip
Broad bean
Radishes
Radish
Brussel sprout
Beetroot
Red cabbage
Arugula
Black salsify
Celeriac
Asparagus
Spinach
Runner bean
Tomato
Green cabbage
Savoy cabbage
Zucchini
Sweet corn
Onion

Good neighbours   Bad neighbours

25 Comments

  • I was wondering if there is a way to get a printable copy of this lovely graph? I haven’t seen one with the addition of herbs before and would love to have this tucked away always in my gardening journal=)

  • Hach, wie wunderbar ist dieser Beitrag wieder!! Ich liebe eure Fotos und die superpraktischen Tipps für Garten und Kochen. Habe euere APP schon lange und mir auch euer Kochbuch noch gekauft und benutze beides sehr oft. Schade, dass sie APP nicht mit all euren weiteren Rezepten gespickt wird, aber man fin der sie ja zum Glück auf eurem Blog. Danke, dass ihr das alles so großzügig teilt!
    Ist es nun vielleicht auch möglich, dass man sich die Tabelle für die Mischkultur ausdrucken kann? Ich habe 2 große Hochbeete und beherzige dort auch Mischkultur, habe aber keine so umfangreichen Angaben für alle mir wichtigen Gemüsearten. Es wäre echt mega toll!!
    Liebe Grüße aus dem Lipperland
    Ellen

    • Liebe Ellen,

      wie schön, dass du so viel Spaß an Blog, Buch und App hast! Das freut uns sehr! Wir finden es auch schade, dass die App nicht erweitert wird. Der Entwickler möchte leider nicht weiter daran arbeiten.

      Wir haben uns bewusst dazu entschieden, die Tabelle direkt online im Beitrag zur Verfügung zu stellen. Wir selbst planen unsere Beete am Schreibtisch und nicht im Garten, sodass es für uns viel praktischer ist, die Tabelle online anzuschauen. So können wir auch einfacher die Spalten ablesen.
      Beides anzubieten können wir rein zeitlich einfach nicht leisten. Die Infos zu übertragen und Spalte für Spalte, Zeile für Zeile noch einmal zu kontrollieren, hat uns einige Stunden gekostet. Sie noch einmal komplett in eine druckbare Tabelle zu übertragen, würde ähnlich lang dauern. Im Prinzip kannst du das auch selbst machen, wenn du sie so gerne drucken möchtest. Wir wünschen dir ganz viel Spaß beim Planen!

      Liebe Grüße
      Susann

  • Wunderbare Infos steckt sehr viel Mühe drin ?macht weiter so. Empfehle euch gern weiter. Viele Grüße aus dem Vorharz
    René

  • Hi! Thank you guys, this is lovely. I wonder if you can recommend any further resources- books, articles, etc on companion planting. I’m specifically interested in traditional and ancestral methods (such as the three sisters). Thank you so much!

    • Dear Alena, we unfortunately can’t recommend any English books, I’m so sorry! Wishing you a lovely gardening season, Susann

  • Vielen vielen Dank für diesen Beitrag, das waren genau die Informatinen die ich gesucht habe und eure Fotografien sind wirklich wunderschön! Ich hoffe ich kann in meinem Garten auch so wunderbare Beete anlegen. Liebste Grüße und ein größes Dankeschön!

    • Liebe Isa, ach wie schön, das wir dir weiterhelfen konnten. Wir wünschen dir eine wundervolle und ertragreiche Gartensaison! Alles Liebe, Susann

  • Wow, von eurem Garten kann man ja nur träumen! Ihr macht wirklich einen super tollen Blog, eure Fotos begeistern mich und eure Beiträge sind super informativ und toll geschrieben.
    Liebe Grüße aus Hannover, Cookinglisa

  • Erstmal vielen lieben Dank für die vielen tollen Inspirationen… jetzt meine Frage: ich habe so viel Pflücksalat und Baby leaf… was kann ich da am besten dazu pflanzen… habt ihr eine Idee? Lg Alexandra

  • Es ist wunderschön und eine Freude zu sehen, wie es bei euch wächst und gedeiht.
    Gibt es ein neues Rezept für ein Sommersalz?
    Danke und liebe Grüße
    Ute Burchards

    • Liebe Ute, danke für die lieben Worte! Wir probieren wahnsinnig viel aus aber ehrlich gesagt, sind wir etwas schreibfaul geworden, was Rezepte angeht ;) Wir haben eine Handvoll verschiedene Salze, die alle toll sind. Ein Tomatensalz, ein Bärlauchsalz, Kräuter Nord (Petersilie, Dill, Liebstöckel etc.), Kräuter Mediterran (Rosmarin, Salbei etc.), ganz tolles Blütensalz (Schnittlauchblüten, Glockenblume, Ringelblume, Veilchen, Tagetes etc.) aber für keines gibt es ein Rezept…

  • Dank euren tollen Beiträgen bekommt man schon jetzt im Herbst wieder Lust gleich neu loszulegen. Danke, dass ihr uns soviel zur Verfügung stellt!!!
    Mir gefällt euer Gewächshaus so gut. Würdet ihr mir denn die Quelle bzw. den Hersteller verraten?
    Vielen Dank im Voraus und liebe Grüße
    Susanne

  • Hallo liebes Krautkopf Team, fantastisch Eure Grfaik, genau das was ich gesaucht habe :) Wie sit Eure Erfahrung mit Koriander?

    Ich hatte folgende Kombi überlegt, .. aber vielleicht ist das keine gute Idee ?
    Lauch, Radieschen, Möhre, Koriander, Lauchzwiebel …

    Hoffe, jetzt nicht total daneben zu liegen.. :) was meint ihr? Kann man das so machen? Danke und viele GRüße, Petra

  • Eurer Garten ist phantastisch. Habt ihr denn so gar keine Probleme mit Schnecken? In meinem Garten sind so unglaublich viele, daß es teilweise ganz schön frustrierend ist. Jedes Gemüse oder Kraut scheint wie ein Magnet zu sein, bis auf ein paar wenige Ausnahmen. Gruß Yvonne

  • Hallo ihr, ich frage mich, wie die Tabelle funktionieren soll. Sollte man eigentlich gute und schlechte Nachbarn anklicken können? Ich sehe nur eine leere Tabelle, irgendwie fehlt da ja das wichtigste. :-)

    • Damit die Tabelle richtig angezeigt werden kann, müssen alle funktionalen und essentiellen Cookies aktiviert werden. Das kannst du nachträglich anpassen, indem du im Footer auf “Privatsphäre-Einstellungen ändern” klickst und die Cookies aktivierst.

  • Ja muss mich der Melanie anschließen, bei mir ist die Tabelle auch weiss. Also gute – schlechte Nachbarn unkenntlich. bitte um hilfe, mensch die saison geht doch los ! ^^

    • Damit die Tabelle richtig angezeigt werden kann, müssen alle funktionalen und essentiellen Cookies aktiviert werden. Das kannst du nachträglich anpassen, indem du im Footer auf “Privatsphäre-Einstellungen ändern” klickst und die Cookies aktivierst.

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