In theory, companion planting seems like a simple process. You just grow two compatible plants together and they’ll benefit each other throughout the growth process.
What if there was more to it than that though?
Do you know how to protect these plants from pest infestations? Are you sure you can make full use of your garden? How can you ensure that your crops will grow to their full potential?
These are all hard questions and I’m here to answer all of them by showing you six companion planting hacks to maximize your raised bed harvest.
Let’s not waste any time!
1 – Plant Trap Crops
It doesn’t matter how well-maintained your garden is. As long as you’re growing plants in it, you’ll always face pest issues. It’s part of the process.
Sure, you can use neem oil and insecticidal soap, but they won’t keep all the pests away.
That’s where trap crops come in. These are attractive plants that you use as bait to lure pests away from the vegetables you’re growing.
So if these insects decide to invade your garden, they’ll gravitate toward them and your vegetables will be safe.
For example, aphids and beetles can’t resist nasturtium. Grow that plant near the crops you want to harvest, and rest assured it’ll attract all the pests away from them.
2 – Attract Beneficial Insects
Luring pests away from your crops is a clever way to go about it, but what if you can eliminate these annoying insects altogether?
How? Simple; insects can feed on other insects!
You can grow plants that attract beneficial insects. These will then consume all the pests invading your garden.
You can grow marigolds and cosmos to attract hoverflies and parasitic wasps. These insects will feed on thrips, aphids, and small caterpillars.
Now, you won’t need to use harsh chemicals that can stunt your crops’ growth and potentially kill them.
3 – Grow Trellising Plants
If you’ve done the slightest bit of research on companion planting, you’ve probably heard of the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more iconic trio in the world of companion planting as their relationship is one of a kind.
You see, all three plants benefit each other in some way. Beans help corn grow properly with their nitrogen-fixing abilities.
Squash’s giant leaves act as bodyguards for corn and beans, blocking excess heat and preventing weed growth. And lastly, corn acts as a trellis for beans.
What’s a trellis? It’s an architectural structure that helps your plants grow vertically. Despite its simple purpose, it can be quite expensive to buy. So you can save a lot of money by investing in plants that act as trellis.
Besides, nothing beats the look of bean vines and corn/sunflowers intertwining together. Why deprive yourself of such a view?
4 – Combine Fast and Slow Growers
All vegetables aren’t born equal as some grow faster than others.
For instance, tomatoes can take more than three months to grow, and onions take four to six months. So unless you have the patience of a monk, you don’t want to put all your efforts into planting slow growers.
If you plant a few fast growers in your garden, you’ll have a few harvests before your slow growers are ready. Lettuce and radish can grow in just a few weeks!
Yes, keeping an eye on crops that grow at a different pace will be challenging, but at least you’ll make full use of your garden’s limited space.
5 – Grow Nitrogen-Fixing Plants
In the Three Sisters section, I mentioned that beans have nitrogen-fixing abilities. You probably wondered what that meant.
Beans can absorb nitrogen from the air and transfer it to the soil. Not only does this improve the soil’s quality, but it also helps the other plants grow faster and stronger. After all, nitrogen is essential for healthy leaf growth.
So you want to grow as many nitrogen-absorbing plants to ensure your crops can grow properly.
Here are a few plants that have nitrogen-fixing abilities:
- Alfalfa
- Mung beans
- Pigeon peas
- Red clover
- White clover
- Fava beans
6 – Exploit Pest-Repelling Herbs
Do you know why tomatoes and basil grow well together? Because basil is an excellent pest repellent. Its powerful scent is enough to ward off mosquitoes, beetles, whiteflies, and more. It’s not just basil, though.
Countless herbs emit pest-repelling scents. Examples include garlic, rosemary, mint, and more. Not only will these plants protect your crops from potential pest infestations; they’ll also help you save the money you spend on pesticides.
Final Thoughts
Now, you have six companion planting hacks to maximize your raised bed harvest. Although each hack is different from the other, they all aim to help you keep your crops safe, avoid potential threats, and make the most of your gardening space.
So the next time you want to try companion planting, don’t just settle for growing two compatible crops together. Take extra measurements to ensure they grow to their full potential.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.