Arnt all plants in a 4x4 companions?

Sunsanvil 6/7/2012, 12:44 pm

This may come across as a total nube question, but looking at tables of companion plants, what should be near what, more to the point what should be distanced from what, and then looking at my 4x4, it seems point moot since everything will be within, literally 24" of at least four other things, if not more.

It seems (to me at least) impossible to actually approach a box with companion planting in mind: Even if I try put the onions at the absolute opposite corner from the beans, either one will be too close to something else I'm supposed to keep them away from.

In other words, in a 4x4 box, isn't EVERYTHING close to EVERYTHING?

**walshevak** 6/7/2012, 1:11 pm

And for the most part it all seems to work out. Amazing isn't it.

Kay

**rowena___.** 6/7/2012, 1:48 pm

yes, everything is kind of close to everything else, but you can be strategic about it. don't put antagonists in the same box. Smile

CharlesB 6/7/2012, 2:08 pm

There are things that will not like being next to each other no doubt but not all plants that don't get along do so with the same intensity.

Companion planting is about many factors, the insects each plant brings in, the root behavior, the nutritional requirements, disease, shade, harvest time, etc.

I look mostly at disease and insect traits. Working on creating an environment hospitable to the insects I want and inhospitable to the insects and diseases I don't want or have had problems with before. The rest hasn't been much of an issue.

**rowena___.** 6/7/2012, 2:42 pm

CharlesB wrote:I look mostly at disease and insect traits. Working on creating an environment hospitable to the insects I want and inhospitable to the insects and diseases I don't want or have had problems with before. The rest hasn't been much of an issue.

i think of this as biological management, whereas i think of companion planting as productivity management. some plants do appear to have a negative effect on the growth habits of certain other plants. sometimes it is clear what the effect is, such as with walnut with nightshades. sometimes it is just implied, as with sunflowers and legumes.

for beneficial companion planting it is helpful to not grow too many things in one box that all require the same nutrition, so as to not deplete the resources. that is why interplanting with various cropping plants is encouraged. roots don't need the same nutritional profile as a fruit or a legume, so they don't have to compete, and the soil doesn't have to be managed so carefully.

Sunsanvil 6/8/2012, 11:39 am

Has anyone drawn up anything in the way of sample or suggested layouts for a 4x4 which address this?

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Arnt all plants in a 4x4 companions?

Arnt all plants in a 4x4 companions?

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Re: Arnt all plants in a 4x4 companions?


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