Are carrots and potatoes good bed buddies?

dixie 2/25/2014, 2:08 pm

Are carrots and potatoes good bed buddies? My new beds are 6' long & was wanting to only have to add a collar to one entire bed for extra depth.

**camprn** 2/25/2014, 2:59 pm

I think the potato foliage would overshadow the carrots. Maybe put one type of plant at each end of the bed? Is that what you were thinking?

dixie 2/25/2014, 3:01 pm

I guess I should have been more clear:) Bed is 3x6': 2x3 section of carrots, 1x3 empty, then 3x3 potatoes.

Marc Iverson 2/25/2014, 4:00 pm

Just a question from someone who has never grown potatoes -- depending on how close you plant your carrots and potatoes, wouldn't the potatoes be likely to spread laterally, growing their tubers into the area that the carrots would at the very same time like to send down their own roots? Wouldn't both root systems start competing? Or maybe potatoes don't spread wide enough to worry about their interfering with another root crop?

dixie 2/25/2014, 5:05 pm

In my experience the potatoes don't spread that much laterally, but I've always grown them in tubs. They will also be separated by a 1' row unplanted between the two.

6X3' bed
CCC
CCC
EMPTY
PPP
PPP
PPP

I was mainly concerned about companion planting. I couldn't find any specific contraindication, but wondered if anyone else had experience planting them together.

**sanderson** 2/25/2014, 6:33 pm

Dixie, Just a thought. Make a 2 x 3 top hat and a 3 x 3 top hat so you don't have to fill the 1 x 3 with extra MM. Plant some neutral flower in the low bed, or radishes or small leaf lettuce. Then you won't have to feel like you left a good section naked!

I'm growing potatoes in 2 white buckets and the green foliage alone is worth it. I think I will make cardboard sleeves to wrap the buckets so the sun doesn't shine through the white plastic. Hope I'm on the right path.

**camprn** 2/25/2014, 6:49 pm

I dont' know of any contraindications of planting carrots near potatoes and vice versa. I do know I try to plant my potatoes as far away from my tomatoes as I can get them in the event one or the other gets the blight I don't want them to share.

dixie 2/25/2014, 6:58 pm

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know if I have any problems with doing it this way.

quiltbea 2/25/2014, 11:13 pm

I know that potatoes like a much lower PH than carrots, so I wouldn't think they would be agreeable.

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Are carrots and potatoes good bed buddies?

Are carrots and potatoes good bed buddies?

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Re: Are carrots and potatoes good bed buddies?

Re: Are carrots and potatoes good bed buddies?

Re: Are carrots and potatoes good bed buddies?


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