When I was informed the them for May was “Pets,” I thought plants can sort of be like pets, such as “Companion Plants.”

Companion planting has been written about and practiced for centuries. Companion planting is when you take different plants and combine them with other plants and they grow together and they can either:

• benefit growth and production of one plant or each other;
• deter certain garden insects, pests, and in some cases, diseases;
• thought to enhance flavours; or,
• repel or inhibit other plants’ growth.

One of the most common examples of companion planting is the American and Meso-American Indians who grew squash, beans, and corn together. In the 1800s, the Dutch planted hemp (cannabis) around their cabbage fields to deter the white cabbage butterfly (but, I wouldn’t try this at home – it’s not legal yet!). It is said if you plant basil with tomatoes, the tomatoes will be more productive and have a more robust flavour. I don’t know if this is true, as I have never tried it.

So, in no particular order, I have chosen information that pertains to some of the most common garden vegetables, flowers, and pests of our region. However, I will not swear on my plant bible that all these combinations work (my disclaimer).

Squash, beans, and corn, a.k.a. the Three Sisters, are a great example of companion planting. The squash grows and shades the roots of the beans and corn, aiding in retaining moisture and keeping the weeds down. The beans assist in “fixing” nitrogen in the soil for the other plants to utilize and use the corn as support to grow. The corn supports the beans and shades the squash!

When planting tomatoes this year (not before June 1), try adding a few marigolds around them. Marigolds are supposed to deter nematodes. I have always done this and I have never seen a nematode. Even if you hate their smell, they are a hardy, bright and cheerful flower and they are edible too! Tomatoes are also compatible with carrots, chives, onions, parsley, and nasturtiums. Never plant tomatoes near potatoes, cabbage, or other members of the Brassica family. Carrots like leaf lettuce, radishes, chives, and herbs such as rosemary and sage, which are supposed to repel carrot fly.

To protect your cabbage patch from rabbits, plant lots of onions, chives, or flowering allium as they don’t like the smell. The Brassica family includes Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, rapini, Chinese greens and cabbage, and turnip. Aromatic herbs such as hyssop, thyme, wormwood, and southernwood (Artemisia) are said to deter the white cabbage butterfly. Try scattering dillweed between the rows. Cabbage does not like strawberries, tomatoes or pole beans. But cabbage grows well with cukes, lettuce, and potatoes.

Squash, beans, and corn, a.k.a. the Three Sisters, are a great example of companion planting. The squash grows and shades the roots of the beans and corn, aiding in retaining moisture and keeping the weeds down. The beans assist in “fixing” nitrogen in the soil for the other plants to utilize and use the corn as support to grow. The corn supports the beans and shades the squash! Beans also grow well with cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, cukes, and peas. Members of the legume family, including beans and peas, do not like anyone from the onion family including garlic, shallots, and chives. Try planting “Scarlet Runner” beans – they will grow with support, from 10 to 12 ft. in three short months, produce beautiful flowers that can attract hummingbirds, create a “green wall” for a garden room and develop 12 to16 inch long bean pods for freezing or adding to autumn soups.

Radishes like to be sown with cukes, squash, and melons because they repel the striped cucumber beetle. You can plant early radish seeds with beets, spinach, carrots, and parsnips to mark the rows and is a great method for thinning the rows too. Beets grow well with almost everything except pole beans. Peas don’t like anyone from the onion family, but do grow well with almost all other veggies also.

Donna M., a.k.a. The Plant Lady, is a passionate gardener who lived for 19 years in Boyle Street while raising her family. Donna still likes to be connected to her old neighbourhood. Do you have a gardening question? You can submit them to the paper and she will try to answer them.