In mixed cultivation, different types of vegetables are cultivated in the same bed at the same time. They then grow in rows next to each other or can alternate within a row. However, this cultivation method does not work equally with every plant, as some harmonize better with each other than others.
What should be taken into account when cultivating mixed crops in the vegetable garden?
In mixed vegetable gardening, different vegetables are grown on the same bed at the same time to promote mutual growth and reduce pests. Look out for good neighbors, e.g. E.g. beans and strawberries or carrots and onions, and avoid bad combinations such as beans and peas or carrots and potatoes.
Some vegetables go better together than others
Certain neighboring plants harmonize with each other in a good mixed culture or mixed row culture and even promote each other's growth. As centuries of experience have shown, carrots growing next to onions, for example, are less likely to be attacked by the carrot fly and, conversely, the onion fly also occurs less frequently. Since the ingredients in onions and garlic curb fungal and bacterial diseases, they are planted in the bed next to endangered plants. In addition, there are intense or strong scents of tomatoes and herbs, for example, which can confuse and deter pests when they fly towards their host plants. Gaseous and root excretions from plants are also known in science, which have an impact on their neighbors and pathogens in the soil.
Mixed culture prevents large-scale pest infestation
Nowadays monocultures are mainly found in commercial agriculture. However, these have the problem that they become completely infected when fungicidal or bacterial infections occur or when there is a pest infestation. In a mixed culture, however, the often specialized pathogens cannot spread nearly as easily, so that in the worst case scenario the entire harvest is not destroyed.
Good neighbors / Bad neighbors
The following table shows you which types of vegetables you should plant together - and which combinations are not a good idea.
| Good neighbors | Bad Neighbors | |
|---|---|---|
| Beans | Strawberries, cucumbers, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, beetroot, celery, tomatoes | Peas, fennel, garlic, leek, onions |
| Strawberries | Beans, endive, garlic, lettuce, leeks, radishes, spinach, onions | cabbage |
| Cucumbers | Beans, peas, fennel, garlic, cabbage, lettuce, leeks, onions, beetroot, celery | Radish, radish, tomatoes |
| garlic | Strawberries, cucumbers, carrots, beetroot, tomatoes | Beans, peas, cabbage |
| Chard | Cabbage, carrots, radishes, radishes | – |
| Carrots | Peas, garlic, chard, leeks, radishes, radishes, tomatoes, onions | Potatoes |
| Leek | Endive, strawberries, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, carrots, celery, tomatoes | Beans, peas, beetroot |
| Beetroot | Beans, cucumbers, garlic, cabbage, kohlrabi, zucchini, onions | Potatoes, leeks, spinach |
| Celery | Beans, cucumbers, kohlrabi, cabbage, leek, tomatoes | Endive, potatoes, salad |
| Spinach | Strawberries, potatoes, cabbage, kohlrabi, radishes, radishes, celery, tomatoes | – |
| Tomatoes | Beans, garlic, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, carrots, leeks, radishes, radishes, beetroot, celery, spinach | Peas, fennel, cucumbers, potatoes |
| Zucchini | Peas, beetroot, onions | – |
| Onions | Strawberries, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, beetroot, zucchini | Beans, peas, cabbage, kohlrabi |
Tip
Often the likes and dislikes affect entire plant families. Plants that do not harmonize with onions or garlic usually do not get along with leeks either. The same applies to lettuce, which is closely related to iceberg, romaine and pickle lettuce.
