The well-planned mixed culture in the vegetable patch ensures higher yields because the plants that support each other are more robust against diseases and less susceptible to pests. But it's not just good neighbors that are important: plants that don't like each other should never be placed next to each other.
What advantages does mixed culture offer in the vegetable patch?
A well-planned mixed culture in the vegetable patch promotes the growth of plants, increases yields and makes them more robust against diseases and pests. By combining good and bad neighbors, optimal planting conditions can be created.
What effects does the right mixed culture have?
With a good mixed culture or mixed row culture, some plants promote each other's growth. In other cases, only one vegetable plant supports the other. A good example of this is the onion and beetroot combination found in many cultivation plans. Although the beetroot benefits from the onion, this partnership has rather negative effects for the onion.
Sometimes the forced neighbors in the vegetable patch get along so badly that they become uncaring and produce very little yield. That's why it makes sense to take into account crop rotation as well as good or bad neighbors in the cultivation plan.
Examples of good and bad neighbors
| vegetable plant | good neighbors | bad neighbors |
|---|---|---|
| Bush beans | Savory, strawberries, cucumbers, potatoes, other types of cabbage, lettuce, lettuce, celery, beetroot, tomatoes | Peas, fennel, garlic, leek, onions |
| Endives | Fennel, cabbage, leek, runner beans | none |
| Peas | Dill, fennel, cucumbers, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, corn, carrots, radishes, zucchini | Beans, potatoes, garlic, leeks, tomatoes, onions |
| Strawberries | Borage, French beans, garlic, lettuce, leeks, radishes, chives, spinach, onions | all types of cabbage |
| Fennel | Endives, peas, lamb's lettuce, cucumbers, lettuce, lettuce, chicory, radicchio, | Beans, tomatoes |
| Cucumbers | Beans, dill, peas, fennel, cabbage, lettuce, coriander, caraway. Leek, corn, beetroot, celery, onions | Tomatoes, radishes |
| Potatoes | Beans, chamomile, nasturtium, cabbage, caraway, corn, horseradish, peppermint, spinach | Pumpkin, tomatoes, celery |
| garlic | Strawberries, cucumbers, raspberries, carrots, beetroot, tomatoes | Peas, cabbage, runner beans |
| cabbage | Mugwort, beans, dill, endive, peas, chamomile, potatoes, lettuce, coriander, caraway, leek, chard, peppermint, lettuce, beetroot, celery, spinach, tomatoes | Strawberries, garlic, mustard, onions |
| Leek | Endive, strawberries, chamomile, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, carrots, salsify, celery, tomatoes | Beans, peas, beetroot |
| Radish and radish | Beans, peas, nasturtiums, cabbage, lettuce, cress, chard, carrots, spinach, tomatoes | Cucumbers |
| Zucchini | Nasturtium, corn, beetroot, runner beans, onions | none |
Tip
When you draw the cultivation plan for the mixed crop in winter, you should not ignore the location requirements of the vegetable plants. Some crops, such as zucchini, grow so large that they can crush their neighbors. Despite good neighbors, overlays can easily lead to pest infestation. Take this into account in the planting plan.
