Companion Planting for Beginners: Pair Your Plants for a Bountiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden

by Brian Lowell

Overview

If you want a vibrant, chemical-free vegetable garden, companion planting is the solution.

Did you know tomatoes produce a natural insecticide that can help protect carrots against pests? Or that planting mint near lettuce can repel slugs? Every gardener knows that the key to an abundant harvest in their vegetable garden is controlling pests and disease, while still maintaining a healthy growing environment. But it is possible to have a healthy, thriving vegetable garden without using dangerous chemicals? It is, as long as you know how to pair up the right plants. Organic gardeners have known for years that planting the right plants together is the key to minimizing pests, improving soil quality, and increasing the yield of their gardens, and almost any vegetable you can grow likely has a beneficial companion. Companion planting is the ideal way to avoid using chemicals, while still increasing the efficiency of your garden. Expert organic gardener Brian Lowell will teach you how to use plants to create a beautiful, vibrant vegetable garden that will be free of toxic chemicals.

Here's what you'll find inside:

Handy companion planting pairings for all of the most common garden vegetables

Practical, simple photography and colorful illustrations for dozens of beneficial planting configurations

Expert advice from a master gardener that is specifically designed for beginners

Loads of troubleshooting tips for fixing common issues with companion-planted gardens

Tips for setting up the perfect vegetable garden, including practical advice on watering, soil management, troubleshooting, and more

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780744045727
Publisher:	DK
Publication date:	03/29/2022
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	63,914
Product dimensions:	7.69(w) x 9.19(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Brian Lowell lives and gardens in Southern California (zone 10a) and has been gardening for over 30 years. Through his Next Level Gardening website and YouTube channel, he shares inspiration and knowledge to teach gardeners from around the world how to grow vegetables organically. His Next Level Gardening channel is one of the top gardening channels on YouTube and has over 550,000 subscribers and hundreds of tutorials on organic gardening-related topics.

Table of Contents

Introduction 8

Chapter 1 An Introduction to Companion Planting & Organic Gardening

What Is Companion Planting? 12

Why Grow Organically? 14

Organic Gardening: A Careful and Thoughtful Stewardship of the Land 16

The Principles of Companion Planting 18

Chapter 2 Getting Your Garden Started

Choosing a Garden Location 22

Determining When to Plant Your Garden 24

Evaluating Sun Requirements and Exposure 26

Starting an In-Ground Garden 28

Starting a Raised-Bed Garden 30

Starting a Container Garden 32

Warm Season and Cool Season Crops 34

Selecting Seeds 36

Starting Seeds 38

Growing and Transplanting Seedlings 40

All About Compost 42

Making Your Own Compost 44

Chapter 3 Companion Garden Plans

Cool Season Roots and Lettuce 48

Cool Season Potatoes and Legumes 50

Cool Season Brassicas 52

Warm Season Cucurbits 54

Warm Season Nightshades 56

Chapter 4 Soil-Creating the Foundation

Understanding Soil Structure and Makeup 60

Using The No-Dig Method 62

Relieving Hard or Compacted Soil 64

Using Cover Crops to Improve Garden Soil 66

How to Grow Cover Crops 68

Using Organic Fertilizers 70

Chapter 5 Watering-Nurturing the Growing Environment

Determining Water Needs 74

Methods for Effective Watering 76

Using Traditional Mulch to Conserve Water 78

Chapter 6 Pest and Disease Management

Organic Options for Pest Management 82

Applying Organic Insecticides 84

Using Polyculture to Create Diversity 86

Attracting Good Insects to Your Garden 88

Using Trap Crops to Control Pests 90

Common Garden Pests 92

How Companion Planting Can Help Prevent Disease 96

First Steps for Preventing Disease in Your Garden 98

Using Crop Rotation to Control Pests and Disease 100

Companion Plants for Disease Management 102

Common Garden Diseases 104

Chapter 7 Calling in the Troops (Attracting Beneficial Insects)

Attracting Beneficial Insects to Your Garden 112

The Other Good Guys-Birds, Bats, and Frogs 114

Companion Plants for Attracting Beneficial Insects 116

Beneficial Garden Insects 124

Pollinators-More than Just Honeybees and Butterflies 128

Companion Plants That Attract Pollinators 132

Attracting Specific Pollinators 134

Providing Homes and Habitats for Pollinators 136

Chapter 8 Weed Management

Basic Organic Weed Control 140

Using Mulch to Control Weeds 142

Companion Planting for Weed Management 144

Chapter 9 Vegetable Reference

Artichoke 148

Asparagus 149

Beans 150

Beets 151

Broccoli 152

Cabbage 153

Carrots 154

Cauliflower 155

Corn 156

Cucumbers 157

Eggplant 158

Garlic 159

Lettuces 160

Onions 161

Peas 162

Peppers & Chiles 163

Potatoes 164

Squash & Melons 165

Strawberries 166

Sweet Potatoes 167

Tomatoes 168

Index 172