Japanese Style Companion Planting: Organic Gardening Techniques for Optimal Growth and Flavor

by Toshio Kijima

Overview

Japanese Style Companion Planting brings the techniques of a master farmer in Japan to home gardeners all over the world, with over 175 easy-to-follow color illustrations and detailed texts.

Japanese gardeners typically work with small plots and are experts at making the most efficient use of available garden space. They have long understood that when compatible vegetables and fruits are grown together, the result is increased yields, healthier plants, fewer pest problems and better taste. Vegetables from small gardens are the mainstay of Japan's famously healthy cuisine and movement towards farm-to-table dining tradition.

Author Toshio Kijima is head of the Biotechnology Department at Tochigi Agricultural Station in Japan and principal of the Nogyo Daigakko School of Natural Farming. In this book, he provides 88 different plant pairings, including common favorites such as:

• Tomato with basil
• Eggplant with green beans
• Carrots with edamame
• Iceberg lettuce with broccoli
• Strawberries with garlic
• Green beans with arugula
• Blueberry bushes with mint

…and dozens of other pairings that yield tasty, nutritious vegetables and fruits, all grown without the need for pesticides or chemical fertilizers. This book also covers excellent combinations for relay planting, such as watermelon followed by spinach, spinach followed by broccoli, broccoli followed by potato, and many more. Clear and precise instructions are given for each combination—from planning and preparing your plot to planting depths and spacing—all accompanied by detailed color drawings and photographs.

Information on the theory and basics of companion planting will ensure a smooth transition to sustainable gardening techniques that millions of home gardeners are using!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9784805315491
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	06/02/2020
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,103,285
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dr. Toshio Kijima is an agriculturalist, author and university professor. He served as the head of the Biotechnology Department at the Tochigi Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station and as principal of the Nogyo Daigakko (School of Natural Farming) in Shizuoka Prefecture. He has served on numerous agricultural and environmental boards and has been honored for his work in promoting natural farming and environmental health. His work was featured in the 1990 short documentary Life in the Soil. His passion is to bring effective natural farming methods to home gardeners everywhere.

Table of Contents

Choosing Companion Plants to Grow Delicious Vegetables 4

What is Companion Planting? The Four Benefits 6

Maximize the Benefits! Basics and Tips for Cultivation 8

Companion Plants That Work Together

Tomatoes & Peanuts 12

Tomatoes & Basil 14

Tomatoes & Garlic Chives 15

Eggplants & Ginger 16

Eggplants & Vineless Green Beans 18

Eggplants & Daikon Radishes 19

Eggplants & Parsley 20

Eggplants & Garlic Chives 21

Green Peppers & Nasturtium 22

Green Peppers & Garlic Chives 23

Cucumbers & Chinese Yams 24

Cucumbers & Scallions 26

Cucumbers & Wheat 27

Pumpkins & Corn 28

Pumpkins & Scallions 30

Pumpkins & Barley 31

Watermelons & Scallions 32

Watermelons & Purslane 33

Muskmelons & Scallions 34

Muskmelons & Foxtail Grass 35

Corn & Vine Type Green Beans 38

Corn & Adzuki Beans 40

Corn & Taro 41

Edamame & Corn 42

Edamame & Red Leaf Lettuce 44

Edamame & Mint 45

Vine Type Green Beans & Arugula 46

Vine Type Green Beans & Bitter Melon 47

Cabbage & Red Leaf Lettuce 48

Cabbage & Fava Beans 50

Cabbage & Chickweed, Clover 51

Chinese Cabbage & Oats 52

Chinese Cabbage & Nasturtium 53

Japanese Mustard Spinach & Green Leaf Lettuce 54

Japanese Mustard Spinach & Garlic Chives 55

Spinach & Green Onion 56

Spinach & Greater Burdock 57

Crown Daisy & Green Pak Choi 58

Crown Daisy & Basil 59

Mixed Planting of Leafy Vegetables 60

Iceberg Lettuce & Broccoli 62

Garlic Chives & Fat Hen 63

Onions & Fava Beans 64

Onions & Crimson Clover 66

Onions & Chamomile 67

Turnips & Green Onions 70

Turnips & Green Leaf Lettuce 71

Daikon & Marigold 72

Daikon & Arugula 72

Radish & Basil 74

Carrots & Edamame 75

Carrots & Daikon, Radish 76

Carrots & Turnip, Green Pak Choi 76

Sweet Potatoes & Red Perilla 78

Sweet Potatoes & Vineless Black-Eyed Peas 79

Potatoes & Taro 80

Potatoes & Fat Hen, Amaranth 82

Red Potatoes & Celery 83

Taro & Ginger 84

Taro & Daikon 86

Taro & Celery 87

Strawberry & Garlic 88

Strawberry & Petunia 89

Red Perilla & Green Perilla 90

Myoga Ginger & Rosemary 91

Companion Plants to Plant in Order

Edamame & Chinese Cabbage 96

Edamame & Carrots, Daikon 98

Watermelon & Spinach 99

Tomatoes & Green Pak Choi 100

Cucumbers & Garlic 101

Green Pepper & Spinach, Iceberg Lettuce 102

Daikon & Cabbage 103

Daikon & Sweet Potatoes 104

Garlic & Okra 105

Onions & Pumpkin 106

Onions & Fall Eggplant 107

Burdock (Gobo) & Japanese Leek 108

Wintering Spinach & Broccoli 109

Wintering Broccoli & Edamame 110

Wintering Broccoli & Fall Potatoes 111

Grow Delicious Fruit: Companion Plants for Fruits

Citrus, Rat's-tail Fescue & Hairy Vetch 118

Grape & Chinese Plantain 119

Blueberry & Mint 120

Currants & Vetch 121

Fig & Loquat 122

Persimmon & Japanese Leek 123

Plum & Garlic Chives 124

Olive & Potatoes, Fava Beans, etc. 125

Column

1 Tips on Mulch Cultivation Weeds to Keep in Your Garden 36

2 Photo Examples of Companion Plants 68

3 Tips on How to Use Banker Plants, Barrier Crops and Border Crops 92

4 Combine Mixed Planting & Relay Planting-Annual Plan to Harvest Crops Continuously 112

5 Guide to Green Manure Cultivation That Enriches the Soil and Makes the Next Run of Crops Grow Better

Growing a Green Manure Crop Keeps the Plot Active after Harvesting Vegetables 116

Companion Plants Chart 126

Editorial Reviews

"Clear and precise instructions are given for each combination…accompanied by detailed color drawings and photographs. Information on the theory and basics of companion planting will ensure a smooth transition to sustainable gardening techniques that millions of home gardeners are using!" —Midwest Book Review

"…certain to become a pocket guide and fine companion for any small-space gardener seeking to accomplish efficiencies in mixed and relayed planting as well as intercropping for better yields…Brilliantly executed graphics will make expert gardeners out of beginners with easy-to-follow measurements and tips for success." —Washington Gardener Magazine

"This book is not about Japanese gardens as we know them, but is about how the Japanese grow much of their fruit and vegetables in a most efficient, and very interesting, way!…Life on my allotment is soon to get VERY interesting!" —Shakkei Journal

From the Publisher