This is a beautiful sharing by a beautiful lady of the communications office of the Department of Agriculture, DA – Rheeda Abrantes-Cabrera. She knows her Agriculture! Thereby, I can see she is an asset to the leadership of Secretary of Agriculture William Dar/Manong Willie, because nobody else has mentioned companion planting by anyone from inside the DA or outside. No, “companion planting” is not her original idea; but it is her original idea to include it as an important part of Manong Willie’s “New Thinking For Agriculture.”
Of the “8 Paradigms” that comprise the New Thinking, I must say companion planting belongs to Modernization, improving on the planting of any farm or garden crops along with the main crop or crops. Ms Rheeda shares on Facebook the article “28 Companion Planting Combinations To Grow The Tastiest, Most Bountiful Food & Beautiful Flowers” (30 September 2019, Editorial Team, Natural Living Ideas).
The E Team says, “Companion planting is one of the best things you can do in your garden.” Why is that?
Some plant companions can help to improve the flavor and yield of homegrown fruits and vegetables, others help to repel pests and parasites, others improve soil health, regulate shade or aid pollination and so much more.
That’s what I call a “loaded sentence;” let’s count the items now:
(1) Improve flavor – basil would improve the flavor of tomato[1].
(2) Improve yield – ampalaya with corn, the standing stalks become the climbing posts and your vegetable will yield more.
(3) Repel pests & parasites – potatoes and marigolds repel Mexican bean beetles.
(4) Improve soil health – beans enrich the soil with nitrogen as they grow.
(5) Regulate shade – I have seen coffee trees planted under coconut trees for the shade. You get good coconuts; you get better coffee.
(6) Aid pollination – If you plant flowering plants, you attract the butterflies and the bees, the pollinators of the Earth.
“Beans are the best companions of cauliflower.” The blooms of celery and onions attract ladybugs that keep the population of cauliflower pests in check.
“You can grow beans, peas, carrots, beets and radishes with cucumbers.” Plant sunflowers with cucumbers to repel cucumber beetles.
Squash prefers the same companions as cucumbers. Planting beans in the same mound will give nitrogen to the squash.
Corn can be planted with any member of the legume and squash families. This is known as “Three Sisters” planting.
How about perennial herbs? Here are some you can plant and enjoy for years:
Tomatoes can be planted with onions and parsley. Marigolds will ward off insects and nematodes.
Potatoes grow well with beans, peas and vegetables from the cabbage family.
Peppers – Grow spinach, lettuce or radish around the peppers. They enjoy the light shade and return the favor by suppressing weeds.
Eggplants benefit from beans planted near them.
Did I say anything about a Huge License Fee? No. About Spraying? No. Companion planting is the best thing you can do in your farm or garden. It is your healthful and most inexpensive way to Organic Agriculture!@517
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