Mixed culture: 15 good neighbors of cucumbers

The cucumber is a popular plant from the cucurbit family. In addition to the ideal location conditions for cultivation, it is necessary to take a look at the cucumber's neighbors.

The mixed culture

One Mixed culture in your own garden makes sense if there are good neighbors in the vicinity of the plant. Mixed cultivation means first of all that you plant different species side by side. The individual members benefit from the protective effect of their neighbors. In addition, effective use of the vegetable patch is possible.

15 good neighbors

Different plants are suitable for the environment of the cucumber with the scientific name Cucumis sativus. The following 15 vegetables and herbs are ideal neighbors for the cucumber genus and complement the vegetables of the year 2019/2020 splendidly.

Plants from A - D

basil (Ocimum basilicum)

• popular aromatic plant
• known under the names basil, basil or royal herb
• Cultivation in subtropical and temperate regions
• prefers a water-permeable soil as a good neighbor of the cucumber
• Cultivation of the herb takes between 80 and 100 days

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

• belong to the legumes
• numerous genera and species
• the kidney bean is the most important species in Europe
• preferred cultivation in mixed cultures
• prefers partially shaded location
• Fertilization with nitrogen to accelerate vegetative growth

Dill (anethum graveolens)

• known as dill, cucumber herb, dill herb or dill fennel
• Worldwide cultivation (one of the most popular spices in Germany)
• up to 75 centimeters tall
• various subspecies and varieties of dill
• suitable for open fields and greenhouses
• Harvest between May and October
• generative reproduction

Plants from E - K

Peas (pisum)

• Member of the legume family
• the most important species is the garden pea (Pisum sativum)
• herbaceous plants with leaf tendrils
• prefers humus-rich soils as a good neighbor of the cucumber
• severely incompatible with himself
• Cultivation between March and April

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

• Vegetable and spice plant distributed worldwide
• biennial and herbaceous plant
• up to 200 cm tall
• prefers nutrient-rich soils
• Sow in July
• prefers moderately dry soils as a good neighbor of the cucumber

Carrots (dahcus carota subsp. sativus)

• known under the names carrots, carrots, carrots or roots
• biennial herbaceous plant
• Taproot is the most important component with valuable ingredients
• prefers sandy and well drained soils
• Cultivation in temperate regions
• Ripening time between 70 and 220 days depending on the type
• over 300 varieties in Europe

Cabbage (Brassica)

• some of the most important crops belong to the genus cabbage
• annual to perennial herbaceous plants
• over 40 species of the genus

Caraway seeds (Carum carvi)

• one of the oldest spices in the world
• deciduous plant
• Growth height up to 80 centimeters
• Flowering period in spring to early summer
• Seed ripening between July and August

Plants from L - R

Leek (Allium ampeloprasum subsp. ampeloprasum)

• various names such as leek, common leek, winter leek or meat leek
• biennial herbaceous plant
• up to 80 centimeters high
• predominantly cultivation in Europe
• Cultivation between March and April
• wide crop rotation required; Predestined as a good neighbor of the cucumber for mixed cultivation

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

• Parsley occurs as a wild herb in Central Europe
• biennial herbaceous plant with thick roots
• up to 100 centimeters tall
• prefers nutrient-rich soils as a good neighbor of the cucumber
• clay subsoil preferred

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)

• the beetroot is a vegetable related to sugar beet and chard
• biennial herbaceous plant that can weigh up to 0.6 kilograms
• in the second year the stem of the plant forms
• Cultivation in temperate climates
• Cultivation between April and July
• Harvest in summer and autumn

Plants from S - Z

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

• Garden salad as the best known type
• annual to biennial herbaceous plant
• first the basal leaf grows and ultimately the plant reaches a height of up to 100 centimeters
• Blooms from June to August
• Growing area mainly in Central Europe
• various cultivated forms

Celery (apium)

• gives approx. 30 different types
• the plants grow one or two years
• common in temperate climates
• The main vegetable is celery (Apium graveolens)
• upright stems with strong branches

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

• belongs to the genus of sunflowers
• herbaceous plant
• up to three meters high
• The stem is very hairy
• Roots up to two meters in the ground
• good lighting is required for growth
• Flowering between June and September
• prefers nutrient-rich soil

Onions (Allium cepa)

• Known under the names edible onion, Zipfle, kitchen onion or garden onion
• different sorts
• Growing of summer and winter onions possible
• Sow the onion between March and April

Bad neighbors

In contrast, in every mixed culture there are plants as bad neighbors that do not get along with the cucumber. Most of the time, the plants compete for urgently needed nutrients. The plants do not develop their full growth potential. Examples of unsuitable companions of the cucumber are the potato (Solanum tuberosum), the radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus), the radish (Raphanus), the tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) or the zucchini (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo convar. giromontiina).

frequently asked Questions