Plant neighbors: Plant flowers in the vegetable patch

Many of them strictly separate their flower and vegetable beds from each other. Here's why it makes sense to plant flowers and vegetables side by side.

In many gardens you can see the same picture: while flowers and perennials bloom on one side of the garden, fruit and vegetables are neatly housed in another bed. Often even hedges or fences are drawn in between the individual beds in order to completely prevent the ornamental garden and vegetable patch from being mixed up. But does such a separation still make sense? We explain why a Mixed culture with flowers in the vegetable patch should not be missing.

Mixed cultures of flowers and vegetables often have a negative reputation among gardeners. They are considered to be neglected and less productive than the classic monoculture with strictly separate beds. In fact, mixed cultures have numerous advantages that can hardly be overlooked.

Planting flowers and vegetables together: these are the benefits

Some flowers secrete so-called root exudates that benefit neighboring plants or protect their bedding partners from pests with an intense smell. In addition, certain plants store nitrogen in the soil and thus act as a natural fertilizer, while monocultures usually consume the soil on one side. This not only saves insecticides but also fertilizers with mixed crops - it also makes the cultivation more ecological. If you also select flowers that have particularly deep and strong roots, the soil structure improves Loosening and aeration of the soil again - with a mixed culture one can sustainably preserve the soil quality and even to enhance.

In contrast to other plants, flowers have another decisive advantage: They are real magnets for beneficial insects. What does not sound spectacular at first glance can lead to a rich harvest. Be like that Bees and Bumblebees Attracted by the bright colors and the sweet scent of the flowers, you find yourself in the vegetable patch. Here, however, they not only pollinate the flowers, but also numerous useful plants such as tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), Strawberries (Fragaria) or zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. giromontiina). This not only increases the amount of harvested fruits, but can even have a positive effect on their size and quality. Finally, it should be mentioned that a mixed culture also has a high decorative value. The interplay of green leaves and colorful flowers can even be such a feast for the eyes that the vegetable patch turns out to be a real eye-catcher in the garden.

What are the benefits of planting flowers and vegetables together?

• Pest control
• Strengthening the neighboring plants
• Natural fertilization
• Improvement of the soil structure
• Setting visual accents

Planting flowers and vegetables together: this is how it works

Anyone who wants to create a mixed culture is often faced with an apparently insurmountable task. In reality, however, creating a vegetable patch with flowers is not that difficult. In the following you will learn step by step how best to proceed when creating a mixed bed.

Instructions for creating a mixed bed:

• Select vegetables: Decide which crops you should definitely have in your garden and how many you want to sow the individual plants.
• Find plant partners: Not every flower goes well with every type of vegetable, some combinations, on the other hand, have neither positive nor negative aspects. Find one or more plant partners for your vegetables who have a positive influence. (Tip: Not only flowers can have a positive influence - some vegetables also have a positive influence on each other.)
• Determine plant neighbors: Not only the immediate planting partner, but also the direct neighbors should harmonize with one another. Plants that have negative effects on each other should be as far apart as possible.
• Create a bed: Now it's time to get active - once the rough plan for mixed culture has been established, you can start preparing the bed and sowing the plants.
• Note crop rotation: A mixed culture does not leach the soil as much as a monoculture, but it should too The place is regularly changed here to avoid soil-borne parasites and soil fatigue to prevent. It is simple and effective to move the plants one or more rows every year.

tip: More general tips on Planting a vegetable patch - For example about the location, planting plan and building instructions - can be found in our special article.

Planting flowers and vegetables together: Particularly suitable types of flowers

The following types of flowers are particularly suitable for planting with vegetables in a mixed culture.

Which types of flowers are particularly suitable as plant neighbors for vegetables?

• Bee friend (Phacelia): The name says it all - the bee friend acts as a real magnet for beneficial insects in the vegetable garden. After flowering it can be considered valuable Green manure dug under the ground.
• Scented sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus): These flowers are among the nitrogen collectors and thus ensure natural fertilization. However, they do not get along with other butterfly flowers.
• chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla): the Medicinal plant also helps other plants - it supports cabbage species in their growth and can even increase the resistance of some vegetables to fungal diseases. In addition, chamomile drives away the leek moth.
• Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum): The little plant is a real martyr in the vegetable patch. Because pests prefer to settle on it, their presence protects other plants from infestation.
• lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): This plant repels the cabbage white butterfly and also helps Aphids and mildew.
• Marigold (Calendula officinalis): With its long tap roots, it reliably loosens the soil and thus improves the soil structure. It also sells Snails and roundworms and lures Beneficial insects like the honey bee.
• Tagetes (Tagetes): The marigold attracts bees like magic, but frightens annoying ones Cabbage flies reliable. In addition, it protects root vegetables from worm infestation and attracts the attention of snails so that vegetables are less infested.

which Plants in a mixed culture best match, you will learn in this article.