companion planting

**c* g* <c*@gmail.com>**

Companion planting is mostly anecdotal - but based on gardeners' real
experience in the garden.   I know, for example, that beans and onions don't
like each other because I can see the stunted string beans growing next to
the onions while beans further down the row thrive. I think there is a
problem, however, with people passing along a lot of second hand info they
get from books, instead of from direct experience or observation, and not
disclosing that they don't have any first hand experience.  That may lean
toward dishonest, even if the sources used are reliable.  Lots of people
just repeat lists of plants that supposedly like each other, without ever
trying out any of the recommendations or suggestions.

Companion planting usually isn't interpreted or presented broadly enough in
terms of the benefits plants realize from growing next to others.  Could be
wind protection, draw of pollinators, physical support, root secretions
(exudates), minerals drawn up from deep in soil by certain plants that
benefit others. And it's rarely static.  We usually don't observe long
enough to understand nature's processes well enough to interpret the
meaningfulness of her actions.  Gardeners like to pass along tips to help
each other, through the generations. Tell your customer that old wives who
garden often have it right.

Jane Shellenberger
Publisher, Colorado Gardener
303 774-1180
303 774-8399 fx
cogardener@gmail.com

-- 
Jane Shellenberger
Publisher, Colorado Gardener
303 774-1180
303 774-8399 fx
cogardener@gmail.com
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