Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener : Tips, Advice, and Garden Plans for a Healthy Organic Garden

Companion planting techniques have been used for centuries to facilitate better, more nutritious, and more abundant crops. Did you know that beets will grow better if surrounded by mint or garlic, but tomatoes should not be planted near cabbage? Flax helps protect some root vegetables from pests, and tomatoes will thrive when planted near carrots (though the carrots may wind up stunted). Your celery will be happier if it's far away from corn, but broccoli and dill make a terrific garden pair. It's a lot to think about, but there's no reason to feel overwhelmed. With Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener, you'll have all the information you need in clear, concise terms and with charts and garden plans you can copy or modify to suit your family's needs. Starting with the basics of organic gardening, such as how to prepare quality soil and the importance of cover crops and organic fertilizer, authors Allison and Tim Greer explain the principles of companion planting, how plants interact, and how you can use that information to your garden's benefit. There is an entire chapter devoted to each of the fifteen most popular vegetables, with charts, diagrams, and descriptions of each -- a treasure for gardeners with busy lives who want an easy reference guide for planning their ideal kitchen garden. Full of gorgeous, full-color photographs and easy-to-follow diagrams, this is a beautiful, useful guide for the home organic gardener Starting with the basics of organic gardening, such as how to prepare soil and the importance of cover crops and organic fertilizer, here—in full-color—are the principles of companion planting, how plants interact, and how to cultivate a healthy garden. Companion planting techniques have been used for centuries to facilitate better, more nutritious, and more abundant crops. Did you know: Beets will grow better if surrounded by mint or garlic, Tomatoes should not be planted near cabbage Flax helps protect some root vegetables from pests Tomatoes will thrive when planted near carrots (though the carrots may be stunted). Celery will be happier if it's far away from corn Broccoli and dill make a terrific garden pair. It's a lot to think about, but there's no reason to feel overwhelmed. With Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener, you'll have all the information you need in clear, concise terms and with charts and garden plans you can copy or modify to suit your family's needs. There is an entire chapter devoted to each of the fifteen most popular vegetables, with charts, diagrams, and descriptions of each—a treasure for gardeners with busy lives who want an easy reference guide for planning their ideal kitchen garden. Full of gorgeous, full-color photographs and easy-to-follow diagrams, this is a beautiful, useful guide for the home organic gardener. Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Dedication; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: An Introduction to Companion Planting; Chapter 2: The Principles of Companion Planting; Chapter 3: A Gardening Primer; Chapter 4: Laying the Groundwork; Chapter 5: Starting From Seed; Chapter 6: Flowers for the Garden; Chapter 7: Herbs for the Garden; Chapter 8: Insects in the Garden; Chapter 9: Keeping a Garden Journal; Chapter 10: A Plant-by-Plant Guide to Companion Planting; Chapter 11: Companion Planting with Perennial Edibles; To Conclude; Suggested Seed Companies; Scientific Studies Utilized; Index.;Companion planting techniques have been used for centuries to facilitate better, more nutritious, and more abundant crops. Did you know that beets will grow better if surrounded by mint or garlic, but tomatoes should not be planted near cabbage? Flax helps protect some root vegetables from pests, and tomatoes will thrive when planted near carrots (though the carrots may wind up stunted). Your celery will be happier if it's far away from corn, but broccoli and dill make a terrific garden pair. It's a lot to think about, but there's no reason to feel overwhelmed. With Companion Planting for the. Companion planting techniques have been used for centuries to facilitate better, more nutritious, and more abundant crops. Did you know that carrots will grow better if surrounded by lettuce, onions and beets, but beans should not be planted near onions? Your tomatoes will be happier if they're far away from potatoes, but peppers and marigolds make a terrific garden pair. Aromatic herbs help protect some vegetables from pests, and many flowers--including calendula, zinnias and yarrow--will attract beneficial insects to your garden beds. It's a lot to think about, but there's no reason to feel overwhelmed. With Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener, you'll have all the information you need in clear, concise terms and with charts and garden plans you can copy or modify to suit your family's needs