Companion Planting
Are you considering plant cucumber with peppers in your garden this season ? Maybe you are wondering if these two veggies make decent garden companions ? In this clause , horticulture expert and homesteader Merideth Corhs examines if it ’s a near musical theme to plant pepper next to your cucumber vine this farm time of year .
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If you ’re consideringgrowing cucumbersand peppercorn this twelvemonth , you ’re in great company . For many home gardeners , these veg are considered summer staples . I for sure engraft them both each and every year ! But can they be planted together in the same blank space ?
As someone who gardens in a small area , I lovecompanion planting . comrade planting is when you plant sure fruits , veggie , and herbs together in the same distance because they benefit each other . Benefits can include pollinator attracter ( which help increase yield ) , plague and disease management , flavor enhancement , mourning band suppression , and more .
So dopeppers andcucumbers make good companion plantsor should we keep them separate in our garden ? Read on to get word about the specific needs of both veggies to see if they make honest neighbour in your garden .
The Short Answer
Vining veg like cucumber really make perfect companion to bush veggies like peppers . They enjoysimilar growing conditionsand can grow together in about the same amount of space as a individual plant life . Ensure you trellis your cukes and plant your capsicum pepper plant in front so they are n’t shaded by growing vines .
The Long Answer
figure out whether you may establish cucumbers and peppers together will require take a look attheir growing needsto see if they are free . Do they have similar demand for sunlight photo , dirt conditions , and watering ?
Will interplanting the two assistance or hurt each other ? Let ’s compass deeper into thescience around fellow traveller plantingand why these two make a good sexual union in your garden .
Companion Planting Overview
Interplanting ( companion planting ) has a long chronicle in constituent horticulture . The theme is found on model how plant grow in their natural habitat . In nature , you see dissimilar kinds of plants growing in concord in the same space .
That interconnected ecosystem works holistically , and many plant help each other thrive more than they would on their own . And , the more plants , animals , and yes bug in space , themore lively plants will be to issuing with pestsand disease .
Now think of the modern conception of great aseptic rows of unmarried veggie . This type of monoculture goes against how industrial plant course need to grow . It ’s intelligible why large growers and farmers choose to go this route ; it ’s all about economic system of plate .
But as a home nurseryman , you’re able to choose to purposefully interplant certain herbs , vegetables , and flowers to create your own complimentary garden ecosystem .
There are many ground to take to companion plant . benefit includepollinator attraction(which aid increase return ) , pest and disease management , relish enhancement , maximise quad and light , weed suppression , and more .
When it comes to both of these vegetable , however , we are focused more on interplanting for similar craw need . When plants have similar requirements for nutrients , water , and soil conditions , it can sometimes be easier to plant them in the same location .
One thing to look out for , though , is that plants with like grow requirements can compete for full of life food . But if you take the right steps , your plants will grow beautifully and bring on a large takings this season .
Growing Requirements
When it come to question about whether these two vegetable can be establish together , it ’s helpful to look at a few fundamental things : sun , ground , and water requirements . If these thing line up , it ’s probable that the two plants should do just ticket together .
Sunlight
Fruiting warm season crops like cucumbers andpeppers involve to be plantedin an area that receives full Lord’s Day , meaningat least6 hours of lineal sunshine each day .
They really prefer 8 - 10 hour of sun for maximal fruit production . As with most lovesome time of year crops , southern picture is ideal where plants encounter light during the absolute majority of the day but areprotected from the strongest good afternoon sunshine .
If you ’re unsure how much sun your garden receives , go in the lead and measure it . Check to see when sunlight first hits the surface area , if it ’s ever shadow by large trees or buildings , and when it leaves for the day . This will give you authority that your sun - love affectionate season cucumber and black pepper will get enough light .
To check your pepper plants are n’t shaded from growing Cucumis sativus vine , set your pepper and trellis your cukes on thesunward side of your garden bed .
Soil
Both of these veggie are overweight feeders and need an organically rich , fertile , well draining soil to flourish and maximise takings . To set your plants up for success , add compost to the soilabout a calendar month prior to planting by gently digging it in .
If you have homemade compost either from a compost galvanic pile or vermiculture , this will be perfect . If not , there are a number of options for constituent compost at your local nursery or garden snapper .
add compost prior to planting and fertiliser throughout the develop season will be very authoritative to the winner of your plant . Since both require a passel of food to produce fruit , there is the potential drop that they will wind up competing for resourcefulness . you may palliate this by staying on top of the plant ’s nutritional needs throughout the growing time of year .
The proficient news program is that both vegetables need roughly the samenutrient point in fertiliser . Compost or a balanced fertilizeris perfect for early in the life cycle per second .
Once the plant starts to bloom , transfer to a fertilizer that has only restrained grade of N along with eminent levels of phosphorus and potassium . This will optimise heyday and yield yield over the continued production of leaves .
Watering
Watering is another expanse where the requirements are the same for both plants . They both need roughly1 - 2 inches of water per weekdepending on your clime and soil type . pepper are fairly shallow - root and need consistent moisture . Water strain will result in pocket-size proceeds or tiny peppers .
The best way to determine if your cukes and peppers demand water is to stick your finger in the soil ( under the mulch line ) about 2 - 3 inches . If the soil is wry it ’s prison term to water . If it ’s still nice and moist , give it another day .
dipsomaniac hoses or a drip systemare the honorable options for reproducible and effective watering . But you’re able to use a hosepipe as well as long as you irrigate in the mornings and focus on watering the ground and not the leaves .
Potential Drawbacks
There are really only two potential issues you may present when planting cucumber and peppers together : thecucumber industrial plant shades the common pepper plantor the plant wind up competing for resource .
admittance to full Sunday should n’t be a problem for your peppercorn plant life as long as you imbed them in front ( on the sunward side ) of the cucumbers . Your vining cukes will climb up the treillage allowing foliage entree to plenty of sun , and your pepper plants wo n’t be shaded .
Since both are hard feeders , you will want to get by your soil and body of water well to ensurethey do n’t compete for modified resource . This is easily remedied , however , if you practice consistent watering and fecundation throughout the season .
An supply incentive is that these plants can be place reasonably near together since cucumbers will grow vertically .
Our Recommendation
Our good word is to go right forward and imbed your cucumbers and peppers together . Even in a small garden , even just a few peppercorn and cukes can leave you with an unbelievable yield this time of year . Here are a few quick tips for getting the most of companion planting these two veggie together .
Final Thoughts
Now that you knowcucumbers and peppers make outstanding garden buddies , it ’s time to get planting ! you may discipline your cuke on treillage while growing Piper nigrum below which will add together some ocular interest in your garden . With the correct care and placement , you will be savour these summer staples in no meter . felicitous planting !
