At one time , all gardeners used fellow traveller planting strategies . Without insecticide and herbicides – which organic gardeners prefer not to use , anyway – and with only hand dick , gardeners tried to concentrate their endeavor . vegetable and the herbs cooked with them could portion out infinite that had to be dig , raked and hoe by hand .
Companion Planting Basics
Companion planting is a technique practiced by many gardeners . In some face , it ’s purely for cosmetic purposes , as when you merge vegetables and flowers . In other lawsuit , it ’s with the idea of deterring louse pests or improving the stain . Companion planting can aid make more efficient use of space . It also includes avoid sure plant , known as antagonist , like winter squash .
Sweet Potato Requirements
Sweet murphy have sealed climate and culturalrequirements ; companion plants normally need the same . For model :
Growth Patterns
Companion planting should take outgrowth patterns into account . The sweet white potato is a sprawling vine , similar in growth habit to winter squash . A plant that raise vertically , like pole bean or Lycopersicon esculentum , will not tangle with the vines the way other vining plants will . settle crop like common beet habituate the upper layers of grunge while sugared potatoes acquire deeper .
Insect Repellants
Herbs interplanted with sweet potatoes can help repel insects . Oregano and dill , both annual , mature in the same time of year as the sweet potato . Dill attracts hoverfiles and predatory wasps to eat louse cuss . summertime savoury can deter the sweet potato weevil . Thyme is another effective alternative , but as a perennial , it ’s substantially establish in slew set on top of the territory between the sweet tater works .
Improving the Soil
Legumes and sweet potatoes make good fellow traveler . The legume lend nitrogen to the soil . Bush beans are not a good choice , as the rampant angelical potato vines can smother them . celestial pole edible bean , however , stay above the vines , which ca n’t climb the rod . Once the vines get to yellow near crop time , plant beet and carrot to loosen grime and grow through the fall and wintertime .
Maximizing Space and Yield
Sweet potatoes pull in their nourishment from the area right around theplant . specially early in the season , you may plant quick - maturing craw in the field where the vines will finally spread . Lettuce can be ready in 45 days . Chard is another quick - maturate crop that like warm weather . Irish potatoes institute in former spring can add up out as the sweet potatoes start to circularise .
