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Cucumbers and squash companion planting


Companion Plants for Squash & Cucumbers | Home Guides

By Renee Miller Updated December 17, 2018

Companion plants are those that benefit each other when planted in close proximity. They attract beneficial insects and keep away pests, and they provide cultural benefits such as nutrients, shade and support to their garden pals. Cucurbits, which include cucumbers and squash, are vegetables commonly found in home gardens, and they’re often planted with companion plants that benefit them in some way. These plants include beans, peas, corn, nasturtium and icicle radishes.

Three Sisters

Corns, peas or beans and squash or cucumbers are often referred to as the three sisters' garden. Native Americans developed the practice of planting these three crops together in a hill. The original intent was to provide enough food for a balanced diet from a single spot of land, but each crop is also compatible with the other two in some way. Corn is grown in the center of the garden, where it supports the bean or pea plants, which are planted in a circle around the corn. Peas and beans fix nitrogen in the soil, so they do not compete with corn for nitrogen because they can make their own. However, peas and beans should be planted after the corn. If planted before or at the same time as the corn, peas and beans may overgrow it. Squash or cucumbers planted around the outer edge of the beans and corn planting provides a dense cover that shades out most weeds. The hairy, spiky parts of these plants also make it difficult for insect pests to reach the corn or the beans, and the cucumber and squash plants like the shade provided by the corn stalks.

Planting Peas and Beans

Peas and beans should be directly sown into the soil once it has warmed to between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for peas, and 60 and 85 degrees for beans. Peas require five to seven days for germination, while beans require three to seven days. Both plants prefer full sun and should be thinned so that there is about 3 to 4 inches of space between plants after germination.

Planting Corn

Corn should be sown into garden soils in squares rather than rows. Sow two seeds to a depth of 1 inch every 18 inches. After the seeds germinate, remove the weaker of the two plants and stake the remaining plants if necessary.

Planting Cucumber and Squash

Squash and cucumber plants require full sun and moderate water. When planting, squash and cucumber seeds should be planted in 3-foot-by-3-foot hills, with about four to five seeds per hill, and covered by a thin layer of soil. Keep squash plants well watered until they germinate, and then thin the weakest plants out so that you have only three plants per hill.

Other Good Companions

Squash and cucumbers benefit from being planted with icicle radishes, which deter insects. Icicle radishes are also a tasty addition to your garden. They have a rich, spicy flavor and a pure white flesh that is milder than the common red radish. Sow two or three radish seeds in cucumber or squash hills to repel cucumber beetles and squash bugs. Nasturtiums are edible annual flowers that are easy to grow and make good companions for cucumber and squash. According to North Dakota State University, nasturtiums repel insect pests such as aphids, and improve growth and flavor of cucumber and squash plants. Nasturtiums thrive in full sun, but will grow in partial shade in climates with hot summers. They prefer cool, moist, well-drained soil.

References

Writer Bio

Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.

Can You Plant Cucumbers by Squash? | Home Guides

By Nathalie Alonso Updated July 08, 2022

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) are vegetables in the Cucurbitaceae family grown for their edible fruit. While cross-pollination between these plants is possible, it is acceptable for cucumber and squash to grow together as long as you are not planning to plant the seeds for a future harvest. This is because seeds from cross-pollinated cucurbit plants can produce fruit that is unviable.

Tip

Cross-pollination between cucumber and squash plants has no effect on the current season's crops. You should only avoid planting these vegetables near each other if you are planning to harvest squash or cucumber seeds to plant the following spring.

Pollination in Cucumbers and Squashes

Most squash plants are monoecious, which means that each plant has separate male and female flowers. The female flowers must be pollinated by insects with the pollen of the male flowers in order for the plant to set fruit. Some cucumber plants are monoecious, while others have all female flowers or are parthenocarpic, meaning they can set fruit without pollination. If they are grown near each other, it is possible for cross-pollination to occur between cucumber and squash plants and any other cucurbits in the vicinity.

Cross-pollination between cucumbers and squash plants does not have any effect on the current year's crop, so it is completely safe to grow these plants in close proximity to each other. However, you want to avoid planting seeds harvested from cucumbers and squash grown near each other because the fruit that grows from such seeds is often inedible, says the South Dakota State University Extension.

Growing Cucumbers and Squashes

Cucumber and squash seeds can be sown outdoors in the spring once the threat of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed up to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds will not germinate well if the soil is too cold. The ideal soil pH for growing cucumbers and squashes is 5.5 to 6.8, according to the UConn Home & Garden Education Center. Soil should be amended with organic matter and should offer good drainage.

Cucumbers and squashes grow best in sites that receive full sun. Temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for these crops. Both cucumbers and squashes need plenty of moisture in order to properly set and develop fruit. The UConn Home & Garden Education Center recommends giving these plants 1 inch of water a week in periods without rain. Cucumbers and summer squashes take 50 to 65 days to be ready for harvest, says Washington State University.

Cucumber and Squash Companion Plants

Companion planting is the practice of deliberately growing certain fruits, vegetables and herbs in close proximity to each other in order for one or more of the crops involved to derive a benefit from the others. One of these potential benefits is keeping pests away.

Because they are closely related, cucumbers and squash may not provide many benefits to each other. However, one type of squash, the blue hubbard squash, can be used as a trap crop to lure serious pests, like cucumber beetles and squash bugs, away from other cucurbit plantings, says the University of Minnesota Extension.

Another way to help keep pests away from your cucumber and squash plants is by growing them near flowers, such as nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.) or African marigolds (Tagetes erecta). Both of these plants are believed to help keep pests, such as squash bugs, cucumber beetles and sap-sucking insects called aphids, away from cucurbit plants as well as other vegetables.

References

Writer Bio

Since beginning her career as a professional journalist in 2007, Nathalie Alonso has covered a myriad of topics, including arts, culture and travel, for newspapers and magazines in New York City. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Columbia University and lives in Queens with her two cats.

What to plant next to peppers, cucumbers, cabbages, peas and roses? Compatible plants in the garden and their types

Companion plants, or Rules for joint plantings. Which species will grow best and produce a large yield if placed side by side?

Anna Zalesskaya

Plants have good and bad compatibility. This is not only the experience of long-term observations, but also a scientifically confirmed fact. Some pairs of plants actually help each other grow and keep the garden healthy without chemicals and fertilizers. Such pairs are called companion plants or satellites. Let's figure out which plants are better to plant nearby? nine0003

Contents of the article

Which plants grow well next to each other?

Tip: If you are not an experienced gardener and have not yet remembered which plants can be planted with each other and which cannot, before planting, make a small plan on a piece of paper, checking compatibility and outlining plantings so that everything is placed correctly .

Are you an experienced gardener?

Some plants do not get along well and get sick because they have to share the root space. The strong stifle and destroy the weak, and in the end one person loses. On the contrary, mustard roots secrete substances that enhance the growth of peas, which enriches the soil with nitrogenous fertilizers, which are also needed by some plants, for example, bush beans. nine0003

Roses and garlic

Since ancient times, gardeners have grown garlic next to roses. This helped protect roses from pests and prevent fungal diseases such as black spot. Where garlic grows, there are no ants, and therefore no aphids. As a result, there is no need to treat roses with chemicals.

If you don't like mixing vegetable garden and rose garden, try planting ornamental onions with roses. It is said that decorative onions can enhance the fragrance of pink flowers, and these two plants look very beautiful side by side. nine0003

Marigolds, cabbage or melons

Many gardeners underestimate these flowers, considering them unpretentious and tasteless, but in vain. They are real healers of the garden, because in addition to scaring away harmful insects, they saturate the soil with useful elements and heal it. For example, some varieties of marigolds control nematode formation in melon roots without the use of chemical treatments.

Marigolds are one of the most useful possible neighbors for cabbage. Their flowers are pungent and unpleasant to most insects. Whites, moths, bears and aphids try to avoid it. nine0003

Cucumbers and nasturtiums

Nasturtium is a climbing plant, making it an excellent companion for cucumbers, squash and squash. Nasturtiums help against the invasion of spider mites, which ruthlessly destroy the stems and leaves of cucumbers. To get the most out of joint plantings, plant flowers every 3 rows of vegetables after the cucumber or zucchini seedlings are established. Nasturtium is good for whiteflies.

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Peppers and amaranth

The amaranth plant is better known as fodder, but it is also used as food, amaranth seeds have a nutty taste and aroma, they are added to cereals and flour products, and the leaves are put in salads and side dishes. Also, amaranth is considered an ideal neighbor and helps to grow an excellent crop of peppers. Cut amaranth flower panicles before the seeds spread to neighboring beds.

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Cabbage and dill

Dill is an excellent companion for all cruciferous plants such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, and the neighborhood is mutually beneficial. Cabbage supports greenery, and dill, in turn, attracts beneficial insects and helps fight the cabbage worm.

By the way: the proximity of dill improves the taste of cucumbers.

Corn, beans and pumpkin

Such plantings are called "three sisters" and are borrowed from the Indians. Beans add nitrogen to the soil by nourishing corn and squash, corn is a support for climbing beans that entangle strong corn stalks, and squash helps retain moisture in the soil by covering the ground with a carpet of large leaves. As a result, everyone is satisfied and I feel great. First of all, you need to plant corn, and then pumpkin with beans. nine0003

Lettuce and lupins

Everything is simple here. Lettuce thrives best in partial shade, while tall plants such as lupins provide shade.

Radishes and spinach

Spinach is known to promote the growth of many plants, including tomatoes, beans, beets, kohlrabi, radishes and lettuce. The fact is that spinach roots secrete saponins that stimulate root growth by increasing the permeability of cell membranes for nutrients and moisture. nine0003

Potatoes and Alyssum

When Sweet Undersized Alyssum blooms, its tiny flowers attract beneficial insects such as bees and bumblebees. Plant sweet alyssum along with potatoes, this plant is a ground cover, therefore it creates a healthy microclimate in the beds, retaining moisture in drought and preventing weeds from growing.

What is plant compatibility and what does it depend on?

Enthusiastic gardener Natalya Samoylenko tells how pairs of plants are closed in a single life cycle, why one of the species can become a "home" for its neighbor's pests, and how to solve the problem of incompatibility of some plant species. Let's reveal a little secret in advance: timely processing and compliance agricultural rules. And also - unexpected life hacks told by Natalia. nine0003

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On this topic: Poor compatibility: which vegetables, trees and shrubs should not be planted side by side

Mixed plantings - which crops are better to grow together?. The best plant neighbors. Photo - Botanichka

Even the owners of large plots sometimes do not have enough space to accommodate all their "Wishlist". What can we say about ordinary summer residents, whose land plot rarely exceeds the classic six acres! But often we ourselves lose a precious place where many plants could be planted. Why leave strips of bare earth if you can pick up suitable neighbors for the main inhabitants of the beds? The latter will also bring a crop and will not require additional space. How to make the most of the space in your garden, I will tell in this article. nine0003 Mixed plantings - which crops are better to grow together?

Advantages of combined beds

The main goal of combining vegetable crops on one bed is to make every square meter of the garden as productive as possible. But beyond that, co-planting involves growing plants that can "form mutually beneficial partnerships."

Gardeners have noticed since ancient times that certain crops help others grow when they are planted together. For example, they can improve soil fertility, repel harmful insects, attract beneficial pollinating insects, or provide shade for plants suffering from direct sunlight. nine0003

This concept can be interesting not only from the point of view of saving space in the garden, but also useful for those who adhere to the principles of organic farming. After all, a competent combination will help reduce the use of mineral fertilizers and insecticides.

As an illustration, let's consider one of the well-known methods of planting companion plants that came to us from the Indians of North America. It was traditional for these tribes to plant corn, beans and pumpkins together. nine0003

Long, strong corn stalks provide support for climbing beans that can climb on them as they grow. Beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, which benefits both corn and pumpkins. Long gourd vines with huge leaves cover the ground, thereby preventing the growth of weeds and shading the ground, which prevents moisture from evaporating. Thanks to this ideal cooperation in the garden, these crops began to be called "three sisters".

In our area, a "modified version" of such plantings is known: cucumbers on corn stalks. This is also a viable option. However, some gardeners are disappointed in such combinations because they miss some details. nine0003

So, when planting other vegetables next to corn, which will be a live trellis, you first need to let the corn seedlings grow up, after which you can add neighbors to it (about a month later). Otherwise, companions can simply clog her seedlings. In the case of cucumbers, you can plant them with seedlings as soon as the corn gets stronger. Fast growing beans also allow you to sow them later.

Do not forget that joint planting is not only profitable and useful, but also very beautiful. Vegetables in the beds, planted in a row, are not very pleasing to the eye, but the combination of plants with different looks within the same garden is almost a work of art and decoration of the site. A decorative garden not only saturates the body, but also pleases the eye. Today, there are many varieties of lettuces, cabbages and other crops that have bright and bizarre leaves that can be successfully combined with vegetables of a traditional appearance. nine0003 Combining plants with different looks is also a decoration of the site

Sun-loving + shade-tolerant

One of the most important ways to create a combined bed is to arrange the plants in size, taking into account individual requirements for light levels. Plant plants that need shading in a company tall enough that they can cast shade over their neighbors.

In this case, shade seekers are best positioned on the north and east sides of the bed relative to their taller companions. Then they will be in the shade for most of the day. For example, cabbage, lettuce and spinach can be successfully grown in this way, which will positively perceive the shade of taller plants, such as indeterminate tomatoes, peas or trellis beans. nine0003

Read also our material Five ways of crop rotation for a summer cottage.

Spicy companions for vegetables

Having studied the characteristics of a particular plant, you can choose neighbors that can bring maximum benefit to your favorite. For example, the formation of such a pair: lettuce or cabbage plus a plant from the labiate family (mint, sage, lemon balm, monarda, hyssop or rosemary). It has been observed that these spicy-aromatic crops help drive away slugs, which are so attracted to tender cabbage and lettuce leaves. nine0003

To prevent rhizomes from spreading across the garden (which mint and some other crops are prone to), plant plants in containers so that they do not take over the garden. And the well-known aromatic plant tarragon is good for the entire garden because it releases important nutrients into the soil.

It has also been observed that marigolds are excellent neighbors for almost any plant, including tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers and pumpkins. Nasturtiums also benefit all of these crops, as well as beans and apple trees. And do not forget that nasturtiums and marigolds are not only flowers. Marigolds are used as a condiment in Caucasian cuisine and as an additive to tea, while nasturtium leaves and flowers are added to salads or capers are made from unripe seeds. nine0003

Peppers, which are known to prefer moist soil and are not tolerant of drought, will be greatly helped by neighbors in the form of a dense vegetation cover, which can be marjoram, oregano or dwarf basil. At the same time, basil will not only help retain moisture, but also repel aphids and mites, so it is also advisable to plant it along with garden strawberries and other crops.

Attention: fennel is an allelopathic plant, that is, it has a strong depressing effect on its neighbors, and especially harms tomatoes, so it is better to allocate a separate bed for this spicy crop. nine0003 Marigolds are excellent neighbors for almost any plant

Growth type and rooting level of neighboring plants

Combined planting involves the use of all available space in the garden - both above ground and below ground. The selection of plants based on the type of growth is a simple task. After all, it is obvious that planting lettuce next to carrots will not be a problem. But placing a salad next to a sprawling cucumber will no longer be easy. But even in such situations, the use of supports for climbing plants will help solve the problem. nine0003

When choosing vegetables for joint planting, it is important to consider not only the final height of the stems, but also the type of root system. Shallow rooted crops next to deep rooted plants are ideal. Such neighboring plants will not compete for habitat and food.

For example, planting legumes together next to corn follows this principle. The roots of peas and beans are much deeper than those of corn, so the plants do not compete at the same soil level. By the same principle, root crops such as beets, carrots or rutabaga can be planted along with legumes. nine0003

Each vegetable has its own time

One of the common principles of combined beds is planting early-ripening crops next to late-ripening vegetables. One such example is the combination of asparagus and tomatoes on the same bed. Asparagus is very photophilous and needs eight hours of sunlight a day. But this is an early ripening crop, and the asparagus crop is ready for harvest in the spring.

Therefore, after harvesting the shoots, you can plant tomatoes on both sides of the asparagus row. Tomatoes ripen much later and will not shade growing asparagus. These two plants also make good companions, as tomatoes can help repel asparagus beetles, while asparagus helps keep tomato root nematodes at bay. nine0003

This garden duo can also be compacted with parsley and basil. The ideal partner for so many late-ripening crops will be radishes, which give a harvest very early, and peas, which will not occupy the garden for long.

Read also our material Borders and hedges for a garden of medicinal herbs.

The best companions for the main crops

Based on the above, it is possible to identify the best neighbors for the main garden crops with which they can share the garden to mutual benefit. nine0003

Best partners for: