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What can i grow with potatoes


Best and Worst Potato Companion Plants

When planning your garden, potatoes offer a unique challenge because there are many plants that grow well in close proximity to potatoes, but there are also certain plants you should avoid planting near them. An understanding of companion planting strategies will help you learn how best to plan your potato plot.

Good companion planting strategies are especially important in small gardens or wherever careful space planning is needed. Learn which plants make the best and worst potato companions.

The Basics for Gardening Organically

What Is Companion Planting?

Companion planting can be defined as the practice of planting different species of plants close together based on their ability to enhance one another in some way. Common reasons why plants might be regarded as good companions include:

Nitrogen-Fixing Plants That Aid in Fertilization

Best Potato Companion Plants

Potatoes grow deep in the soil, which logically suggests that the best companions will be those with above-ground growth habits that do not infer with the potato tubers, but some root vegetables can actually be beneficial because they help repel pests. Here's a list of the best potato companion plants:

Lettuce, spinach, scallions, and radishes are shallow-rooted veggies that are a good choice for occupying the spaces between potato plants. Because potatoes are harvested late in the season, the best choices for planting around the potato hills will be early-season vegetables that will be harvested well before you need to stomp around the garden to dig up the potatoes.

Several plants are said to enhance the flavor of the potato tubers, including dead nettle, horseradish, and marigolds, although none of this has been scientifically proven.

Beans and other legumes are good companion plants for nitrogen-loving vegetables because they increase nitrogen levels in the soil.  

Horseradish is said to make potatoes resistant to pests and disease, and petunias and alyssum will also attract beneficial insects that feast on insects that attack potatoes. Colorado potato beetles are a particular problem for potatoes, and among the plants that repel this damaging pest are tansy, coriander, and catnip.

The Spruce / K. Dave

Worst Potato Companion Plants

Proper companion planting techniques can also mean not locating some plant species close together if they have a negative influence on one another. For example some plants: 

Potatoes are members of the nightshade family, so avoid planting potatoes near any other nightshade family members such as peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, and okra. And, avoid planting potatoes is the same location where nightshade plants have recently been grown.

Because they share many of the same genes, all members of a crop family are susceptible to the same diseases and pests. Locating nightshade family members near one another creates optimal conditions for certain fungal and bacterial diseases to thrive. Follow crop rotation best practices and allow a full two years before replanting members of the same crop family in the same location.

The Spruce / K. Dave

10 Tips for Planting & Growing Great Tomatoes

30 Potato Companion Plants And 8 Plants To Never Grow With Potatoes

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Potatoes are a staple crop on many temperate climate homesteads. Potatoes are generally a relatively easy (though space consuming) crop to grow.

Get it right when it comes to choosing and growing potatoes and you can enjoy your own home grown potatoes all year round – especially if you learn how to store them for many months.

As you will find out in this article, there are a number of ways to boost your potato harvest – but choosing the right companion plants is our number one tip. 

Top Tips To Boost Your Potato Harvest

We have plenty of tips when it comes to getting the most from your potato harvest. General tips for a good potato harvest include:

But perhaps the best way to boost your potato yield this year is to stop growing potatoes in their own, separate bed.

Instead, choose companion plants for potatoes, to create polycultures or guilds around them to help them grow strong. 

To find out more about companion plants and why we use them, check out my article on companion plants for tomatoes. In that article, you’ll find out more about how and why we use companion plants and create polycultures in an organic garden. 

But which companion plants should you choose to grow alongside your potatoes?

Read on for some suggestions.

Vegetables to Plant Alongside Potatoes

First of all, let’s take a look at some of the other annual vegetables (and legumes) that could be grown alongside your potatoes:

1. Horseradish

Horseradish is a perennial root vegetable grown for its fiery flavour. But another reason to grow it is to give potatoes a helping hand.

Horseradish grown around the edges of your potato growing area is said to increase the disease resistance of your potato plants.

It is also believed to repel the potato bug, potato beetles, aphids, whiteflies and some caterpillars.

While these claims have little scientific backing, there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence from gardeners and growers who swear to its efficacy.

There is also some evidence to suggest that incorporating the organic material from horseradish plants into the soil around potatoes can, in certain circumstances, have pest controlling characteristics.

It is the compound allyl isothiocyanate found in the plant which is said to have pest repelling properties. (It is also this oil which gives the plant its peppery taste.)

(Note, however, that horseradish is a member of the brassica plant family and can harbor common brassica pests, so should not be grown close to cabbages, kale, broccoli or other members of this plant family. )

2. Garlic

Planting garlic around the potato bed may also be efficacious in repelling certain pests.

The pungent aroma of the garlic is said to repel certain species, and to confuse or distract others, making the primary plants in the bed more difficult for pests to find.

Intercropping potatoes with garlic was also found to be more effective than fungicidal treatments for the control of late blight in this study. 

3. Onions

Onions have also been found to be efficacious against certain insects when intercropped with potatoes in certain studies.

Again, the strong smell of this allium may help to reduce insect damage on your potato plants. 

4. Scallions/ Green Onions/ Spring Onions

Scallions, green onions or spring onions are an allium that could be particularly useful for growing alongside potatoes in a home setting, because they are small and can easily be incorporated between rows of potatoes being earthed up in a traditional way, and along the edges of growing areas.

Note, however, that alliums are believed to suppress the growth of legumes such as peas and beans.

So while, as you will see below, alliums and legumes can both be potentially beneficial for potatoes, both should not be included in the same polyculture.

5. Peas

Peas are a nitrogen fixing legume, and as such, may be helpful to potatoes, which have relatively high nitrogen needs.

Studies have suggested that yield on a certain area of land can be increased by intercropping of these two plants.

In a warm climate, during hot summer weather, pea crops planted to provide shade to potatoes may also have a benefit, since the increased shade will reduce moisture loss from the soil and aid the potato crop, which requires relatively high levels of water.

Peas have also been shown to reduce the incidence of Colorado potato beetles.

6. Beans

Beans may also provide similar benefits to potatoes as peas. Both as a nitrogen fixing plant, and as a shade provider.

Studies into intercropping of beans and potatoes have shown that in certain circumstances, overall yield can be increased on a given area of land by planting the two together.

7. Corn

In a warm climate, growing corn on the sunny southern side of your potatoes could also bring benefits through providing shade for this cool climate crop.

The shade will help reduce water evaporation from the soil, which can help make sure potatoes have enough water and will grow well and taste good upon harvest.

8. Lettuce

Finally, it is also worthwhile considering crops that, while they may not help the potatoes themselves, will help increase the yield on your property without affecting your potato crop.

Lettuce is one shallow-rooted, fast growing crop that can be sown between potatoes. It grows fast enough that it can be harvested before competition becomes an issue.

9. Spinach

Spinach is another example of a leafy green with shallow roots that can be sown around your potatoes early in the season.

Sowing lettuce, spinach and other similar leafy greens will help you to make the most of the space you have available.

Another benefit of sowing leafy greens like lettuce and spinach around young potato plants is that they can help to create good ground cover, which is another way to reduce moisture loss.

It can also help to reduce the incidence of weeds that may compete for nutrients with your potato plants.

10. Radishes

Radishes are another great space-filling crop. These too have relatively shallow roots and are fast-growing.

So again, you can enjoy a harvest from between your potato plants before they grow to fill the space and require the room and nutrients available.

Radishes can also help the potatoes and the leafy greens planted alongside them by repelling flea beetles.

Herbs That Make Good Companion Plants for Potatoes

It is important to think about vegetables and legumes that could be sown and grown alongside potatoes.

As mentioned above, these can aid the potatoes and make the most of the space available. But it is also a great idea to think about adding aromatic herbs around your potato plants. 

Some aromatic herbs that could make good companions for potatoes include:

11. Thyme

Thyme is a good companion for potatoes on the plate, but also in the garden.

Primarily, thyme is a good companion for potatoes because it is particularly good at attracting hoverflies/ Syrphidae which reduce aphid numbers through predation.

It can also spread to create good ground cover.

Thyme likes much drier conditions than potatoes, but could work well elevated on the southern side of potato mounds, for example, where it can enjoy the sunnier and drier conditions it needs.

Even better, harvest some thyme leaves ad sprinkle on your roast potatoes for a delicious flavor combo.

12. Yarrow

This is another perennial herb that can work very well as a companion plant to many other crops.

Yarrow also attracts a range of beneficial insects, and its deep roots mean that it can be an effective dynamic accumulator. When later chopped and dropped around potato plants, it can help to deliver the nutrients they need.

Yarrow helps break up the soil, and potatoes can benefit from this.

They do best in soil that is not too compacted. Yarrow grown as a companion alongside other aromatic herbs can also help increase their essential oil production, which can boost their pest-repelling or confusing properties. 

13. Chamomile

Grown alongside other companion herbs, chamomile also increases their oil production. It also attracts a range of beneficial insects, including hoverflies and predatory wasps.

14. Basil

Basil is a herb that can do well when grown alongside potatoes. It can thrive in the somewhat moist environment beneath your more mature potato plants.

It repels certain common pests, including thrips, flies and hornworms.

15.

Parsley

Parsley is another herb that enjoys the moist soil around potato plants.

It attracts certain beneficial insects, and acts as a trap crop for insects that feed on potato plants (as well as tomato plants and other members of the same family).

16. Sage

Sage is another aromatic herb that helps vegetables by attracting honeybees and other pollinators, and may also help potatoes by keeping flea beetles away.

17. Catmint

Catmint also has deterrent properties for certain pests. Some gardeners swear that catmint is one plant that can help to deter potato beetles, for example.

18. Tansy

Tansy is another herb that may help keep potato beetles at bay. Again, this is a herb that can also attract certain beneficial wildlife.

19. Cilantro

Likewise, cilantro is another crop to plant in a fight against potato beetles. Cilantro also attracts hoverflies which can aid in reducing pest populations.

20. Lovage

Lovage improves the health of almost all plants grown nearby as a companion plant.

It is also especially good at attracting beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators, as well as certain wasps and beetles.

Flowers That Make Good Companion Plants for Potatoes

Finally, it is also a good idea to think about the flowers that it is beneficial to grow alongside potatoes. Flowers that can be great companions for potatoes include:

21. Marigolds

Marigolds are an important companion plant that are beneficial when planted throughout your garden.

Check out this article on growing marigolds in the vegetable garden to find out more about this wonderful flower and the many reasons to grow it in your garden. 

22. Calendula

Calendula (also called pot marigold) should not be confused with the above. But this too can be a useful companion plant.

Largely for its wildlife attracting properties, calendula can also be a great choice for potato polycultures. 

23. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are another multi-purpose companion plant that you can use as a good companion for a range of commonly cultivated fruits and vegetables.

More commonly, you will use them as companions for cucurbits such as cucumbers and squash, or other summer crops like tomatoes.

But the same reasons that make them good companions for these plants also make them good companions for potatoes.

Check out my article on reasons to grow nasturtiums in your garden to find out more. 

24. Borage

Borage is another flowering plant that you should consider sowing and growing throughout your garden.

It can be beneficial in a forest garden or fruit tree guild, or in an annual vegetable plot.

Around your potatoes, it can help as a dynamic accumulator, and can help maintain fertility and retain moisture for your crop when chopped and dropped.

It can also help by attracting a range of beneficial insects when in flower. 

Here’s a lot more reasons why you should grow borage.

25. Petunias

These pungent, sweet smelling flowers may protect potatoes from certain pests such as leafhoppers.

26. Alyssum

Alyssum can create excellent ground cover around your potato plants.

These flowers not only look pretty, and help retain soil moisture, they are also excellent at attracting predatory wasps that eat insect pests that might plague your potatoes.

27. Clover

Clover, like peas and beans, is a nitrogen fixing plant. It can also help potatoes by providing good ground cover around the plants during the warmth of summer.

When in flower, both white and red clover varieties attract pollinators but also a range of other beneficial insects.

28. Vetch

Vetch is another nitrogen fixing plant and, again, you can intercrop it with potatoes or use it to create good ground cover.

Again, this can help to reduce soil moisture loss and reduce can also help to reduce the incidence of weeds.

29. Dead Nettle

Some weeds, however, can be a good thing, and this is well worth remembering.

One weed that can be beneficial to potatoes is dead nettle (lamium).

Dead nettles may improve the taste and vigour of potato plants growing nearby and might also help in repelling certain pests.

30. Flax

Finally, flax may improve potato plants’ growth and flavour. It may also deter potato bugs. 

8 Plants To Avoid Planting Near Potatoes

What you avoid planting near potatoes can be just as important as what you do grow near them.

Here are some of the plants which do not make good companions for your potato plants:

1. Brassicas

Since horseradish is such a good companion for potatoes, many other brassicas (members of the cabbage family) are often recommended for growth alongside them.

But while this plant family is often recommended for growth alongside potatoes, it is not really a good idea.

The primary reason why it is not a good idea to include brassicas and potatoes in the same growing area is that they do not enjoy the same conditions.

While they do have similar water and nutrient needs, brassicas will do best in a somewhat more alkaline environment.

Potatoes, on the other hand, grow best in slightly acidic soil.

The mulches you choose for these plants can be used to influence this factor, and help to prevent problems such as root knot in brassicas and scab in potatoes.

When you grow them together, the different needs will be much harder to meet.

2. Tomatoes (And Other Members of the Nightshade Family)

Potatoes are part of the same plant family as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines.

The problem will growing potatoes close to or with other members of this family is that pests and diseases spread easily between them.

Don’t grow them together, or plant them in the same bed following one another. Try to keep a good crop rotation system in play when it comes to this plant family. 

3. Cucumbers and Squash

It is also a good idea to keep cucumbers, squash and other members of the cucurbit family away from your potatoes, since these can make your potatoes more susceptible to blight.

These are also, like potatoes, ‘hungry’ plants, and can compete with the potato plants for water and nutrients.

4. Raspberries

Keep raspberries well away from your potato plants too. Since these too can increase the chances of a problem with blight and other potato diseases.

5. Carrots

Carrots are another crop that are not beneficial close to potatoes.

For one thing, the carrots and potatoes do not share the same environmental needs. Carrots can cope with far drier conditions than potatoes.

Carrots may also stunt the growth and development of potato tubers.

But mostly, the problem is that the disruption involved in harvesting potatoes can damage and disrupt the carrot crop nearby. (The same goes for several other root crops.)

6. Asparagus

Growing asparagus in the same bed as potatoes is also a no-go.

Some say that the asparagus will compete with the potatoes and stunt their growth and development.

But the main issue is that asparagus, as a perennial crop, has an extensive root formation that will be damaged by the earth movement required in potato growing and harvesting.

7. Sunflowers

Sunflowers can have allelopathic effect, which means they excrete chemicals which can inhibit seed germination and stunt the growth of certain other crops grown close by.

Growing sunflowers near potatoes may result in smaller and misshapen potato tubers.

So while sunflowers can be great companions for corn and other crops – keep them away from your potatoes.

8. Fennel

Finally, fennel is another allelopathic plant. It can stunt the growth of a wide range of commonly cultivated crops.

So you should keep fennel away from other plants that are affected by the chemicals it excretes.

Place it where it can attract beneficial insects without having a detrimental effect.

Examples of Potato Polycultures

It is important to remember, when planning your garden, that companion planting is by no means an exact science.

A huge range of factors contribute to the interactions between plants.

Where you live will have an influence on which combinations work well, so experimentation is definitely in order.  

In order to further help you to come up with successful guilds in your garden, here are examples of the potato polycultures that work well for me where I live:

I plant potatoes in my polytunnel early in the spring. Soon after the potato plants emerge, I companion plant with: 

All of which will be harvested before the potatoes grow to fill the space. I also place marigolds along the edge of the bed as soon as the weather warms sufficiently.

These remain in place after the potatoes have been harvested, when the potatoes are replaced by summer beans and more leafy salad crops. 

I also grow potatoes outdoors. I plant these a little later in the spring alongside:

Once the potatoes are ready for harvest, the peas and beans are chopped, leaving the roots in place. And the borage is chopped and dropped.

I add additional mulch to the zone, ready for the next phase of planting.

Of course, these are just examples of what I have found works well for me.

Be sure to experiment with plant combinations to see which work best for you, where you live.

But remember, integration is always better than segregation when it comes to the plants that you grow. 

Read Next:

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What to plant next year after potatoes: crop rotation table

In our country, potatoes are considered “second bread”. Therefore, it is grown constantly and in large quantities. Vegetable growers want to get consistently large yields, but it is impossible to do this without knowing the basics of agricultural technology. An important role is played by the correct crop rotation, which for some reason not everyone pays attention to. Let's see if it is possible to plant potatoes after potatoes and which crops will become good and bad followers for it. nine0003

The video told what crops to plant in the garden where potatoes grew

All about what can be planted after potatoes

Crop rotation rules
Features of potatoes
What to plant after early varieties of potatoes
— To restore the soil mixture
— For the second harvest
What to plant next year
Worst crops-poledovatel

Almost all gardeners have heard about crop rotation at least once, but far from all observe it. Some people think that annual planting planning is too much of a hassle, given the amount of information that has to be collected and stored about past plantings. This neglect of the rules of crop rotation leads to a significant drop in yield. There are several reasons. nine0003

The first is that if a certain crop or its close varieties are planted in one place from year to year, it will take from the substrate the set of micro- and macroelements it needs. Moreover, she will do this annually, which significantly depletes the soil mixture. Top dressing can not always correct the situation.

The second important point is the accumulation of pathogenic microflora, which causes diseases that are dangerous for the monoculture. And every year it will be more and more. Likewise with pests. They come and settle only on plants suitable for them. In favorable conditions for themselves, they actively breed, after wintering there are even more of them. Timely change of cultures helps to avoid the problems described above. nine0003

The plant belongs to the nightshade. Its closest relatives are eggplants, peppers and tomatoes. All of them are very demanding on the composition of the soil mixture, because in the process of active growth they consume a large amount of nutrients. They especially need a lot of phosphorus and potassium. After harvesting nightshade, the land is significantly depleted.

In addition, it contains viruses and fungi that provoke various diseases: late blight, rot, scab and others. There are many insect pests in the soil: wireworm, Colorado beetle, bear, nematodes. Therefore, at the end of the agricultural season, the soil mixture is dug up, fertilized and treated with fungicides. nine0003

Many gardeners practice getting two harvests per season. This is quite possible if you plant early potatoes. The tubers will ripen by the beginning of July, in the remaining time in this place it is quite possible to have time to grow something else. We will analyze the options for what can be planted after early potatoes.

Siderite for soil restoration

The vegetable garden is depleted, but it can be restored naturally. To do this, green manure plants are planted. This is a "green manure" that accumulates nutrients and then gives them to the soil mixture. After harvesting potatoes, the ground is loosened, then green manure is sown. Seedlings are allowed to sprout and grow, but do not form seed pods. At the flowering phase or a little earlier, the green mass is mowed and crushed a little. After that, they dig up the site, planting the greens in the soil. nine0003

You can do otherwise. Without mowing and chopping, simply close the grass into the ground when digging. Phacelia, rapeseed, buckwheat, mustard, oats or rye are suitable as green manure. You can plant any legumes: lupins, peas, beans, etc. They saturate the substrate with a large amount of nitrogen, which they accumulate in root nodules. In any case, potassium and phosphorus will not be enough, so in the spring they will need to be added additionally.

For second crop

It is necessary to choose what to plant after early potatoes, taking into account climatic features. Not all plants will have time to mature in the remaining warm days. And yet there are options.

1. Onion

In cold regions, garlic and onions are sown “on the feather”, in warm regions it is quite possible to get medium-sized heads. Onions feel good in soil depleted after nightshade. In addition, they also disinfect it, destroying pathogens and repelling pests.

2. Green

Lettuces and all kinds of umbrella plants will have time to grow: parsley, dill, fennel. It is enough to loosen the ridges and sow the culture. You don't need to fertilize before.

3. Legumes

Early ripening peas or beans can also ripen in the vacated space. Pre-sowing treatment of the soil mixture is not required. It is only necessary to prepare the supports along which the stems will curl. The crop can be harvested before the cold weather.

We list the best options for such landings. nine0003

1. Root crops

Different root crops will grow well: beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, etc. True, before planting, it will be necessary to fertilize the soil mixture in order to restore the nutrients it has lost. Pathogens and diseases characteristic of nightshade do not threaten root crops. The exception is the wireworm. It is necessary to get rid of it.

2. Cucurbitaceae

The most enduring representatives of cucurbitaceae, squash and squash, will feel best. But you can also sow cucumbers or pumpkins. In this case, pre-fertilization is mandatory, the plants are very sensitive to lack of nutrition. nine0003

3. Alliums

All alliums grow well after nightshades. Diseases and pests are different. Phytoncides, which are contained in onions and garlic, disinfect the beds. Therefore, after them there are no pathogens left. They also repel pests.

4. Legumes

Undemanding to the composition of the soil, grow well even in depleted areas. In the process of development, legumes accumulate nitrogen and enrich the substrate with it. After nightshade, you can plant beans, peas or beans. They will give a bountiful harvest and partially restore soil fertility. nine0003

5. Cabbage

All cruciferous plants grow well after potatoes. You can plant any of the cabbages - the harvest will be good. The exception is white cabbage. It is most demanding on the composition of the soil mixture, it will not have enough micro and macro elements. They must be paid before boarding.

Certain crops should not be grown in a place freed from potatoes. First of all, it's all nightshade. Therefore, the answer to the question whether it is possible to plant potatoes after potatoes will be negative. The same applies to tomatoes, eggplant or peppers. The soil is depleted, accumulates insect pests and pathogenic microflora. All this will not allow you to get a good harvest next year. nine0003

According to the rules of crop rotation, re-planting of any nightshade can be carried out only after three to four years. You can speed up the process by “resting” the land under fallow and sowing green manure. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant potatoes in one place every year. If it doesn’t work out otherwise, you need to regularly fertilize, carry out regular preventive treatments.

Those who doubt whether it is possible to plant strawberries after potatoes are right. Strawberries or garden strawberries should not be planted after potatoes either. Despite the fact that they belong to different families, they have many common diseases. And most importantly, they have a common enemy - the wireworm. Getting rid of it is not easy. Under adverse conditions, the berry may die. nine0003

As a result, we have compiled a table that will help you navigate the choice of a successor crop for potatoes.

Landing target Follower cultures
For fertility restoration Siderates: buckwheat, legumes, phacelia, rye, mustard, rapeseed
Second crop Greens: lettuce, dill, fennel, spinach. Onions, garlic, peas, beans, beans
Next year Pumpkin, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, onions, carrots, garlic, white cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, all legumes
Cannot be planted Solanaceae: potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants. Garden strawberry, strawberry

Prepared by

Inna Yasinovskaya

Photo

Pixabay

Dacha Plants nine0000 How to get ten potatoes out of a bucket: tips for gardeners

It's time to prepare for planting potatoes.

It would seem, what tricks can there be? But for some reason, some potatoes grow from peas, while others get huge tubers, and they harvest much earlier. Here are seven tips that help you get ten potatoes out of one bucket.

1 It is important to guess the date. Plant potatoes better not by date, but by weather. She will not survive severe frosts. If the soil at a depth of 10 cm has warmed up to seven degrees, then it's time. And if the temperature is plus nine, the potatoes will feel even more comfortable. nine0003

2 Some gardeners, when sprouting potatoes for planting, break off the first sprouts so that the rest will wake up sooner. You don't need to do this. There are some varieties that, after breaking off, do not germinate at all. You can treat the tubers with growth stimulants - the preparations Ecosil, Ecolist, Epin.

3 To save seed, many cut large tubers into several pieces. And this is also wrong. In cold and wet soil, cut potatoes can rot. And if you really have to save money, then the potatoes must be divided into parts at least ten days before planting, so that the slices have time to dry and be covered with a protective "cork" layer. nine0003

4 Potatoes love to breathe and should not be planted too deep. If the soil is dense, then the tuber should lie at a depth of about 5 cm, if it is light, then it can be deepened by 8 cm. Burying to the depth of a bayonet from a shovel, as many do, is a big mistake. There is less oxygen there, the tuber germinates longer, and the faster the potatoes rise, the greater the harvest. If potatoes have to be planted in a swampy area where water comes out almost to the surface of the soil, it is better not to bury the tubers in the ground at all. Then they should be placed on loosened soil and covered with 5-7 cm of peat on top. Just keep in mind that peat itself is acidic, so it is recommended to mix it with ash. nine0003

5 The higher the soil temperature in the first stage, the better. To warm the earth, cover the beds with plantings with a black film, and when shoots appear, replace it with a transparent one. In this case, experts say, you can get a crop three weeks earlier than usual.

6 Try planting beans or peas in the same hole as potatoes. These plants use the potato stalk as a support, grow freely without shading it or taking up extra space. In turn, small nodules develop on the roots of peas and beans, nitrogen-fixing bacteria “work” in them, which convert nitrogen from the air into a form that is digestible for plants. The soil is being enriched with nitrogen, which is very beneficial for potatoes. Consequently, two or three crops are harvested from one plot, and the soil is not only not depleted, but also enriched with nitrogen. nine0003

7 Another important condition is that potatoes love water. It needs to be watered frequently. But you need to pour not on the plant, but in the furrow. And, of course, at the same time, the plant should receive the right dose of mineral fertilizers - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. Please note that if you use a chlorine-free form of potash fertilizers, then the taste of potatoes will be better. If possible, periodically change landing sites. If you plant potatoes in the same place, then in the fourth or fifth year this will inevitably negatively affect the yield. nine0003

Pharmacy garden

Now is the time to sow healing herbs.

Even the smallest plot can grow an entire pharmacy. Having grown medicinal plants with your own hands, you can be absolutely sure of their quality, there are no side effects from the use of decoctions and tinctures.

Medicinal herbs do not require much maintenance. Spring sowing is best done as early as possible, while the soil is still wet, plant the seeds to a depth of 1-2 cm, no more. Row spacing is 50-60 cm.

Plant in a sunny and wind-free area. Plant plants from north to south - so they will be better lit. It is advisable to make the so-called rocker plantings, which will protect the grass from drafts.

Juniper, thuja or any other low shrub up to 1.5 m can be planted around the "pharmacy bed". If you grow perennial herbs, then place them nearby so that planting annuals does not harm them.

Here are five of the most convenient medicinal plants for the garden and cottages:

Echinacea purpurea

Its therapeutic effect is similar to ginseng, and in some respects even surpasses it. It helps with many diseases, for example, it has a stimulating effect on the central nervous and immune systems, has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Grown through seedlings or by sowing in the ground. Sowing is recommended to be carried out in the spring with dry seeds, when the earth warms up to 10 degrees. Shoots appear on the 15-30th day after sowing. nine0003

Herbs for raw materials are collected in the second year of life, in the first half of active flowering - in July. For medicinal purposes, the entire aerial part of the plant is used.

Motherwort

It is used for cardiovascular diseases, neuroses, sleep disorders, asthma. This is a perennial plant, in one place it can grow up to five years. Then you need to sow in another area. Seeds remain viable for 8-9 years.

Motherwort is sown before winter or spring. For spring sowing, seeds are mixed with sand in a ratio of 1: 4, well moistened, poured into a box with a layer of 20-30 cm and placed for some time in a basement or refrigerator at a temperature of 2-5 degrees Celsius. Before sowing, they are placed for a couple of days in a warm room. nine0003

Motherwort is harvested during flowering.

Calendula (marigold)

Acts as an astringent, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and soothing agent, improves capillary circulation. It is used in the form of extracts and tinctures.

Plant marigolds throughout the area, sparing no seeds - between flowers, strawberries, shrubs and vegetables. And they will grow up healthy and blooming. Where there is calendula, there are no mites, nematodes, pathogens in the soil. You can plant calendula from early spring to early summer. Seeds are sown directly into the ground, as the plant does not tolerate transplanting. Calendula loves the sun very much, in the shade it closes the petals. nine0003

The harvest time is the flowering period, and it lasts all summer and half of autumn, because calendula is a very cold-resistant plant, it continues to grow and bloom even with light frosts.

Peppermint

It is used for diseases of the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, runny nose). It is also effective for problems with the gastrointestinal tract, cholelithiasis and hepatitis. Leaves are used externally as an antiseptic for inflammation, burns, toothache. Peppermint is best known for its calming effect, in which case it is usually used as a tea. Harvest the entire aerial part of the plant. nine0003

Planting is carried out either by rhizomes at least 10 cm long in October-November, or by seedlings in May. Rhizomes are laid in furrows laid every 60 cm, to a depth of 10-12 cm after 8-10 cm and covered with earth. Seedlings are planted in holes to a depth of 8-10 cm according to the scheme 60x15 cm with mandatory watering.

Mint leaves are harvested in July-August at the beginning or during flowering.

Salvia officinalis

Has astringent, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and volatile properties. It is used for diseases of the nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract, skin, burns and frostbite, edema, atherosclerosis, polyarthritis, sciatica, hemorrhoids.

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