In the vegetable garden, monocultures can not only quickly become boring, but also dangerous: Pests and fungal or bacterial pathogens spread more quickly, and the similar plants always compete with each other for nutrients and water. Therefore, the winter months are the best time to plan optimal mixed cultures for the beds. Then different types of vegetables grow at the same time in the same bed - and complement each other perfectly.
When creating mixed cultures, it is important to ensure that the plant neighbors are suitable
Which vegetables get along well - and which don't
However, you cannot mix and match all the vegetables with each other. Instead, a successful mixed culture requires careful planning, because not all plant species or plant families get along with each other without restriction. There are others that complement each other perfectly instead. When planning the mixed vegetable bed, pay particular attention to these points:
- Mix high, medium and low eaters.
- Always plant heavy feeders first and do not mix them with other heavy feeders.
- Slender, tall species are planted next to bushy plants.
- In addition to deep-rooted species, species with shallow roots thrive best.
- In both cases, the plants do not get in each other's way due to different growth.
- Flowering perennials and herbs such as lavender, dill, parsley are particularly suitable as a bed border.
When planning the planting, not only observe the rules for a successful mixed culture, but also those for the so-called crop rotation.
These plant families are incompatible with each other
Above all, the species of the following plant families should not be planted in mixed cultures or in crop rotation in the immediate vicinity, as they are incompatible with themselves and with each other:
- Goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae): beetroot, spinach, chard
- Umbelliferae: parsley, carrots, parsnips, celery, fennel, dill
- Pumpkin family (Cucurbitacea): cucumber, melon, pumpkin
- Cruciferous vegetables: cabbage, radish, radishes, arugula, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, garden cress
Above all, make sure that no (larger) crop residues from cabbage plants remain on the bed. This can negatively affect subsequent crops such as spinach, lettuce, carrots and beans. In addition, you should not grow the same plants (families) on the same bed every year, but always change the fruit. In this way, the soil can recover and is not leached out on one side.
Pre, main and post cultures
Basically, a distinction is made in the garden between pre-, main and post-culture. Precultures (such as spinach) can be sown at temperatures as low as four degrees Celsius, they ripen quickly and are usually ready for harvest within four to six weeks. Main crops follow from around the middle to the end of May and later, the secondary crops finally from late summer. The rule here is that pre- and post-cultures must not impede the main cultures.
tips
When sowing or planting, note the different ripening times. You can prevent a glut of certain vegetables at one time by not planting the same species in the bed at the same time, but at a time interval of about a week.