Getting Started with Companion Planting

# Getting Started with Companion Planting Companion planting is the practice of growing certain plants together for mutual benefit. Unlike monoculture farming, which depletes soil and invites pests, companion planting mimics natural ecosystems where diversity creates resilience. ## The Three Sisters The most famous companion planting guild is the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash. Corn provides a structure for beans to climb. Beans fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, feeding the corn and squash. Squash spreads along the ground, shading out weeds and retaining moisture. ## Tomato Guilds Tomatoes thrive alongside basil (repels aphids and improves flavor), marigolds (repels nematodes), and carrots (loosen soil around tomato roots). Avoid planting tomatoes near brassicas or fennel. ## Getting Started 1. **Start small** - Choose 2-3 companion pairs for your first season 2. **Observe** - Note which combinations work in your specific microclimate 3. **Record** - Keep a garden journal of what you plant where and the results 4. **Iterate** - Expand successful guilds and experiment with new combinations each year