Companion planting forum anyone?

Guild planting was the term I had seen, but looking now, I see it is a permaculture term.

Companion Planting, Guild Planting, and Permaculture.

I think this basically covers most aspects of 'ground tending' that depend to a greater extent on layout and plant content rather than specific amendments to the soil. It is also a design aspect different from others in that it is NOT addressed here on DG.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/fragrant/all/ (fragrant)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/landscaping/all/ (landscaping)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/cottage/all/ (cottage)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/containers/all/ (container)

All of these forums deal with layout: none of them deal specifically with layout as it relates to soil and plant quality. There are also many forums dealing with soil amendments and soil quality.

(wthex--I think perhaps your definition of agriculture is somewhat narrower than mine. It IS a culture...;-)

There are probably at least 15 different forums where aspects of these types of approaches to gardening could legitimately be discussed. A title should be broad enough to allow discussion and be inclusive. It also needs to be specific enough to be googled/ searched by anyone hunting info. My main point with the name change/umbrella idea was to give the topic enough breadth to gather people with similar interests. And companion planting might be thought to exclude or be different from permaculture. ANYWAY....


( oh hey, and gardening for bees...)

If there are companion planting threads started on other forums, posting a link here might promote more activity on them...

Ooh, links posted while I was posting! Thanks!

grownut,

"your definition of agriculture is somewhat narrower than mine"

Not really. I understand completely however agriculture would be an even broader view of these subjects and we are talking about Companion Planting, a very specific topic of agriculture.

The reason that we have many named forums here on DG, I suspect, is to help find the right place to talk about specific issues as they relate to Gardening otherwise there would be one forum with one name.


"And companion planting might be thought to exclude or be different from permaculture"

It is different than Permaculture. We've already established that Companion Planting is one aspect of Permaculture and not Permaculture itself .

Believe me I understand. If I seen a forum called Permaculture; would I look there for Companion Planting information? - Yes
I might even find some of the other topics encompassed by Permaculture interesting.

Gah!! Ackk!! Didn't mean to get all tied up in nomenclature...

CritterO -- http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6048925 is the post where I tried to collect relevant threads. There are more but I can't find them right now.

My main point in the above post was that this topic stands out as one of the few basic garden design disciplines not covered by any forum. Companion Planting is an old standby. Permaculture is a broader, newer discipline, but still very relevant [in this context.]

I think if we all were to start one thread covering a topic personally interesting on one of those 3 forums in the above post and link it here then we should start gaining momentum. Even a few of us. Talking about talking about it, however...I'll try but I'm a rank amateur.

edited to un-underline because I accidentally got wild with it!! How do I stop it?!


This message was edited Feb 8, 2009 7:16 PM

example with the wrong brackets: [u] your text to underline [/u]
your text to underline

You have to close it with a '/u'.

Am I the only one who is getting confused by this discussion? I hadn't meant there to be a whole thred on the topic of the topic LOL. As far as I'm concerned and the topic I 'm interested in is called Companion Planting - it's not too difficult, doesn't need any explaination (because it's obvious) and has been around for years (in this neck of the woods at any rate).
Right now my head is spinning and I think we are getting just a tad off topic (if there IS one now).

This message was edited Feb 10, 2009 8:19 AM

Sorry Rosie -I didn't mean to. Just thought the permaculture enthusiasts might come out of the wood work if...

regardless, CP needs a home...

Since 'Companion Planting' can be used in so many instances for gardening in general, it seems sensible finding CP with a separate forum. That way any gardener can find the information listed under "companion planting'. It wouldn't matter What, When, Where or How you are gardening, if you want information on CP, you could go the the CP forum.

I am now in the first stages of my CP garden. The soil is ready!! LOL

I've never heard of the term 'Permaculture' before it's introduction here, but I like the concept (It seems to be a new name on an old way). Actually, I think I've been part of the movement for some time, without knowing it :) Thank you for the insight.

I too think a separate forum for Companion Planting would be easier to supply or receive info. I have over the years done some companion planting and will be doing more this spring if the snow ever leaves.

Donna

Well, just to clarify for everyone, I only mentioned the term "permaculture" because I figured it was a broader category and so likely to be more "forum-worthy" -- and someone had actually already mentioned it so I was chiming in with that idea. But, for the record, calling the forum "Companion Planting" is just fine with me and I figure permaculture conversations could just as easily happen within that focus..... and it does seem less confusing at this point. I do notice there are threads about this scattered all over and it would be lovely to collect them all in one place and go from there.

Kyla

I agree. Permaculture and companion planting could arguably be gardening methods with the same purpose. One can work with the other.

Does anyone know of threads that haven't been linked here which could be added?

I would certainly be interested in a companion planting forum, because this coming season I am planning to try it in earnest. I spent several hours combing through all my books recently looking at "allies" and "incompatibles" for all the veggies I'm intending to grow this year. And I have a bunch of flowers and herbs I will also be growing, so I was trying to find out which things I could grow together for the benefit of both.

I see guild planting in permaculture as different. From what I know of that, guilds take advantage of the different growing needs of a group of plants, such that one might be able to grow in the shade of another--or like some people will always plant some radishes to mark a row--or that plants with shallow roots could be grown next to plants with deep ones. But I think of companion planting as being more that the plants actually benefit each other in some way rather than just make the best of it. Like basil supposedly in some chemically helping tomato plants.

I think there's a lot of guessing in this, but that's okay. I'm certainly willing to try all sorts of things with this.

Certainly the topic is too diverse to try and fit into an existing forum however you look at it!! Do the flower/veg teams go in flowers, veg, or cottage, or some other forum? etc.

What about flowers and vegetables that like to be planted together? Will everyone do mulitple posts to help out everyone at DG or will they only post in veggies and flower people never see it?

That's what worried me Kathy. People use companion planting for very diverse reasons - probably most would be veggie gardeners but I would think there would be a few flower gardeners too. I just don't want to exclude anyone.
:-)) Rosie

Donna, the snow has already left us and left me with a cold. Sorry if I'm repeating myself, my head isn't working properly.

rose, hope you feel better soon. I just came back into the house from going out to open the chicken house small door into the fenced in yard so they could have a bit of sun. Now the sun is gone again. I have to remember to go out and close the little door before dark. It is 35 degrees right now but will drop fast. I have heat bulb lights in the chicken house for warmth.

donna

Chickens! Now that's something else on my wish list LOL.

They are great fun, but like me they are tired of having to stay inside. During the summer time they are free range.

Donna

I know what you mean Ruth. I kept a breed called Light Sussex when I had a smallholding and they were seasonally free range too. They didn't like being cooped up over the long winter months either.

OK. I've taken the bull by the horns and started a new thred here http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/952712/ . All those in favour say "Aye" LOL
For anyone who came here to register their interest in a Companion Planting forum, please feel free to add your name here and continue the discussion at the above link.

This message was edited Feb 17, 2009 8:23 AM

kathy, roseimp, I know exactly what you mean. On the Roses forum, I posted about my great success using tatsoi as a ground cover under 2 of my roses. (Tatsoy is the little spoon-shaped green you'll see in a "spring mix" of lettuces from the supermarket; it has the prettiest rosette shape, stays low to the ground, and tastes good too). But who is going to find this post if they never go to the Roses forum? And how much am I missing by never visiting certain other forums?
So, here's my vote for a Companion Plants forum...flowers and veggies both...to facilitate finding the information we need. I'm not holding my breath, though. I inquired about the possibility of an Edible Landscaping forum a few days ago, and was told that there is plenty of information on this subject covered throughout the many different existing forums. Yes, there's information scattered all over Dave's, but that's the problem. Scattered information is harder to search for, and harder to gather, and time consuming.
Oh, well. We're all interested in the same things, and we'll keep meeting somewhere, right? Maybe right here on Organics.

I'm new to gardening and need all the help I can get.

Hi Vicki, come and join us here. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/952712/ We're just throwing a few ideas around so feel free to join in.

:-)) Rosie

I know tis is an old topic, but I would love to have a companion planting or potager garden forum. It would be so nice to have all the info in one place rather than having to visit 5 or 6 different forums to gather information.

Stephanie

Many of us are in complete agreement! Thanks for your imput.

I am very interested in this topic and I am rying to read everything I can to start my first veg garden this year.

Excellent! Please come over to the Organic Gardening forum where we have three threads going on this subject: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/organic/all/

The two main threads are right at the top at the moment with recent posts. ;-)

Hi everyone, I'm alittle late on posting, just started really learning DG but wanted to say that last year I grew borage and alpine strawberry plants inbetween my tomaotes and for the first time ever, I didn't have any problems with pests. But this was the first year in the area I live now for gardening so not sure if it could be just the area or if these plants really did help each other out. Just wanted to add my 2 cents :)

Heh---welcome!! In these troubled times, EVERY 2 cents counts.

(and every experience adds to what we can know, so hey, thanks for chiming in!)

I am late as well, but am very interested in this. I am trying borage and marigolds with my tomatoes this year. Also have marigolds planted here and there through out the veggie garden. Need to get out my nasturtium seeds yet. I really am a beginner with this and would love to learn much more! Heading over to the Organic Gardening forum!

Jen

OH DEAR! I told a new subscriber that we HAD a forum for Companion Planting...I see that I was in error...Hey Dave...this would be a great help. Jo

I have a question, last year where I grew tomatoes and peppers, what would be a good plant to have their in these spots this year? Do I dare try growing tomatoes and peppers again there?

You'll probably have better luck by posting your question here ...

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/952712/

... or possibly here ...

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/960252/

No, bluesky. I made this mistake one year and several of my tomato plants browned, wilted, and died. Try bush beans or melons or eggplant or cucumbers on a trellis in their place.

Thanks winterrobin for the info. I do have melons,beans and bush cucumbers to try. Thanks again for saving my garden! :)
Thank you also puddlepirate, I went to the post you have shown and did post there.

blue

I have melons and bush beans to plant too. Except for the usual tomatoes, I haven't had a veggie garden for years. It's exciting, isn't it? My transplants are puny still. I guess it's because spring has been unusually chilly. I'm planting borage among the beans.