The best way to enjoy the pleasures of broccoli is to cultivate your very own personal collection of broccoli companion plants. A few basic principles of vegetable gardening are all that you need to keep your broccoli gardens healthy and thriving. If you are willing to put in a little work, there are several broccoli plants that you may end up growing, which will provide you with an assortment of benefits. Here is a brief guide to broccoli and some tips for planting companion plants that complement it.
The first thing that you need to do before planting your broccoli garden is to prepare the soil properly. For starters, select a pH balance for your soil that is close to that of your fresh broccoli plant (it should be slightly acidic, but not excessively so). If you are growing your broccoli in soil that already has the proper ph balance, add some compost and water. That should help to restore the soil’s balance.
Another important tip for planting your fresh broccoli is to plant it in an area that receives a lot of sunlight. This is best if you live in a part of the country where there is a lot of seasonal sun. You want to ensure that the area you choose is going to receive plenty of sunlight all throughout the growing season, but especially at the beginning and during the fall months.
Tomatoes and cucumbers are other great companion plants that can be planted along with your tomatoes. The reason that cucumbers are so attractive and grow well alongside tomatoes is because they too are best planted in warm, shady areas. Cucumbers love the sun and grow much faster than tomatoes. However, they also have a tendency to overheat, so if you are planting them in your garden during the hot summer months be sure to plant them far apart to avoid overheating.
Other great vegetables that can be planted with your broccoli are onions and potatoes. They too enjoy the sunshine and grow well planted along with your broccoli. Planting onions and potatoes as your first crop will give you the most vegetables to harvest from your garden. They will also provide you with plenty of harvestable onions and potatoes to add to your soup recipes or side dishes.
Onions too can provide a wonderful harvest. Many grow well and have a strong flavor. There are many varieties of onions including fresh, canned and fresh cut. Some varieties have more flavor than others and are more commonly preferred for cooking purposes. When planting them, be sure to plant them in groups of three or four. Leaving some space between the onion plants for air circulation and moisture will ensure that the onions have the best flavor.
Cucumbers, as well as other heavy feeders, are planted in large groups of three or four. Cucumbers are known to enjoy full sun and love it as much as tomatoes. They do require regular watering but as long as you keep the soil moist they should do fine.
Most herbs can be planted as broccoli companion plants and provide a nice assortment of flavors. Rosemary and sage both love the sun and will do well in most areas. Basil will grow just about anywhere and will thrive even in drought-proof areas. Both spinach and basil will provide a nice side dish or addition to your meals. Sage will make a nice addition to any salad or pie.
It is not only good for your garden to have these types of plants. They are also good for your health. If you take a look around your neighborhood you will find neighbours planting various vegetables and herbs. Not only do neighbours get healthier, but they tend to smell better too. It really does pay to be socially responsible. So if you know of people who are getting sick from eating unhealthy food, instead of sitting there being lazy, join them in your broccoli companion planting.
There are many different vegetables that can be planted as companion plants for your kitchen. Not only are peas and beans interesting to grow, but tomatoes, carrots, spinach, and beets grow quite well too. As stated earlier, beets and tomatoes will provide a nice side dish while spinach and lettuce provide a nice start to your salad or dinner. A great way to keep bees away from your vegetables is by planting lettuce around your vegetable crops.
Whether you decide to grow peas, beans, or some other kind of vegetable, it pays to do your research and know which vegetables will grow best in your climate. If you do not have enough time to do this research then you can always grow your vegetables in a jar or a small garden bed. Just remember that a small space is more difficult to maintain than a large garden bed. By growing vegetables in containers you can get just as much to produce, if not more, than if you grow them in the ground.