Every experienced gardener knows that the proximity of plants in the garden bed plays an important role.
Correctly selected companions help each other grow, repel pests and even improve the taste of the fruit. Cucumbers are a rather capricious crop, so the choice of neighbors is especially important for them, notes Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication BelNovosti, an agronomist and landscape designer.
Vegetable assortment: ideal companions
Among vegetables, the following will be excellent neighbors for cucumbers.
- Corn and sunflower: provide natural support for climbing shoots and protection from the wind.
- Legumes (peas, beans): enrich the soil with nitrogen, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of cucumbers.
- Radishes and lettuce: ripen quickly and do not compete with cucumbers for nutrients.
- Garlic and onions: repel pests with their pungent smell.
Aromatic Defense: Companion Herbs
Some herbs not only repel pests, but also improve the taste of cucumbers.
- Dill: attracts beneficial insects and improves the taste of fruits.
- Basil: repels aphids and spider mites.
- Mint: repels ants and improves the taste of cucumbers.
What to avoid
Not all plants are good neighbors for cucumbers. Avoid neighboring with:
- potatoes: competes for nutrients and promotes the development of late blight;
- tomatoes: have different requirements for watering and fertilizing, which can negatively affect both crops.
Cucumbers Summary
The right choice of neighbors for cucumbers is the key to a rich and tasty harvest.
Taking into account the characteristics of each crop, you will create a real symbiosis in your garden, where plants will help each other grow and bear fruit.
Earlier we wrote about the importance of feeding strawberries in the spring.
