Gardening is a real art, where every plant plays its role.
Among the many vegetable crops, onions and carrots occupy a special place.
Growing them together raises many questions among gardeners. Is it worth planting these vegetables next to each other, what advantages can such a neighborhood provide?
Compatibility of onions and carrots
Onions and carrots are really great companions in the garden. Their neighborhood is not only acceptable, but also highly desirable.
These vegetables complement each other perfectly, creating mutually beneficial conditions for growth and development.
Benefits of Companion Planting
Growing onions and carrots together has many advantages. First of all, onions repel the carrot fly, one of the main pests of carrots.
The smell of onions masks the aroma of carrots, making it difficult for pests to find the plants. In turn, carrots repel onion flies, protecting the onions from damage.
In addition, the root systems of these plants are located at different depths, which allows them not to compete for nutrients in the soil.
Onions have a superficial root system, while carrots have a taproot system that goes deep into the ground.
Landing Features
When growing onions and carrots together, it is important to organize the planting correctly.
The optimal option is considered to be alternating rows: a row of onions, then a row of carrots. The distance between rows should be about 20-25 cm, which will provide the plants with enough space to grow.
The sowing time also plays an important role. Carrots can be sown in early spring, as soon as the weather permits. Onions are planted a little later, when the soil warms up to 10-12 degrees Celsius.
Caring for mixed plantings
Caring for a bed where onions and carrots grow is not much different from caring for these crops separately. However, there are some nuances.
Watering should be done moderately to avoid rotting of the bulbs. At the same time, carrots need regular soil moisture.
It is recommended to apply additional fertilizers taking into account the needs of both crops. Onions respond well to nitrogen fertilizers at the beginning of growth, and carrots prefer potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
Weed control
Joint plantings of onions and carrots require careful weed control. Weeding should be done regularly, especially in the first half of the growing season.
It is important to be careful not to damage the young carrot plants when removing weeds around the onions.
Crop rotation
Despite all the advantages, you should not grow onions and carrots in the same place for several years in a row. It is recommended to observe crop rotation, changing the planting location of these crops every year.
This will help prevent soil depletion and reduce the risk of pest and disease build-up.
