Fruit Trees | Frog Collectibles | Aromatherapy | Contact
|
Fruit Trees | Frog Collectibles | Aromatherapy | Contact
|
 |
|
Can Science Explain Everything? - Companion Planting
Does companion planting work and why?At times it seems we live in a mysterious world, for some things cannot be explained in purely scientific terms. Despite armies of scientists and researchers swarming in labs around the world trying to take the mystery out of every bit of wonder, we still witness amazing things, even in our own gardens.What is it that attracts us to a future partner? Scientists will say... tiny, odour sensors in our noses ( pheromones!) What causes shimmering lights in the night sky? Scientists say... sun spots affecting the earth's electromagnetic field. It maybe true that those things come about due to some sort of cause and effect from physical laws we have labeled. But the explanations takes so much of the magic and mystery out of our lives. And even if it's a sunspot... can I see a sunspot and predict the result? No, I can't... All I can see is the mystery and beauty of the results. Thus I just spend some time enjoying the wonder of it... And if I happened to see my future partner across a crowded room and feel an instant 'twinge' does it make it any less magicical? Should some theory of body language destroy the moment? It is worth reflecting on how, despite being born at opposite ends of the earth, we destined lovers found ourselves in the same place and time at a random event. I think it is. And hat seems to me to be a combination of both physical law and mysterious circumstance. So is it so surprising that we can divine mysterious things in our gardens? Take the case of companion planting, particularly in a vegetable garden. Companion planting is when the health and yields of particular plants are improved by planting specific other plants near them. For instance, peas love being near beans, corn, carrots and cucumbers, but really hate being near onions. Potatoes enjoy the company of beans, peas and cabbage, but are unhappy near tomatoes. Any number of botanists will tell you that there are 'reasons' for this. "One plant attract the sort of bugs another needs, some have a scent that disturbs the progress of others." Some gardeners might Out this a different way - plants have a personality. Is it possible that some plants just generally get along better with others because they... Get what they need from them? Enjoy their company? Feel less alone? Companion planting is not considered 'scientific' because the results are not always consistent and not always provable. Companion guidelines for which plants to grow together are based on observation and anecdote. Some combinations appear to work better in the northern hemisphere than the southern hemisphere and vice versa. Some plants react contrary to expectations. This last case may be due to the difference between male, female and neutral plants. So, how do you tell the sex of a plant? Here is a very unscientific, but you maybe surprised the reliability in its results. Hold a pendulum over the plant. This can be a needle on a thread, a seashell on fishing tackle, a necklace, whatever. The pendulum will move of it's own accord to indicate the sex of the plant. The really healthy plants will be female (positive). They will make the pendulum move in a clockwise circle over the top of it. The male (negative) plant will make the pendulum move from side to side. If the pendulum doesn't move at all, the plant is neutral or the soil is lifeless. This method is called plant dowsing and is similar to the way people find water using a Y shaped pointed stick. Scientific? Nope. Does it work? A lot of anecdotal evidence say yes. So here we are with two startling propositions. That your vegetable plants have both a sex and a personality that will determine, at least in part, how they turn out despite your gardening input. Geez, that's starting to sound a lot like my kids! (who will turn out very different from me, despite the magnificent parenting stock!!) What does it mean for you as a gardener? The same thing it means for you as a parent. Nurture your plants. Give them everything you think they will need to succeed. Read advice books as required, but understand that observation will be your best guide. Do not despair. Do not give up. It's about the journey, not the destination. Understand that not all things can be understood. Sometimes, it's just the wonder of nature. And finally enjoy being in the garden.. About the author: Judy Williams ( www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) splits her time between being a big time media executive and alternative lifestyle earth mother. Publisher's Note: There are several good reason to try companion planting. Some plant species produce natural pesticides and protect other species from insects, Marigolds come to mind. Some plants attract beneficial insects that will also help their neighbors. Some trees such as Black Walnut can be planted in such a way that other crops such as soybeans or wheat can grow with them in the same space, creating two cash crops within the same acreage. And other plants such as tomatoes and carrots or roses and garlic just love to grow together! For more information on companion gardening go here: www.1stoporganicgardening.com
News about Companion Planting
companion planting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES The Rich History of Wild Roses How to Care for Your Outdoor Water Fountains Garden lovers around the world love putting fountains among their flowers, plants, bushes and shrubs. And with the Christmas season upon us in the U.S., many garden lovers may get their very first fountain as a gift this year. How to Grow Bananas If your grocer says, "Yes, we have no bananas. We have no bananas today," it isn't surprising since the banana is the world's second favorite fruit, surpassed in popularity only by the apple. Once only grown in tropical climates, the good news is that several varieties can be grown in northern areas as well as in the south. Hummingbird Nesting Facts Every spring the United States and Canada are blessed with the presence of humming birds migrating north to make a home for their coming young. They come from Mexico and South America in search of a cooler, more suitable climate to nest and have a family. Picking the right location for a nest is critical to the survival of the bird's young. Finding just the right spot is only half the battle, however. Next comes the actual construction, and for a pregnant humming bird it proves to be quite difficult a task. Plants To Grow Old With or The Constant Battle Following are a few paragraphs about the on going battle I had with some of my plants! y, Fun Garden Plants I have a love for funky, fun and unique garden plants. Here's one to try. It's called Sea Holly, and it's actually in the thistle family. Choosing Garden Furniture No matter how pleasant a garden is, it is not being enjoyed to its full extent if there is no where for visitors to sit and admire the beauty of the garden. Luckily, few gardeners are willing to sacrifice design for comfort and with the wide choice of garden furniture available today, it is rare to find gardens bereft of furniture. Garden furniture will if anything look great with just about any style of garden. 22 Fun Things To Do With Your Dozen Rose Gift Your dozen rose gift doesn't only have to decorate your favorite room. Roses are about romance and enjoying the moment they are given and received. I've discovered some fun ways to use roses to create a stimulating day or night. Good Tools and Hard Work is What Creates EyeCatching and Functional Gardens "Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade." -Rudyard Kipling Tips For Successful Backyard Grape Growing Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a rewarding experience. It can also be quite a failure if not done properly. Grapevines are perennial plants and will grow for years to come. There are a few things to consider before you just jump in and start planting your grapevines. Otherwise, mistakes made at planting will haunt you in the future. Landscaping Design - The Primary Principles Principles refer to standards or prescriptions for working with or arranging various elements to produce the intended landscape design. Good landscape design follows a combination of seven principles: unity, balance, proportion, focalization or emphasis, sequence or transition, rhythm, and repetition. Slugging It Out In The Trenches In an effort to introduce a shaft of sunlight into a particularly gloomy conversation, I recently asked a gardening acquaintance of mine to explain the difference between a slug and a snail. How to Win the War Against Slugs and Snails Slugs are one of the most hated of garden pests. You may have spent time carefully planting out your seedlings into the bed, but when you return next morning, you find chewed leaves, the growing points nibbled away and a mass of slimy trails all around. All clear evidence that garden slugs, or sometimes snails, have been enjoying a nocturnal feast at your expense. External vs. Submersible Pumps. Which One Should You Use? For many people, it's never been a question of whether to use a submersible pump vs. an external pump because most people have smaller ponds and are used to just using a submersible pump. They're easy to install, and are pretty reliable - so why even consider an external pump? Three Stumbling Blocks to Growing Grapes in the Backyard Are you one of those home gardeners that don't know the three stumbling blocks to successfully growing grapes in your backyard? Don't worry, you're not alone. Teak Outdoor Furniture - Where Function Meets Beauty The wonderful thing about choosing teak outdoor furniture is that you have such diversity. From chairs to benches to tables and more, teak is the perfect wood for outside entertaining. Parsley: A Cooks Best Friend A cook's best friend, Petroselinum crispum, commonly known as curly parsley, is used in myriad ways in the kitchen. Often discarded by diners as 'just a garnish,' parsley has many valuable nutrients including bet-carotene, calcium, iron, and Vitamins A and C in easily assimilated form. Parsley has a pleasant flavour and is often used as a breath freshener particularly after eating raw garlic and onions. Garden for Birds #4 I would like to know..................... The Ultimate Magic Garden Spring is the season to start planting seeds for the future. For me, the ultimate Magic Garden would be planted using the Feng Shui bagua as a guideline for the boundaries of the plot and incorporate flowers herbs and plants that correspond to each signifigant direction.. A Quick Overview of Outdoor Hot Tubs There is nothing quite as relaxing as a leisurely evening soak in the hot tub after a long, hard day's work. Sore muscles can finally relax as the water jets massage aches and pains away. It is no wonder that hot tubs are so popular. However, how do you decide which of the many outdoor hot tubs is right for you?
|
|
home | site map | Privacy Policy |
| Copyright © 2008 www.in-the-garden.org | Contact | General Partners |
