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Companion Planting for Potatoes: A Guide for Young Gardeners
Introduction
Companion planting is a gardening technique that involves growing different plants together to benefit each other. This can help potatoes grow better, taste better, and resist pests and diseases.
Benefits of Companion Planting for Potatoes
- Improved growth and taste
- Reduced risk of pests and diseases
- More efficient use of space
Choosing Companion Plants for Potatoes
Some plants make great companions for potatoes, while others can harm them. Here are some tips for choosing the best companion plants:
- Good companions: cabbage, corn, beans, horseradish, lettuce, spinach, chamomile, basil, yarrow, parsley, thyme, petunias, alyssum
- Bad companions: raspberry, tomato, cucumber, squash, pumpkin, carrots, asparagus, fennel, turnip, onions, sunflowers, eggplant, nightshade
Planting and Care
When planting companion plants for potatoes, keep these tips in mind:
- Plant cabbage, corn, and beans around potato hills to improve their growth and taste.
- Grow horseradish as a companion plant for potatoes to make them resistant to diseases.
- Plant lettuce and spinach between rows of potatoes to save space and because they do not compete for nutrients.
- Plant chamomile, basil, yarrow, parsley, and thyme around potatoes to improve their growth and flavor, while also attracting beneficial insects to the garden.
- Plant petunias and alyssum to attract beneficial insects to potato plants.
Keeping Bugs Away from Potatoes
In addition to attracting beneficial insects, there are also several companion plants that can help deter harmful insects from potatoes.
- Lamium: Improves potato flavor, encourages growth, and deters harmful insects.
- Sage: Keeps flea beetles away.
- Nasturtium, coriander, tansy, and catmint: Deter potato beetles.
- Green beans: Deter potato beetles and add nitrogen to the soil, while potato plants deter the Mexican beetle from eating the green beans.
- Marigolds: Deter harmful pests and protect potatoes from viral and bacterial diseases.
Additional Tips for Growing Potatoes
- Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
- Plant potatoes in rows, spacing them about 12 inches apart.
- Water potatoes regularly, especially during hot, dry weather.
- Fertilize potatoes every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
- Hill up potatoes as they grow to prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight.
- Harvest potatoes when the tops of the plants start to turn brown.
By following these tips, you can grow healthy and productive potato plants using companion planting techniques.
