Materials required:
- Planting materials
- Main crop seeds
- Companion plant seeds
- Ground cover seeds
- Tools
- For large scale
- Seed drills
- Compost spreader
- Irrigation system
- Soil
- Compost
- Mulch (optional)
- Trellis (optional)
- Planning and monitoring
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Steps of implementation
- Select main crops and suitable companion crops: First select your main crops you would like to grow. Here is a guide for a variety of crop companions.
- Create a plan: When creating a plan, keep your goals in mind whether it be pest suppression, weed suppression, soil enrichment, attracting pollinators, or maximising space. Efficient use of light and space are crucial when practicing companion planting. When maximising space, keep in mind that vertical, mid-layer and ground crops can be stacked accordingly.
- Prepare the land:
- Clear the land of weeds, debris and other remaining plant material to create a clean slate for new planting.
- Loosen the soil to improve root penetration, drainage and aeration. Use tools like a tiller, broad fork or other tool (optional). If growing in a no-till system, apply a layer of compost and mulch on top of the soil before planting the seeds.
- Add soil enhancers to the land using fertiliser of choice.
- Ensure crops have a means of sufficient irrigation. If on a highly mechanised, large-scale property, install irrigation as needed.
- Plant crops:
- Sow or transplant seeds according to your design.
- Development:
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- As crops grow, carry out standard maintenance tasks such as irrigation and weeding.
- Monitor:
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- Keep an eye out for growth and development. Be sure to look out for signs of competition and pest pressure.
Considerations for application:
- When practicing companion planting, annually rotating the crops can help maintain long-term soil health. When planting different crops the next year, try to pick crops from a different family with different root depths and nutrient demands.
- Companion planting can complicate operations when working on a large-scale or mechanised property. This may require more planning and labour.
- Avoid planting species together that tend to attract the same pests and diseases.
- While maximising space is important when companion planting, be sure not to overcrowd to avoid fungal disease and root competition.
This intervention contributes to:
Cost data is very limited for implementing companion planting. Additional costs can include seeds and labour that is needed for planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops.
| Factor |
Estimated Value |
| Establishment Cost |
Low-medium. Companion planting is simple to implement as it requires few materials. If companion planting is being implemented in an established estate, the primary establishment costs are seeds. |
| Labour Time |
Low-medium. Labour time is typically more when integrating more crops into a system. Additionally, planting and harvesting may require more hands-on work if operating on a highly mechanised property.
Example: One study modelled the economic potential of companion plants to lower the spread of disease in beets. Results show that while companion plants such as oats and barley can effectively reduce the number of aphids on sugar beets, there is not specifically an economic motivation to use companion planting to reduce aphids in the field. In this particular case, it was measured that the cost for planting and destruction of companion planting was about €97 per hectare. |
| Maintenance Cost |
Low-Medium. Companion planting can reduce the need for fertilizer or weeding. However, adding more crops into a system may require more planning and monitoring compared to a monoculture system. |
| Benefits |
Companion planting is a strategic growing technique that aims to optimize space while growing various crops together. Depending on the crops grown, this method can also improve soil fertility and enhance pest management. Source |
| Material Cost |
Low. Material costs are generally low, where seeds represent the primary establishment cost. |
Three sisters
The three sisters' companion planting is one of the most well-known techniques used by Native Americans as a productive way to grow food. The three sisters' combination consists of growing corn, beans, and squash closely together to protect and nourish each other while also providing a variable diet for consumers. Often, Iroquois women started with seeding a couple of corn seeds in a hole. Then, as the corn seedlings began to grow, the women planted beans in between the corn which help fix nitrogen into the soil, the cornstalks are then able to act as bean poles. Additionally, between the rows, farmers seeded a variety of squash which shade the ground, thus helping to preserve moisture and slow the growth of weeds. This method of growing not only has practical benefits, cultural benefits as well.
Companion plants against jaundice
The beetroot technical institute has conducted a three-year experiment that investigated the impact of companion plants on aphids and jaundice. Various tests were conducted and results showed that oats and spring barley were able to reduce the amount of green aphids by 33%-36% per beet. Additionally, oats were able to reduce symptoms of jaundice by 45% while barely achieving a 37% reduction.
