Good neighbors, bad neighbors: which plants are green?

It's generally accepted that mixed crops are preferable to monocultures. Unfortunately, for economic reasons, this rule is hardly followed anymore in the heavily subsidized agricultural industry. It would be nice to at least grow a decent variety of crops in our own gardens. If only it were that simple – because not everything that's green is actually green.

Why do some plants simply not like each other?

If you have a few square meters of fertile soil at your disposal and the time to garden, it's only natural that you'd like to grow a colorful mix of plants. Nature, however, is putting a stop to that. There are some common nutrient plants that simply don't like each other. But why is that? There are many reasons for this.

One of these is that neighbors simply need different amounts of water at different times of the year. Another reason: Some species reciprocally keep pests away from each other, while others simply can't. Last but not least, some varieties draw precisely the nutrients from the soil they both actually need. And then there are plants like mint , which spread so rapidly underground via their roots that they literally steal water from their neighbors. The only solution is a rhizome barrier in the bed if other greenery is to thrive next door.

The soil is better served by a mixed culture

Monocultures usually deplete the soil they grow in after just a few years. Infections and pest infestations are becoming increasingly serious threats. Therefore, mixed cultures are always beneficial—if you know which neighbors are compatible and which aren't. Before we get into the details, let's stay with the theory for a bit. Mixed cultures are always successful when the conditions in the garden roughly correspond to those found in the wild. The most important aspects: Plants with high nutrient requirements should be combined with plants with low requirements, and plants with deep root systems should be combined with plants whose roots spread more shallowly.

If you're aiming for a large bed with several plants that get along well together—you'll find a list below—there are a few tricks you can use to protect roots and plants. If you're growing rose plants, for example, it's a good idea to sow lilies, marigolds , or chamomile in between. These keep nematodes away. Garlic is a good neighbor for almost all species (except peas, cabbage, and bush and runner beans ) because it kills bacteria and fungi in its environment. Fill in the gaps that gradually appear in your garden through harvesting with spinach, mustard, or cress seeds. If you're growing beetroot, however, it's better to leave out the spinach .

Who can be with whom and who can’t?

Otherwise, the following applies: Who can be with whom in the garden has been sufficiently researched by now. So no experiments – it would be a shame for the crops that destroy each other, drain water, or are otherwise not particularly green. Our list gives you a brief overview of who can and can't be with whom.