Download Appendix 3E - Companion Plant Info Cards

CORN
Needs A LOT of nitrogen! (Heavy feeder)
Grows tall and straight up, can get to be 5 – 6 feet tall!
Roots do not grow very deep
Need full sun
Warm season plant
Likes well-drained soil… not too wet!
Takes from 60-90 days to get corn cobs
Self-pollinates, doesn’t need bugs
Can deal with some cold weather
SQUASH
Needs LOTS of nitrogen (heavy feeder)
Grows in vines along ground
Creates shade with big leaves
Roots are deep and can pull water and nutrients from
deep underground
Need bees and flying bugs to pollinate flowers
Summer squash grow quickly (45-50 days)
Winter squash grow more slowly (70-110 days)
Need full sun
Dies quickly in frosty, cold weather
STRING BEANS
Gives nitrogen from soil to other plants (Fixes nitrogen)
Grows as a climbing vine
Grows quickly… beans ready in about 30-45 days
Needs full sun
Warm season plant
Needs frequent water because of shallow roots
Pollinated by bees
Doesn’t like cold frosty weather
PEAS
Gives nitrogen from soil to other plants (Fixes nitrogen)
Grows as a climbing vine
Can start growing early spring because OK with cold
Peas ready in 90-120 days
Likes well-drained soil kind of sandy soil
Likes lots of sun, but some shade OK
Needs protection from wind
Self-pollinate, don’t need insects
MARIGOLDS
Likes a little bit of nitrogen (Light feeder)
Grows as a upright plant with big flowers, to about 1
foot tall
Flowers from seed in about 45 days
Likes full to part sun
Prefers well-drained soil
Doesn’t need a lot of water
Keeps bad garden insects away from other plants
Attracts pollinator insect to garden
ONIONS
Needs a little bit of nitrogen (Light feeder)
Grows a bulb underground with long leaves above
Grows fairly quickly… can pick any time
Likes soft, well-drained soil
Likes full sun
Onion flowers keep away carrot flies
Keeps growing well in frosty and cold weather
SPINACH
Likes a medium amount of nitrogen (Moderate feeder)
Grows as a short plant, in leafy little clumps
Ready to pick leaves in 40 -50 days
Likes full to part sun
Doesn’t like very hot weather
Likes moist and well-drained soil
Keeps growing well in frosty and cold weather
Doesn’t need bugs for flowers because we only eat the
leaves
BUSH TOMATOES
Likes A LOT of nitrogen (Heavy feeder)
This type of tomato grows as a bush
Slow-growing
Tomatoes ready in 70-90 days
Needs lots of sun
Likes regular amount of water
Grows in almost any kind of soil
Dies in cold, frosty weather
Self-pollinates, doesn’t need insects
Don’t need bugs because we only eat the leaves
BASIL
Likes a medium amount of nitrogen (Moderate feeder)
Grows as a short plant with big, floppy leaves
Likes lots of sun
Doesn’t like wind
Doesn’t like cold weather
Likes moist and well-drained soil
Keeps bad insects away from the garden
Doesn’t need bugs for flowers because we only eat the
leaves
CARROTS
Likes a little bit of nitrogen (Light feeder)
Grows an underground root and long feathery leaves on
top
Slow-growing and very delicate when little
Ready to pull up carrots in 60-70 days
Likes full to part sun
Needs a lot of water, especially when they are little
Likes moist and well-drained soil
Grows OK in frosty and cool weather
Carrot flowers attract pollinating insects to garden
Designed around companion planting information provided in:
Growing garden companions. National Gardening Association: Kids Gardening
Website. Accessed June 16, 2010 from
http://www.kidsgardening.com/growingideas/projects/mar03/pg1.html#grow