Beans are an amazing vegetable to grow in the garden. They are easy to grow and contribute to the nitrogen fixing process, and are consumed in many varieties, such as in their pods, in shells, or dried.
If you are looking to create an organic garden that will succeed, it is crucial to know which plants work well with legumes, and then select the ones that work best for you.
It is possible to use a pre-made chart that identifies good and bad pairings for certain crops. However, if these pairs are passed to us as “traditional” without being checked or subjected to logical analysis, what’s the point of them?
Knowing the advantages of planting companion plants, which have been proven by research conducted in the field of science, is an effective approach. When considering possible plants, using the latest research and a bit of logical analysis is also beneficial.
If we take into consideration the various combinations, one issue we should ask is what benefits is one plant able to provide another plant, if any?
There are a myriad of possible answers to this question.
It’s possible that having trusted friends can make it easier to take care of pests, weeds, or even diseases. In addition, they could attract insects that aid in pollination. Some provide shade or support. Furthermore, some may be beneficial as they help to condition the soil.
Companion planting can be advantageous for many reasons. One reason is that it allows more efficient utilization of the land. This is because different types of crops require different quantities of soil resources. This is why the total amount of space required for mixed plants is generally smaller than the space needed for two identical plants grown in monocultures.
We’ll examine 31 different plants well-known for their productive relationships with beans. We’ll then look at the advantages that each partnership offers.
We’ll explore diverse combinations, and often we’ll rely on research papers from the science community in order to determine how they perform in experiments and tests.
The research will not be focused exclusively on normal beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). However, it will also be conducted on different species of beans, such as garbanzo beans, mung beans, Fava beans, yard-long beans, runners, and others.
In addition to discussing some of the benefits that each mix offers, I will also suggest my top types and give some suggestions regarding where you can get seeds to apply these ideas in your garden.
If you’ve ever looked at conventional companion plant charts, you’ll notice that you’ll typically see brassicas, alliums, and even sunflowers have been listed as enemies to beans. This means they are not good companions and are rather unsuitable companions. If you’ve ever used the traditional charts for companion plantation, you’ll know this.
You might therefore be surprised to discover the plants described as good partners.
But, there’s plenty of evidence that supports the notion that it’s more beneficial to view the plants in your garden as allies, not enemies (at least in certain situations). Read on to find out more.
1. Basil
The best companion plants are ones that you’re thrilled to be around no matter their distance from you. Who wouldn’t be thrilled at the prospect of harvesting their fresh crop of basil?
Basil could be helpful in reducing the number of pests attacking the beans, which is just one way that it can provide aid.
The study compared the spider mite populations found in areas of kidney beans cultivated in monoculture and plots of kidney beans that are grown as intercultural crops with basil in Iran between the years 2020 and 2021.
Its use has resulted in decreases in the population of spider mites as well as increased crop yields because of the herb’s ability to draw a greater number of insects.
Basil is also able to make its contribution by keeping away certain pests like pea aphids. They feed on the plants and cause harm to the plants.
The heirloom basil cultivar referred to as Italian Genovese comes with leaves that are large and aromatic, which makes it useful in the fight against pests but also in making pesto at home.
Large and small seed packets of Italian Genovese Basil are available.Customers can choose to purchase any size.
There’s no need to be worried. If you’ve never attempted growing the fragrant plant from seeds before, It is possible to learn the basics by reading our blog post, which covers the cultivation of basil seeds.
2. Cabbage
Higher yields for crops are just among the possible benefits of making use of companion plantings, which is commonly called “intercropping” in research being carried out in professional and academic environments.
According to Sindhuja Sanmugam and her coworkers who reported their research in the journal Soil Use and Management published in January 2022, this is exactly what took place when fava beans and kale were planted in the same space.
Fields of interplanted favas as well as cabbage didn’t increase the amount of favas that were produced, but it did increase the yield of cabbage and also provided better utilization of the land compared to monocrops of the same vegetable. Fields that were interplanted with favas and cabbage produced more in general.
If intercropped with cabbage, yard-long beans have been found to increase the effectiveness of land use in accordance with the results of a different study that was conducted in 2001.
Despite the fact that the two studies aren’t suggesting that all varieties of brassicas or beans make great partnerships under all conditions, this evidence is contrary to traditional wisdom that depicts the two types of crops as rivals.
Are you willing to test it for yourself?
The variety ‘Red Acre’ of red cabbage is an excellent choice to plant in smaller gardens since it matures between 75 and 100 days.
In Botanical Interests, you may purchase packs with 360 organic seeds from ‘Red Acre’ or “Red Acre” cabbage. These packets are available for purchase.
In the following article, we’ll guide you through everything you should know about growing cabbage.
3. Carrots
Carrots and fava beans are an ideal combination for growth and are a great combination.
Carrots and legumes are excellent companion crops since carrots grow the majority of their weight underground while your legume crop is busy producing its pods above the ground. This allows beans and carrots to work together efficiently.
“Shin Kuroda” is a type of carrot that is able to endure extreme temperatures without bolting. Its roots are tapered and it can thrive in heavy soils. This characteristic helps prevent the roots of carrots from getting distorted.
Customers may purchase Shin Kuroda, the carrot seed, in bundles of the seeds of 510 plants.
Are you feeling like you could do with some practice cultivating carrots? In this article, we provide only the details you require.
4. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is part of the Brassica family and makes a wonderful companion plant to green beans in the garden.
According to an investigation conducted between 2002 and 2003, the two crops produced higher yields when grown together rather than separately.
In this case, the nitrogen-fixing capabilities of the leguminous plants the cauliflower is grown on can be beneficial to the cauliflower.
A variety of cauliflower called “Snowball Y” is mature in seventy to eighty days and produces heads that measure approximately six to six and a half inches wide.
Botanical Interests offers “Snowball The Y” as a pack of 180 seeds. The packs can be purchased on their website.
If you’re curious about learning how to grow cauliflower, there are some tips to help you in this article.
6. Cilantro
If you like the aroma and flavor of this aromatic herb, it is an excellent plant to cultivate in the garden as it can be utilized to serve a variety of uses. (For those who don’t, don’t hesitate to proceed to the next option!)
There is a way to cut down on the number of pests that eat your bean crop by using insects such as cilantro. But, your plant will work if you allow it to bloom instead of cutting its buds before they bloom because the flowers of the plant attract beneficial insects.
