If you’re growing older, and growing bored.. how about a twist: growing better at finding a new little project? Colder months don’t mean you shouldn’t play outside.. it’s time to either build or buy a Raised Garden Bed for your Gardening plans – and those are right around the corner! Getting started is easy-peasy with that link.
To avoid your plants being strange bedfellows, take notes from this great guide for Companion planting – especially in raised garden beds, is key when planting in a confined space. Take a look to see which plants do well together – some have long roots and others have short roots, so alternating them side by side helps utilize the space better – or fun facts like these:
- Thyme planted near strawberries will enhance flavor.
- Basil or cilantro planted in a tomato bed will improve the flavor of most varieties.
- Chamomile improves the flavor of onions
For raised Garden beds in particular, here are just a few of the tips they recommend:
Tomatoes + onions/garlic + basil
Onions and garlic planted with tomatoes help to repel many common pests, including slugs and snails. Basil planted in the same bed can help enrich the flavor of ripe tomatoes.
Kale + bush beans + beets
Another way of pairing plants is to consider which levels of the soil profile they occupy. While beets feed deeply in your garden, bush beans and kale have shallower roots and won’t present the same competition for nutrients as another root crop. They also add essential nutrients back to the soil and are harvested more quickly than beets. Be careful not to plant pole beans with beets, however, since these are known to be incompatible.
Lettuce + carrots + chives
Lettuce planted in and around carrots is known to repel carrot rust flies. Chives deter aphids and flea beetles from sucking the life out of your lettuce. They also help repel the carrot rust fly.
The best part? Watching the weekly progress of your garden as it grows and enjoying the fruits of your labor with those you love. Not only will you feel a sense of accomplishment, but you’ll also get to munch on fresh, healthy food that you grew yourself. So, don’t hold back from trying something new and exciting. Grab your whole family (all ages can help!) and build a raised garden bed. Trust me, you can also build good memories in the process.