Companion planting is a fun concept. It creates the feeling that different types of plants are happily interacting with each other, sharing jokes, gossip, and recommendations. If you do it right, this planting strategy can bring many benefits to your garden. Tomatoes and parsley are two companion plants that get along well with each other. So why exactly should you plant tomatoes and parsley together?
Content What is companion planting? Why you should plant tomatoes and parsley together and side by side How to plant tomatoes and parsley correctly
WomanEL will tell you about the benefits that many people don't know about. And in vain! But now you will know about them.
What is companion planting?
Companion planting is an organic method of maintaining a natural balance in your garden by growing plants that benefit each other, writes Gardeners World. When planted together, certain combinations of plants can promote pollination, prevent disease, and reduce pest populations.
Most companion plants have a strong scent and can confuse pests looking for a host plant. Some have antibacterial or antifungal properties, while others attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and goldfinches, which prey on aphids. Companion plants are most often planted in vegetable gardens, but some ornamental plants, such as roses, can also benefit from having them growing nearby.
Why you should plant tomatoes and parsley together and next to each other
These fruit plants are a popular product for home gardeners, but there are a number of pests that can attack your tomatoes. It turns out that parsley has a number of qualities that will help your tomatoes reach the finish line in full health. This herb attracts beneficial insects that are happy to snack on tomato-hunting beetles.
The herb attracts predatory insects such as buzzards, lacewings, and tachinids, which feed on aphids, caterpillars, thrips, and whiteflies. Parsley is cheap and easy to find in grocery stores. So if you are looking for rare tomato varieties, this herb makes a good sacrificial plant for a potential tomato crop.
If your tomatoes are frequently infested with aphids, parsley can also act as a trap for these common pests. Instead of destroying your tomatoes, the bugs often choose the tasty parsley and leave your tomatoes alone.
How to plant tomatoes and parsley correctly
Planting together can help your plants grow better and with fewer pests and diseases, Source: vecteezy.com
Tomatoes take up a lot of space, but if you grow them vertically with a support, there may be gaps between the plants that can be filled with parsley. If you are going to intersperse your plants with parsley, you need to make the most of the space between the tomato plants. Leaving about 60 cm between tomato plants is a good plan for most varieties.
If you are not short on space, parsley planted up to 150cm from tomatoes can be a useful companion. For best results, space parsley plants 15-20cm apart.
You can also create a container garden that will be a companion to your tomatoes and a few parsley plants. Choose a compact tomato variety and plant it in a large container that is at least 24 inches (60 cm) wide. A whiskey barrel works well, but there are also inexpensive garden containers that you probably already have around your house. Plant three parsley plants around your tomatoes and watch them flourish.
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