Why I Don't Promote Companion Planting

[@lukejones1244]

"onions will deter carrot root fly from carrots", but "I don't believe in companion planting". Very contradictory.

[@ginninadances]

I think what is happening is that when they hear "companion planting" they assign the meaning of "the plants communicate" when we see it as synonymous with "interplanting" so yeah while we are all "what's the big deal?" They are all "don't call it companion planting!"

[@dakotakennedy9581]

I get what he's saying. I had the same issue. So I narrow down to only a few highly successful companions. Three sisters I do plant every year. But when you google "companion planting" you usually get 15 plants that are supposedly companions. Because there's only about 20-30 varieties of garden plants to begin with... Why not just scatter you whole garden from the get and go.

[@SanyaAnwar]

I don't think anyone thinks of companion planting as a "magic" communication between plants. Everyone understands it as smart plant combinations based on logistics. Sure rosemary and thyme can work under a tomato just as well as basil, but aren't they better suited to faster draining conditions? Vineyards across the world still employ fragrant flowers at the end of each row to encourage pollinators. I think your video is solid, but might be better labeled as 'demystifying companion planting..'

[@paulk5311]

very well put.

[@twinmama16]

When you're new to gardening like me, things like this causes anxiety and makes me not want to garden at all bcuz this chart says not to plant this with that and the space I have isn't much.

[@6980869]

TwinMama - No matter what, as with anything in life, really, it’s all an experiment. Every time you plant a plant it’s an experiment. Anytime a new crop it started, you experiment. You gotta find what works and what doesn’t work, for you and your situation for the time being. No matter what people tell you, you obviously have to try it out for yourself. There’s nothing about anything and everything that’s been said and done that’s universal, as you know.

[@sebastianstewart6894]

It's plants that create a healthy mycelium.

[@karmicpopcorn6440]

@@twinmama16 small spaces just require the smart planting, I tuck onions and basil in where there's space and let the scents intermingle to deter various pests. It doesn't always work, but it doesn't hurt. I think that's the main thing to take away, companion planting won't hurt, but you decide after your growing season if it helped deter pests. My area has aphids and white flies in abundance, I've noticed certain crops attract those and certain plants have zero issues with them, so next growing year, I plant the two together and see what happens. Ultimately gardening is a personal experiment for your exact conditions. Look at the guides, listen to others, but watch your own garden, because no one will have your exact combinations of light, soil, or pests. There are some things I just can't grow due to pests and weather, I can't grow lettuce, well, I could, but I'm not going to spend time setting up netting each year. I'm just not, I want it enjoyable, not a pain. Just put stuff in the ground, pay attention to watering and add nutrients before you plant, whether compost or supplements. Watch what plants do, they will tell you what they need. If your bean leaves turn yellow, google it. If a stem rots, google it. I don't look at companion planting as making a better flavor, I look at it as pest deterrent. And lastly, there is no companion planting in the world that will keep all pests away. Good luck!!

[@doughaines9957]

There goes my theory of adding whiskey to tomatoes and get stewed tomatoes

[@OverdoneAndUnderpaid]

Doug Haines Tomatoes need to lay off the sauce

[@c.s.5177]

😁

[@jenniferli185]

😂

[@eevagirl]

:D :D :D

[@jasonlieberman4606]

what if i hybridize my heirloom tomatoes with my barley? will i just get a young whiskey, or will the plants make a bloody mary for me?

[@jumpoffa5011]

With all due respect, I suggest you define "what you mean" by companion planting. For example, the three sisters, corn, squash and climbing beans are beneficial to one another. Corn stalk gives the climbing bean the support it needs as it grows up the stalk. The bean plant puts nitrogen back into the soil that the corn plant pulls out. The squash plant provides the shade that the bean and corn plants need to prevent the soil from going dry. Squash plants also deters insects with its spiny hairs. The squash plant also provides mulch to keep the soil moist. Like I said before you need to redefine what you mean by directly and indirectly. What I have stated above has a direct affect among the three plants as well as an indirect component. May I suggest the following books to read: The Complete Guide to COMPANION PLANTING By Dale Mayer and CARROTS LOVE TOMATOES & ROSES LOVE GARLIC By Louise Riotte. Like most literature, you must determine what works for you. I have a raised garden like Migardener does, however, you may plant your garden directly in the ground because you have more room than I do. This means that planting companion plants may be more beneficial. For example, I planted Chinese long beans. They were under attack by aphids and ants. The ants were herding the aphids and I needed something to promote Ladybugs. So I grew some dill, cilantro, and white cosmos under the green beans. The ladybugs were just having a field day on the aphids. I didn't have to go out and purchase any ladybugs. They just fell in love with the above mention plants. As for the ants, I used worm compost. They hate the taste and smell. By knowing Companion planting and what beneficial insects are available, I had a bumper crop of green beans, hot peppers, green onions, carrots, potatoes, watermelon, winter squash, garlic, zucchini, cucumbers and sunflowers. In part because I learned from Migardener and because I researched Companion Planting. If you do your own research you will find that several universities have also done their own research in Companion Planting and swear by it.

[@MIgardener]

Beans do not provide nitrogen to the soil. They use the nitrogen they create in their nodules to form fruit and flowers. The only way there is a net gain of nitrogen is if the plant was chopped and dropped before the flowering stage. Also, it has been well documented that the yields separately are 30-45% greater than as a whole so this would completely discount that when put together they help themselves because results would say they hurt more than help. Sure you can plant more together, and sure it isn't hurting anything, but if you are going off a statement of fact I would have to say it isn't true.

[@jumpoffa5011]

Thank-you for getting back to me. However, Beans are legumes and legumes are notable for their nitrogen-fixing bacteria in structures called root nodules. There are cover crops that also fix nitrogen and put it back into the soil like alfalfa and clover. Now if you were a farmer and you wanted to replace nitrogen quickly back into the soil then yes turning legumes over into the soil to decay quickly will enrich the soil. However, if you allow the legumes to naturally breakdown and slowly replace the nitrogen back into the soil you will achieve the same goal. The only difference is that the farmer wants to grow more for the next season and do it quickly. That is why they employ nitrogen by products found in manure for that quick fix. This is why you utilize crop rotation, even in a raised garden. The University of Oklahoma has done extensive research on this subject as well as other universities. If you get a chance check out the book The Complete Guide to COMPANION PLANTING By Dale Mayer and the KZbin video from Univ. Ok on companion planting. Then get back to me.

[@juanbaca6565]

what you said makes no sense at all try not being so biased with all your technical jargon and just understand we don't know what the plants are doing beyond simple plant physiology way more research needs to be done to understand plant communication networks.

[@gilshelley9183]

The three sisters only works with the original varieties of plants. In fact, it never worked very well. Get original varieties and try for yourself.

[@twinmama16]

From what I've seen, the nitrogen giving properties don't even take into effect until the following season.

[@emmiwemmy]

So this whole video is based on the straw man argument that companion plants mean "plants that talk to each other and are consciously helping each other" . When all it means is "plants that gardeners have discovered complement each other, creating useful synergy", aka smart planting. Click bait title. And a pinch of arrogance.

[@elyserhyne243]

Exactly. He even says plant smart. That's what companion planting is. No one thinks the plants talk to each other.

[@conradrangasilva]

Thank you! Thankfully I didn't watch the whole video but still 4 min into the video I realized his concept of companion plants is way different from everyone else.

[@listenthenspeak]

I've heard people say that certain things planted next to certain things will affect the flavor (good or bad) - so I think information is out there that "plants talk to each other."

[@elyserhyne243]

@@listenthenspeak if you plant two things that both want the same nutrients, they can deplete the area and that can impact taste. So yes planting some things together can mess with taste because it messes with the nutrients available. That is legit. It isn't because they talk to each other.

[@esmeraldathrace544]

@@elyserhyne243 Although... plants do talk to each other, sort-of, in a way. The symbiotic fungi that inhabit all plant roots branch out between the root systems of different plants. The plants and fungi exchange nutrients with each other, and therefore, the plants also exchange nutrients (which in biological terms are often *also* chemical signals that can say things like "I'm sick with parasite!") with each other, through the fungus. We can tell that by giving the plants radioactive food and then looking for the radioactive atoms in other plants. That's not really related to companion planting in a backyard garden though afaik...but I'm only a novice gardener. I would think that it is really more important for plants that live longer, like trees, as there are studies showing that mature trees can use the fungus network in the soil to selectively send extra nutrition to its younger relatives, despite other kinds of trees sharing the very same fungal organism.

[@dankrull9616]

I don' think your definiion of companion planting is accurate. What you call smart planting is companion planting.

[@nomparfait]

Absolutely! They r the same thing!

[@alixalias3964]

Yeah you are right. I don't know where he was getting his companion planting information but companion planting doesn't mean that plants talk to each other. It means you're planting things that complement each other - which is what he was calling smart planting. And there are now scientific studies about what he calls smart planting and the rest of us call companion planting. Maybe those studies were done after this video but in any case hopefully he will make a new video with the correct information.

[@irmasanchez5274]

They're not the same thing. We have all heard that one should plant basil and tomatoes. That is NOT true. In companion planting they tell you what to plant with what. In smart planting you actually have to understand what you are doing and why. Examples he gave: You can plant tomatoes with ANY herb BECAUSE they have certain oils that readily spread throughout the air. These oils act as pest deterrents Another example given was not to plant a squash which will heave huge leaves next to a small lettuce. Common sense Again, in smart planting one has to understand the concept, not follow dogma. They are two very different things.

[@mom2artists]

@@irmasanchez5274 I feel the same as you, that his smart planting was general WHY and not "put this specific plant with that specific plant" I didn't see confusion at all.

[@epicgardening]

Great point, though I think "smart planting" is a segment of what people refer to when they talk about companion planting. Good explanation of plant communication, though - definitely need that debunked!

[@Change_Your_Lattitude]

And your comment here, is a reason why I follow both your channel and his. This video actually answered a current burning question.

[@meredithbegin]

@@Change_Your_Lattitude Same!! But also made me wonder if all the KZbin gardeners know each other. LOL.

[@alixalias3964]

I'm glad to see this comment, Kevin! I almost put in a comment that he should watch your companion and pollinator videos as well as the ones by the channel called Grow Veg. Both of you did a great job with companion planting.

[@lemonielala3080]

To say companion planting is bogus and in the next breath say that herbs protect other plants from pests is just confusing everybody. There is a lot of sense in companion planting, like with the herbs, or with nasturtiums near cabbage so you notice caterpillars earlier (caterpillars seem to go for the nasturtiums first) or broad beans/peas/other legumes between potatoes or near greedy crops for the extra nutrients the legumes collect in their roots. The thing is not to be too strict about the combos, but to dismiss the whole concept is just wrong.

[@havok9717]

Absolutely well said. 4 years later, even more relevant.

[@YouCantEatTheGrass]

Gardening advice is only ideas to try. The trick is to experiment and find what works best for your specific garden. You can try to follow anyones advice exactly, be it MIgardener, or some companion planting guru, and fail. Because so much of gardening is about learning from your actual garden. So I agree, if companion planting doesn't work for you, don't do it. But I think it is worth experimenting with because so many people have luck with it.

[@OverdoneAndUnderpaid]

You Can't Eat The Grass much better advice for the new gardener than condemnation or semantic arguments

[@YasmineB2468]

As a beginning gardener ... this video confused me more than anything I’ve ever read. 🤔 I think maybe your definition of companion planting may be different than mine....

[@etienne_oosthuizen]

I agree

[@siyarmervan]

Because what he is calling 'smart plating' is a companion planting itself!. He just seems like a guy that thinks he is so smart. Plus, when you plant partially shade or shade lover short plants along with the longer plants, they not only get the shade they need, they also shade the root zone of the taller plants, keep the soil cooler and decrease the evaporation. they also might suppress the unwanted weeds through their own grown habits. good luck..

[@AaronUF]

I agree, especially with Suyar. As I read about companion plants for a crop, those plants need to provide some benefit. Those benefits are primarily pest deterrents, but can be anything that provide benefit, and those benefits need to be spelled out. I think he's just trying to rename something that probably is an issue for gardeners who don't think through the recommendations and blindly follow.

[@md7158]

He explained it pretty cut and dry. He is just pedantic.

[@jameswiggle]

@@md7158 too pedantic.

[@rajivs4528]

In reality companion planting is the key for those who are short on space and would like to optimally use all the resources at hand. Polyculture is of utmost importance.

[@gmmarz13]

when he says we should be "smart planting" I interpret that as "companion planting." it seems like he is simply renaming companion planting for "smart planting" in this video.

[@thetacountry4487]

And even though your Gina, I rename you “Fred”

[@julieb2398]

I go by what I learned from my grandparents who were born in the late 1800's :) Two main things....plant potatoes and peas on St. Patrick's day and never plant onions near the potatoes. That was easily remembered by it being repeated.....if you plant the onions too close to the potatoes the onion juice gets in the potatoes eyes and they won't grow. Thought I would share a bit of the old ways!

[@julieb2398]

I now think it was " the onion juice will get in the potatoes eyes and they can't see to grow" lol!

[@jumpoffa5011]

Thanks Julie B, my Great Great Grandmother told me the same thing and I forgot about it until you mentioned it.

[@nalanihamby3710]

I think following gardening advice from someone born in that time period is wise, they gardened to survive, not as a hobby or because it’s trendy.

[@katherinesavarese6009]

Julie B 🤗

[@michaelfav137]

I don’t think people imagine plants chat to each other in fairness!

[@OverdoneAndUnderpaid]

Don't you grow marigolds and nasturtiums in your beds to deter pests? I always thought this was companion planting. A bit confused about your point. Maybe I'm not running into the same sites because when I see companion planting, it is just a word for what you call smart planting such as deterring pests.

[@simonebourgeois9544]

OverdoneAndUnderpaid | My Marigolds didn't protect my garden from pests like I was told they were, but they look pretty with the greens.

[@MIgardener]

There are plants that help other plants, but not directly. They are indirect and help all plants the same. Marigolds do help tomatoes, but they also help broccoli, kale, lettuce, beets, cabbage, and tens of thousands of other plants.

[@OverdoneAndUnderpaid]

MIgardener | Simple Organic Gardening & Sustainable Living If a plant only deters a specific spectrum of insect I can see some companion plants not being universal. My marigold is unlikely to deter bores from my nut trees like they do squash bugs, for example. But it would be strange for someone to suggest plants are helping each other on purpose with specific intent.

[@eyeswideshut2800]

OverdoneAndUnderpaid I was thinking the same thing but more, he actually just gave more info about companion planting and why it is a good idea. Most KZbin gardeners are pretty respectable so the shots aren't necessary. I did my first plant because KZbinrs said just go for it, so I did but after countless hours of research..

[@sissymarie2912]

Marigolds are good because they mask the scent of other plants and are noxious to most garden pests. That's not really the same thing as companion planting. They won't make your other plants grow better or taste better except maybe because pest free plants tend to produce better. Some people grow nasturtium as a sacrificial plant or a decoy plant, but honestly they're beautiful and really delicious in a salad. I think the point is that some people make gardening more complicated and confusing than it actually has to be.

[@RippleLife]

I could go either way but i beleive you are looking at companion planting wrong... in my opinion. I Dont believe people think the different plants communicate with this term. Its a companion because its benificial as a protector, sheilder or a plant that can add nitrogen or another neut. And in that case.... it is a very studied and scientifically based fact. You have to look at what the plant can do for the soil that the other plant can benefit from. I believe thats what is meant by that. It can be researched in almost any detailed plant guild or botany related research on the subject or just a collage text book. Have a great day. Ps im not a botanist or anything just actually read real books and real research. You cannot "trust" anything online.. quick reference only lol.

[@cocoabean321ify]

The biggest reason for companion planting (that I have found) is to confuse the pests that are attracted to certain plants by planting something they dont like right next to it. Now, I cant say if this actually works or not but just something I have found in my research and wanted to share!

[@mycofyto]

cocoabean321 certain plants like clover and legumes work great next to plants that like more nitrogen because they fix nitrogen to the soil too.

[@gapey]

I think it is just the term "companion planting" that you don't like? Maybe if people used the term "companion plants" when referring to specific plants that have pest controlling properties might be better? I don't get too hung up on those charts that say what should/shouldn't be planted next to each other. I just take companion plants and put them where they could do the most good for plants that typically have pest problems.

[@jumpoffa5011]

Love your smile.

[@DG-dh2lt]

Gapeys Grub good point, me too

[@MS-ix3of]

From a scientific point of view it is very well known that companion planting can be beneficial and most likely will be.

[@ineedstuff8286]

i get it... do you have any links to some research?

[@SQWIB]

Dude, this has to be the most confusing (contradicting) video you have made thus far. I love your videos but this one is definitely going to confuse newbie gardeners. I inter plant with a lot of herbs, chop and drop plants, (Dynamic accumulators- phytoaccumulation/hyperaccumulation), nitrogen fixing plants, and various flowers and other plants, my reasoning behind this is for a living mulch to minimize weeds, food for pollinators, deterrent for bad guys, food for the soil food web, etc.... I try to focus on bio-diversity. Call this companion planting, bio-intensive planting, poly culture whatever. I think the phrase "Companion Planting" is more vast with more than one description than you understand? This year I planted a few Guilds that are working out well. I guess a Guild can be Companion planting as well. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[@rebeccalankford2652]

What is a guild in permaculture? This is where the concept of the “Permaculture Guild” comes from. A guild is usually defined as an association of people working toward a common goal. In Permaculture, a guild is a grouping a plants, trees, animals, insects, and other components that work together to help ensure their health and productivity.

[@gardeningjunkie2267]

Marigolds definitely help out with insects. I planted them all over, in every raised bed and had almost no insects ( I did treat with some mild organic methods, but for the most part I really didn't need to). The side benefit to this was a gorgeous garden. My first love was flowers so it still bothers me when I see a garden that is all production and no beauty.

[@Taydrum]

"I don't understand companion planting and I don't want others to understand it"

[@NicholeLynne28]

Thanks for simplifying this! When you look at all the companion planting charts, it makes garden planning more complicated than it needs to be... Also I got my seeds yesterday and can't wait to plant them, thanks!

[@muratsayar1403]

I see your point, but you rephrase it as smart planting rather than romantic companionship:)

[@michelew2191]

Yeah, it's a bit pedantic.

[@Zellonous]

When a daddy onion and a mommy carrot loves each other verrrrryyyy much...

[@NannetteBlair]

I think it’s dangerous to say stop searching for companion planting. I believe everyone is on their own journey and every garden is different. Different pests, different lifestyles, different soils, etc. I see that this video is 5 years old and I imagine he’s learned a few things since then.

[@vmcshannon]

One example of companion planting is the three sisters garden. Another example is to plant flowers that attract pollinators beneficial to the plants that need them. I’ve used some of the suggestions in the extension publications from UNL. Another source is a book called Carrots love tomatoes. I use other methods as well. Diversity in planting seems to work for me. Plus I like to experiment. 😊

[@michaelfawell6839]

I like how you suggest that people who promote companion planting are just clickbaiting view-junkies, and then create a video with companion planting in the title. It's funny and you're right, there's lots of unreliable sources out there.

[@aquapros916]

when you dont understand something......just discredit it! LMAO

[@jameswiggle]

lol

[@DLRudder]

Bingo

[@richard6133]

I've had mixed success with companion planting this year. Most were fails, but there were some successes. 1) Zucchini with radish, & okra with radish: both of them fatally shaded out the radishes. The zucchini and okra went on to do very well this year. 2) Peppers with carrots: planted at the same time, the carrot foliage shaded out the peppers, few peppers in that group survived, and the ones that did survive had poor production. The carrots did pretty well, though. 3) Tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos surrounded with a forest of basil: zero hornworms this year! However, one of the tomatoes had some kind of problem and ended up with poor growth, and it's basil constantly outgrew it and shaded it out repeatedly. The tomatillos went crazy, and kept invading their neighbors, none fatally. The Roma and tomatoes did very well. The beefsteak tomatoes were disappointment, but I attribute that to them accidentally being too close to the unexpectedly large sunflowers we had this year. 4) Cucumbers with sunflowers in confined space: success! We had good production on both, and we had our biggest sunflower ever, at just over 10 feet tall, and tons of flowers all over. Their sole purpose in my garden is a bee attractant, I only harvest seed for replanting next season. The cucumbers had no problems climbing up the sunflowers. 5) Cucumbers with dill and radish: the cucumbers went to a bumper crop, the dill did respectably, the radish put on a lot of foliage but production was poor. These cucumber vines were growing so fast, they had to be retrained almost daily to keep them from climbing up everything and shading out neighbors. 6) Roses with mint and catnip: the roses didn't like that. The mint and catnip had to be pulled up, but we found other places to put them.

[@tinawhalen1]

I would recommend against actually planting any mints in the ground, unless you want them to literally take over. I had my catnip (yes, it's a mint) in pots next to the potatoes last year, and they managed to root into the ground anyway, I had to rip them out. And they managed to let out some seeds before I collected those, and I had about 5 plants to dig out this spring before having the garden tilled. I plant them for the medicinal value as well as they are supposed to repel potato beetles. I think they kinda worked to that end last year, but the only real control for those horrible things is physically picking them and killing them on a very regular basis. Hoping this year they are nowhere near as bad, as we got to the point last year that we weren't seeing any new adults while picking the immature bugs.

[@takishasage-freebeautyzone]

Thanks for sharing your experience. 😊

[@mom2artists]

@@tinawhalen1 I dream of planting chocolate mint in my front yard to purposely take over - so when I mow, I'm in heaven. :)

[@PeterSedesse]

You nailed it completely. You can use timing to save space, plant radishes(quick) around egglplants(slow), the radishes are out the ground before the eggplant can grow big. Another easy one to save space is corn/climbing beans. But as you mentioned, the best companion planting you can do is just don´t plant your onions/garlic or herbs all together, spinkle them around your beds. I also think it is important to know your own problems. If you have a problem with cabbage/Brocoli.. or carrots, or whatever specific pests you have, then use your herbs and onions to help protect the plants that you have problems with. Another thing that is great about polyculture is you can mix stuff with different root depths. So not only are they not competing for exactly the same nutrients, they are also not competing for the same space.

[@jessicahamilton1414]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm a new gardener and was getting overwhelmed with the best placement for my plants. Now I won't overthink it and will just enjoy my garden! Thank you!!

[@sausagedankerschism]

Thanks for your advice, I agree with you that the terminology of "companion planting" can send some down a strict path that is overcomplicated. I think we're all learning and defining new rules, based on old ways. So thanks for reminding us to acknowledge that there is benefit to planting certain types of plants together, but there isn't an encyclopedia for specifics.

[@AcornHillHomestead]

I do practice planting marigolds everywhere in the garden. It seems to help and it looks great. I don’t really know what Im doing and have only gardened for a couple seasons. Everything seems to work out fine 😉. Its only a garden for heavens sake.

[@joshuaschmackers9596]

The allium and carrot example is companion planting. Companion planting is the very idea of planting things in close proximity to another plant for the benefit of one or both plants...whether that be pest deterents or nutrition.

[@DocWyldeCard]

There actually is one thing that I can say from personal experience works beautifully: Interplanting tomatoes w basil and/or parsley: the herbs and the tomatoes both will take off like never before!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Polyculture is the key 😉

[@hxcAMBERhxc]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@green3975]

basically "companion planting" lol

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi jooked. There is a difference between what folks mean by companion planting as Luke was framing it & polyculture. With polyculture, you are mixing different species for different reasons. One plant might act as a trellis for another while another plant might be grown to be a living mulch that is later cut/dropped onto the soil to add organic matter and food for the biota there. In the case of Aquaponics, it is totally different to companion planting but it's a polyculture that involves fish to the benefit of the plants, bacteria & compost worms that call the whole system home. Hope that helps you some jooked. 👍

[@green3975]

Rob Bob's Backyard Farm & Aquaponics I don’t see the difference between the two.

[@RobsAquaponics]

😃 You ever tried growing fish in soil? They don't make great companion plants at all. 😉 Planting basil to make tomatoes grow bigger is very different than growing a sunflower to let a pole bean use it as a trellis. I think you'll find that was the gist of Luke message. If it isn't Ill happily except a correction from him joooked. 👍😉

[@WhosKite]

"plants don't communicate" "studies have shown plants communicate" "Hey tomato, what's up?" "Herbs help most plants" "Smart planting is different from companion planting" I think you've overcomplicated in your mind, the term "companion plants" You stripped companion planting's definition and threw it at a new term "smart planting" Stop thinking of the world from the human perspective long enough to realize everything is communicating at all times. The plant worlds communication style seems very mechanical, but it's worked this far!

[@WhosKite]

But yes, blogs claiming to have a new sure fire way to stop your aphid problem isn't helping anything. Although I do like that many gardeners are sharing their experience (like yourself) with what they are finding to work for them. A more honest and humble approach to the sharing of information could do every aspect of life some good.

[@idealist4life]

Anyone who is interested in this topic...please look into permaculture. "Companion planting" will mean something totoally different to you after you do...very different than what this guy thinks it is. Um, t does not sound like you have really looked into the benefits on what these veggies add and take away from the soils, the benefits of cover crops mixed in the beds, dynamic accumulator plants, pollinator attractants, how pests and disease spread more easily through monoculture areas, or really any permaculture design tools that have proven to help gardens flourish with little human intervention....because of the micro ecosystems you can create. When you started talking about plant height, it felt pretty clear that you have not really researched the correct ways to plant different things together. There is a lot more science to it, then just throwing things into beds together. There are certain plants that deter certain pests and pest critters, and these certain pests are attracted to other specific plants. Just throwing one "essential oil" plant into a bed...does not mean that you have protected the crop from the actual pest that seeks it. Some plants get more benefit from pollinating attractant flowers than others. Veggies with smaller blooms will benefit more from pollinators being attracted to other larger brighter blooms mixed in. Some veggies are favorites to some pests, and in planting an eggplant in with tomatoes and peppers...you will find that tomato horn worms will flock to the eggplant over anything else. The eggplants branches are not as sparse and the horn worms can more easily seen on them, picked and destroyed. Fall veggies are great to be mixed into beds where the veggies are meeting the end of their season, to make more of the space you have. Dynamic accumulators are plants that may not appear to have any benefit at all, but some are nitrogen fix that would benefit beds in which you rotate tomatoes in....yet would not be helpful to pepper plants as they do not like too much nitrogen. Different dynamic accumulator plants shoot their roots much deeper into the ground than you will ever dig...and they bring different specific nutrients to their leaves...which then die and leave these nutrients to dissolve up top for your food forest to then be able to utilize. You sound a bit arrogant in this video, like you have learned everything there is to know on this topic. "I believe in the facts." chuckle.

[@vickirickman9373]

Hey Luke I’m new gardener …. I cannot tell you the countless hours I have spent trying to figure out “companion planting” 🤯🤯 for the last 2 years And go figure I came across this video as I was trying to figure out what to companion plant with My sugar, baby, watermelon. Haha I can’t thank you enough for this video!!!! It made me feel so much more relieved almost immediately So next year comes around the first thing I’m going to do is play this video over again 🙂👍 Thank you Happy gardening

[@valtosheva]

Actually, there are scientific studies. And thousands of years of experience.

[@fe3cf]

valtosheva can you cite some?

[@PartTimePermies]

I've never seen anyone claim that different species communicate with each other, just that certain plants may provide certain benefits to other plants. You can call it polyculture or you can call it companion planting. Certain plant (our types of plant) combinations do well together and certain combinations will compete with each other. Herbs scattered throughout the garden for pest control helps many plants. The three sisters each provide the next with some benefit (corn giving a stalk for beans to climb, beans fixing nitrogen to replenish the soil, and the large squash leaves shade the soil to prevent out from drying out and prevent other weeds from taking over). I don't the problem with using either term.

[@dufung3980]

I think companion planting is more a way to consume different nutrients at different times, say when you phosphorus plants during the fruiting season near something which won't absorb it but keep the keep the soil active. Also many plants can share mycelium bonds but it's highly specific and they need that to truly bond.

[@tesscot]

He is saying companion planting doesn't work then he says herbs with strong odors deter bugs. That's companion planting. He acts like the tomato and the kale are dating for heaven sake. We just want to maximize helping nature help us grow food.

[@thetacountry4487]

Oh... I was trying to get my plants to get married 😞

[@tonystephengrayson]

It doesn't matter if its oils, or plants having a conversation...if it works it works.

[@dm1111]

Reminds me of one of our teacher who was teaching confidently a topic he had no clue of.

[@mooncatandberyl5372]

LMAO

[@TheLowLandGardener]

I'm glad you have shared your thoughts about companion planting Luke. This method really bothers me and its not giving me the flexibility to work in the garden and following long list of plants next to each other is so mind blowing. Thanks dude, I really apreciate all your efforts on making videos sharing all your knowledge and proven advices based on studies and personal experience. Your'e one of the channels I really trust.

[@MsK-xm7vw]

Oops...I just found this video, and, in a previous video asked for more Companion Planting Info. It was your tomato guide to Companion Planting. You explained it so well that I now understand the microbiology of it, so I can actually look for plants that aren't competing and work within the parameters of the tomato plants. I still like the concept of Companion Planting, and if you explained the main crops such as you did with the tomato plants, it would solve a lot of the guesswork. There's agreeably a lot of misinformation out there; but, it's like that for every topic on the internet, and getting as much use out of one bed, while utilizing other crops to help w/ pest control, shading, chop & drop mulching, etc. still seems like a goal worth pursuing to me. So please keep sharing your knowledge, even if it's not your favorite concept. You always bring a wealth of reliable information to whatever topic you address, so at least we'd be getting the proper guidance to point us in the right direction.

[@Super_Nova739]

What I've gathered from companion planting from blogs and such is that it's just what plants don't fight for nutrients, and what ones bring beneficial insects or ward off harmful insects with their scents or flowers. I've never read anything about plants communicating with each other. But I have read people say "don't plant x with y because they're both after z nutrient and they'll compete for it and one will probably do worse or die as a result."

[@sardar5150]

companion planting works for me

[@bob81pizza]

Yes, he didn't say it DIDN'T work. Obviously your plants will grow fine with companion planting. But if you grew 2 gardens with exactly the same plants, and arranged them differently based on companion planting vs not, you wouldn't find much of a benefit. Polycultures are different though, so depends on how you define things.

[@arjovenzia]

on the basil/tomato combo... whilst the individual tomato might not taste better. but when grazing, a nom on a tomato, nom a basil leaf, nom another tomato. thats an excellent combo for grazing. I call that smart gardening. I 'harvest' very little, I graze as I tend. im planning a corn cum three sisters hydro this summer tho, should be fun.

[@leeinthetree7537]

I don't even see how it's so difficult to understand how planting basil next to a tomato could make the tomato taste better. Basil admittedly has antibiotic and antiviral properties that aid the tomato and would help it grow more robustly and uptake nutrients more efficiently, which could definitely make it taste better. I will be experimenting with this during the coming season.

[@indigobeauty1]

I just want to know if they're plant I can put with my indoor Rose's to repel spider mites & fungus?? 🌹⚘🌱🍃

[@walkingmonument]

Actually plants do communicate with one another via mychorrizae. They are also really good at communicating with insects, predatious insects that help them rid themselves of pest insects. They do this with chemical signaling

[@thetacountry4487]

And tiny batsignals 🤔

[@joefization]

One reason I do companion arrangements in my garden is to limit how well pests can infest. If there's a vegetable a certain pest likes all growing together, infestations can spread quickly. I think of intercroping as putting my eggs in different, disconnected baskets.

[@Ellmatt]

The comments here are actually way more informative than the actual video Cheers guys !

[@wilderfarmstead]

Luke, I love your channel. I've learned so much from you along with other wise sources. I'd like to add something to the conversation concerning different species of plants communicating with one another. From research (trials on property pending) mycellium from fungi are touted for providing an "internet" like conectivity between plants, even of different families.

[@brg2743]

We love companion planting! It helps to use the soil available and helps with pests. We use marigolds also to deter pests and deer.

[@deb3834]

smart planting: mixing heavy heeders with light feeders. I know sme plants can deplete the soil of certain nutrients while others don't. That's why their is crop rotation. Yes? mixing hot or spicy plants, with mellow or sweet plants. Does one affect the other?

[@evereichmann4716]

Thanks for the video! I have been gardening since I have been young and just planted things wherever it was convenient or different. Not until I was planning my garden this year did I find companion planting and I was very confused. I have been "breaking the rules" for years and still having great harvests. I think I'm going to continue what I have been doing.

[@amyjohnson9240]

Thank you for this, it appears to me people commenting on this video may be confused about your defination of companion gardening is specific to planting a certain plant next to another certain plant Your point as I understand it is for instance it doesnt matter if you plant your spinach next to youronions etc. but it is helpful to plant all of the herbs you mentioned with anything, not a specific plant. That is in a sense companion planting. I feel much more relieved watching this video, I appreciate it a lot. I will plant and add lots of herbs for pest deterant, and also merigolds and flowers for pollination which I think will solve all the issues I had this yr. Thank you again.

[@johndifrancisco3642]

WOW! Talk about opening a can of worms. This is almost as bad (not quite though) as PETA people on hunters :) All Luke is doing is showing us what works for him and what he thinks of different approaches to gardening. I enjoy watching and learning from him because of his enthusiasm and dedication to gardening. And thank you Luke for all the work you put into making videos for us.

[@alfalfacats7289]

I believe it is more about non-competition for nutrients in the soil...

[@s7j4p93]

Hence why it’s companion gardening vs competitive gardening. The lack of competition is what makes them companions ☺️

[@friendlyfoodforest8033]

Rarely do I disagree, but I do here. If juglone from black walnut deters growth don't you think other exchanges could happen that help growth? I will concede the health of the individual plant is probably the most important.

[@micahbaptiste1199]

Reliable source for learning smart planting for a beginner. I've built a raised bed on a 12'×12' pad the box is on 3 sides 4' wide x 28' long if it was in a straight line and 30" deep, a 4' walking path for entry and chicken wire around the perimeter and bird netting on top at 10' tall since I'm in the woods and have pests. This is my first garden. I've started about 30 different types of plants indoors and already found out beans don't work lol.

[@jr1648]

Companion planting is smart planting. The difference between the two is semantics.

[@andrew23890]

ive always heard of companion planting as what you call smart planting. plant that needs well draining soil and attracts pests would have as a companion a fragrant herb that likes the same soil.

[@goodman854]

Fast Forward 4 years later and he's making Companion videos lol.

[@newgardner]

Sounds like there is a such thing as companion planting but, it's not about the root system. It's about bug, sun/shade, and scent. Maybe you want to call it something else then but, its companionship either way it go.

[@missylynn8175]

I plant tomatoes and eggplant together with peppers as well. Seems to work well. What I noticed about tomatoes is that they seem to love being close to rubarb.

[@jasminelastnameabsent2801]

Actually they proved that fennel growing next to peppers will make the peppers root deeper

[@sarahesunis5062]

Plants communicate through a fungi network! the point of companion planting is the same as smart planting. The separating of the idea of smart planting and companion planting is what becomes complicated.

[@WillowRose]

❤ love this explanation! We have come so far in understanding the nature of fungi! 🍄

[@seanstanek2790]

So, only 5 minutes in, you're defeating your argument. While the Companion Plant term might be misunderstood, you've already confirmed that it often works! Companion plant, trap crop, based on scents, oils, beneficials plants, all the same, your term "smart combinations" is just another term. You're describing polyculture that has been used for thousands of years, and many "combinations" have been proven scientifically. But you are correct, gardeners should plant smart and use what works for them in their environment!

[@mycozygardencottage]

Thank you Luke. I've spent time trying to figure this out and you've solved the problem for me. I totally get what you're saying. I've always been into polyculture gardening so now I can stop worrying and just keep planting herbs.

[@mindysmith9602]

Read the science behind the Three Sisters planting method. Plants do help eachother with nutrients, pest, etc.

[@troyb4533]

I just mass different classes and varieties of plants together in polycultures I get weird looks from people who check my garden out. There's.just something that people aren't easy with when they see a mass of different plant classes/varieties thrown into a raised bed. Most people think in monocultures and rows. I also surround my garden with numerous flowers and herbs that attract beneficial insects. Like I always say though, this irregular and unconventional method and approach works for me. It won't necessarily work for the next person.

[@WinsomeWinslet]

Great tips for newbies: 1. Plant a smaller basil near the base of a medium tomato plant. The basil will ward off tomato pests and the shade provided by the tomato will slow the basil from bolting/flowering early. 2. Tall growing rosemary does nicely with low growing thyme in a well-drained container. 3. Plant chives, oregano, mint, rosemary, and thyme in containers as they are aggressive spreaders and will pop up all over your garden if not contained. 4. If you love growing brassicas organically but have crazy caterpillar issues, simply use BT (a non-harmful/organic) bacteria that will get rid of the caterpillars only without harming anything else.

[@kiki29073]

Now I just watching a video of yours that was 2 years before this that promoted companion planting basically. So, which is it? You said in that video to plant herbs, onuons, marigilds, and other type of companion plants near your vegs to protect from pest. That's conpanion planting. This video now is 2 years ago do what's your views now.

[@embyrnes5777]

The only companion planting "rule" I go by is not to plant carrots near dill. They're from the same family and can cross pollinate, which is likely why the years dill ended up next to carrots, the carrots were stunted and struggled. Also, my garden is on the south side of the house, on a slope, and gets sun all day. Plants I don't want to bolt (spinach, lettuce, celery, cilantro) I put so larger plants like tomatoes or zuchini will shade them for part of the day. Re: marigolds, I plant gem marigolds at the bottom of the slope the length of the garden. The soil is damper there. The gems form a hedge and the slugs won't go through it. And, radishes make a good trap crop for flea beetles, so I plant them away from tomatoes. Other than that, I just try to fit everything in so plants have plenty of air flow.

[@KCThomas84]

I didn't know people think companion planting had anything to do with different species communicating. I always assumed it was exactly as you've described it, so I suppose this was a pro-companion planting video for me.

[@DanCooper404]

I'm totally confused, did you just rename companion planting smart planting?

[@jameswiggle]

basically

[@alisha55h]

It is a new FAD concept, but if you dig deep, you find a way of gardening that allows nature to take it course and you still get good results. It is a simple concept to mimic what happens in nature, we tend to overcomplicate things in general. Try not to let the over commercialization of CP sour you to the base concept.

[@timfrey2358]

I don't understand.. I literally can't plant things without other plants, I live in the desert, I need plants to fix the nutrients in the soil that other plants remove, I need plants that cover the ground so other plants keep their water, I need plants that repel insects or attract pollinators from far away or my veggies won't pollinate. Also, if you don't believe in companion planting, why are all your plants so close together? That's companion planting, you have your plants close together in a symbiotic ecosystem where they benefit each other and don't choke each other out. There's nothing mysterious about it either, it's literally scientific fact. Beans fix soil nitrogen, onions and marigolds repel pests, some plants lure munching bugs away from things you don't want eaten, because scientists took the time to figure out plants that bugs will actually leave other plants for, so we could use that knowledge to get optimal production. You're shitting on it because you're lazy, plain and simple. People asked you to do a topic that was too frustrating to research so you said the subject is fantasy instead of just telling your viewers it's not your expertise and to ask someone else XD

[@DebRoo11]

Nailed it

[@lizzyontiveros1168]

Plants, like people, influence one another. Some get along better together than others. Black walnut and butternut have an antagonistic relationship with tomatoes, for example. The toxin juglans exuded from the trees’ roots is quite toxic to several plants, including those of the nightshade family such as tomato, pepper, and eggplant. Plant neighbor relationships might take several forms. First, they may improve the health or flavor of a companion. Second, they may interfere with the growth of a neighbor. Third, they may repel or trap an undesirable critter. Companion plant may also attract a beneficial insect

[@TizonaAmanthia]

I'm really happy you touched on the basil and tomato pairing. but...isn't that what a companion plant is? they're not COMMUNICATING but the basil offers it's protection to the tomato. or alternatively, one might have some lettuce growing underneath the tomato? since lettuce doesn't need sunlight or height-space like tomatos do? I've also heard people using pepper plants to help shade cucumbers for a similar reason. either way, dispelling the fallacies is good.

[@MIgardener]

A companion plant is both plants benefit. The tomato plant has a benefit from the basil but so do thousands of other combinations, yet the basil could give a hoot less what was planted next to it. Hence, it can not be a companion planting.

[@TizonaAmanthia]

ahh, that clarifies. both must benefit, else it's not companionship. thanks.

[@ItsJakeTheBrake]

Maybe not scientific for lack of a large sample group, but both my uncle and I have both had bad experiences with having cucumbers and tomatoes bear each other in a greenhouse. The cucumbers kept dying off. Once the tomatoes were removed (only variable that changed) the cucumbers started flourishing again.

[@meredithbegin]

Nice sweatshirt! My husband made the hard-cider for a while. His Best Man still runs the cider/beer facility.

[@leeinthetree7537]

Taking your example in particular about tomatoes and basil, I will explain to you how what you are trying to dismiss as "not companion planting" is in fact what all us companion planting advocates consider to be companion planting. Yes you are right, basil is not the only herb that is high in antiviral and antibiotic essential oils and hence there are other herbs like parsley and rosemary that do just as well in acting as companions to tomatoes but they are still companions, they still create a mutually beneficial relationship. No one ever said plants have just one companion. What you're forgetting to mention here is that if you plant dill or fennel near your tomatoes this will actually hinder the growth of both plants. Similarly if you were going to use corn as a trellis plant for tomatoes, you would have problems due to their incompatibility. I personally experimented by planting dill with cilantro in the same bed and cilantro was suppressing the growth of dill. These things happen, they are quite easily verifiable provided you have a very nutrient dense soil to start. There is a theory behind companion planting which is a result of permaculture growth systems that evolved in nature. We see certain plants growing with each other in nature, in fact it's so predictable that foresters learn how to classify forest ecosystems so that they know what kind of biodiversity they can expect to find in these regions.

[@jenniferli185]

Thank you for sharing this so I don't make myself crazy trying to arrange my plant babies!!

[@illuminate2140]

I believe that your idea of smart planting is what most people’s idea of companion planting is. Plants that have a symbiotic relationship. I do want to mention that just because something has not been proven yet does not mean it is not true. There is mycelium that interconnects the roots of all plants which is well known but aside from that we have yet to deeply study other forms of sharing information such as the air and auric fields.

[@moonbeam888]

Wow dude . You blew your point by simply defining companion planting as smart planning ! Then still used the word companion as click bait. Well done bro! You tricked me into wasting 9 minutes and 22 seconds of my life .

[@mrkemmett]

The #1 companion plant is the dead plant that feeds the live plant.

[@allysongurczynski]

I can't click the like button enough for this video lol. I absolutely love your channel.

[@kendo2377]

I interplant radishes, garlic, marigolds and basil throughout my garden to repel or distract bugs. I plant one bush bean with every squash plant and I stick dill and cucumbers together. That's as far as my 'companion planting' goes.

[@trenomas1]

Diverse polycultures improve the resiliency of the soil microbiota.

[@TheDemonicEden]

Look up live soil all plants do talk to each other through the roots and mycorrhizal fungi

[@KyleLanning-q5w]

So it’s kinda okay to just have one bigass garden bed? If I’m gonna separate stuff based on size or whatever, idk I guess is one garden bed okay or should I have a few. And is it better /more efficient to have them more square beds or long narrow rectangle beds? This last year was my first time and I have a 12x12 that I put 1 tomatoe, 2 cucumbers, 3 broccoli, 3 cauliflower, 6 Brussel sprouts and a bell pepper in. Next year I wanna do some okras, sweet corn, sesame, tomatoes, and cucumber. Then I wanna get some nut trees going and some asparagus in a raised bed.

[@positivelybeautiful1]

Oh my gosh, thank you very much for this video. I’m a beginner,and I did so much searching and watch so many videos, and read so much. I got confused with Permaculture concepts with companion. You’re right, I thought I understood, and the chart drives me nuts and insecure. Get the big picture, that herbs will deter insects, Pollinators attracts good insects, don’t get rid of all pests, save some for the natural predators. Plant nitrogen fixers. Don’t worry so much exactly what plant to put next to what, but more that have varieties of trees, plants, herbs, flowers, and be wise. I just did a total makeover of my yard in a HOA (proposal approved). I’m going to watch all of your videos again. Just yesterday, there were 12 fruit trees, 20 blueberries (3 varieties, 15 Guavas (3 varieties), 3 Cranberry Hisbiscus, 3 raised beds of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Some fruit trees are guilds. Some are not. My helper happened to live far and wanted to do all the work in one day, so I became insecure with some left over plants and herbs that are not planted around the tree. So, I’m going to put them in the rest of my other 4x8 planters (have 3 more). Please reply with any good tips or suggestions. I hope I’m on the right track. I am truly a beginner, without a green thumb. This has been one of my dream to have an edible garden for beauty and for sustainability.

[@mom2artists]

I feel the same way about this video! Did your helper draw up a design for you, and would you mind sharing it? My email is the displayed user name with the G company mail URL ;-) I'm a 51 yr old novice (so sad!)

[@davidlewis8685]

I understood everything he was saying that plants growing together doesn't improve the flavour of the other. Companion planting with flowers is differently altogether, the aim here is not to to improve the flavour but just to attract beneficial insects, deter pests and weed control. Also it makes your garden looks nice. Stay safe.

[@aspirativemusicproduction2135]

What's the difference between companion planting and smart planting? If barriers need shade and you plant them next to a fruit tree isn't it called companion planting?

[@blackoak4978]

I wish you had been a little clearer in this video. Seems like you took a very narrow definition of "companion plant". As you said, there are smart planting where it makes sense to put one plant by another, like planting fixers by heavy feeders, or small shade loving by large sun loving, and others I'm not aware of. I just feel this could have been a good lead into smart planting, instead of straight debunking

[@beanodean4148]

I have literally seen a video of you saying the reason your barely have to use pesticides is because of companion plants/beneficial plants in your beds because it confuses the bugs.......soooooo.......