A collecting point for gardening notes and charts
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=344&storyType=garden
CORVALLIS - Soil is alive. Much more than a prop to hold up your plants, healthy soil is a jungle of voracious creatures eating and pooping and reproducing their way toward glorious soil fertility.
A single teaspoon (1 gram) of rich garden soil can hold up to 1 billion bacteria, several yards of fungal filaments, several thousand protozoa, and scores of nematodes, according to Kathy Merrifield, nematologist at Oregon State University. Most of those creatures are exceedingly small. Compared to these Lilliputians, earthworms and millipedes are giants. Each has a role in the secret life of soil.
Bacteria make up the largest group in the soil jungle, and they are as diverse as they are numerous. Some kinds of bacteria are responsible for converting atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available forms, a process known as nitrogen fixation. Actinomycetes, with cells like bacteria and filaments like fungi, are thought to contribute chemicals that give newly tilled soil its earthy aroma.
Mycorrhizae are fungi that attach to plant roots and increase their ability to take up nutrients from the soil. These filaments, along with root hairs and other binding substances help hold soil particles together prevent erosion. Protozoa feed on bacteria and each other, release nitrogen and make it available to plants. As much as 80 percent of the nitrogen in plants can come from bacteria-eating protozoa.
Nematodes, simple roundworms, have evolved several feeding strategies. In temperate soils, some eat bacteria while others eat fungi or soil algae. Some nematodes attack plants, piercing plant cells and sucking out the contents. Some nematodes eat other nematodes or other small invertebrates.
Earthworms, giants of the soil jungle, mix and aggregate soil particles, creating deep channels that help aerate the soil and provide channels for growing roots. They shred and bury plant residue that stimulates microbial activity and increases the soil's capacity to retain moisture. Earthworms consume tiny soil organisms, and excrete even more microorganisms in their castings.
The base of the soil food web is organic matter, material derived from living stuff that provides a source of energy stored as fixed carbon. Nutrients are "served" along with fixed carbon, as carbon is converted to energy. Chemical fertilizers supply specific nutrients directly to plants, but do not replace the other kinds of food that bacteria and fungi need. Mulching with compost, cover cropping and no-till farming practices increase organic matter and the number and diversity of microorganisms in soil.
"All these things that live in the soil may seem unimportant," says Merrifield, "but they work together in a system that is the foundation of life."
From: Growing Vegetables west of the cascades by Steve Solomon, 5th edition.
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
I would recommend that this be looked as a recommendations and possible, but not capital T truth.
http://www.commongroundinpaloalto.org/?Page=Vegetable-companions
|
VEGETABLE |
COMPANIONS |
ANTAGONISTS |
|
Asparagus |
tomatoes, parsley, basil |
|
|
Beans |
Potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbage, summer savory, most other vegetables and herbs |
Onion, garlic, gladiola, chives |
|
Pole beans |
Corn, summer savory, sunflowers |
Onions, beets, kohlrabi, cabbage |
|
Bush beans |
Potatoes, cucumbers, corn, strawberries, celery, summer savory |
Onions |
|
Beets |
Onions, kohlrabi |
Pole beans |
|
Brassicas (Cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli) |
Aromatic plants, potatoes, celery, dill, chamomile, peppermint, sage, rosemary, beets, onions |
Pole beans, strawberries, tomatoes |
|
Carrots |
Peas, leaf lettuce, chives, onions, leeks, rosemary, sage, tomatoes |
Dill |
|
Celery |
Leeks, tomatoes, bush beans, cauliflower, cabbage |
|
|
Chives |
Carrots, tomatoes |
Peas, beans |
|
Corn |
Potatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, pumpkin, squash |
|
|
Cucumber |
Beans, corn, peas, radishes, lettuce, sunflowers |
Potatoes, aromatic herbs |
|
Eggplant |
Beans, Potatoes |
|
|
Leek |
Onions, celery, carrots |
|
|
Lettuce |
Carrots with radishes, strawberries, cucumbers, onions |
|
|
Onion (and garlic) |
Beets, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, summer savory, chamomile, leeks, parsley |
Peas, beans |
|
Parsley |
Tomatoes, asparagus |
|
|
Peas |
Carrots, turnips, radishes, cucumbers, corn, beans, most vegetables and herbs |
Onions, garlic, chives, gladiola, potatoes |
|
Potato |
Beans corn, cabbage, horseradish, marigold, eggplant (as a lure for the Colorado potato beetle) |
Pumpkin squash, cucumber, sunflowers, tomatoes, raspberry |
|
Pumpkin |
Corn |
Potato |
|
Radish |
Peas, nasturtium, lettuce, cukes |
|
|
Soybeans |
Grows/helps with everything |
|
|
Spinach |
Strawberries |
|
|
Squash |
Nasturtiums, corn |
Potatoes |
|
Strawberries |
BUSH bean, spinach, borage, lettuce (as a border), onions |
Cabbage |
|
Sunflower |
Cucumbers |
Potato |
|
Tomatoes |
Chives, onions, parsley, asparagus, marigold, nasturtiums, carrots |
Kohlrabi, potatoes, fennel, cabbage |
|
Turnip |
Peas |
Again, this is suggestions and might work for you but this is not capital T truth.
http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/herbc.htm
| Herb | Companions | Pests Repelled |
| Angelica | Avoid Dill | |
| Basil | Tomatoes Dislikes Rue |
Flies, Mosquitoes |
| Borage | Tomatoes, Squash, Strawberries | Tomato Worm |
| Caraway | Plant throughout the garden to loosen the soil. Avoid Dill |
|
| Catnip | Eggplant | Flea Beetle, Ants |
| Chamomile | Cabbage, Onion | |
| Coriander | Aphids | |
| Chervil | Radish | |
| Chives | Carrots | |
| Dead Nettle | Potatoes | Potato Bug |
| Dill | Cabbage Dislikes Carrots and Caraway |
|
| Fennel | Most plants dislike this herb | |
| Feverfew | roses | attracts aphids away from roses |
| Flax | Carrots, Potatoes | Potato Bug |
| Garlic | Roses, Raspberries | Japanese Beetle, Aphids |
| Horseradish | Potatoes | Potato Bug |
| Henbit | General Insect Repellent | |
| Hyssop | Cabbage, Grapes Dislikes Radishes |
Cabbage Moth |
| Lavender | Moths -- combine with southernwood, wormwood and rosemary in an anti-moth sachet | |
| Marigolds | Plant throughout the garden | Mexican Bean Beetles, Nematodes, others |
| Mint | Cabbage, Tomatoes | White Cabbage Moth, aphids, flea beetles |
| Mole Plant | Moles and Mice | |
| Nasturtium | Radishes, Cabbage, Cucurbits, fruit trees | Aphids, Squash Bugs, Striped Pumpkin Beetle |
| Pennyroyal | Roses | Flies, Mosquitoes, Fleas, others |
| Petunia | Beans | |
| Pot Marigold | Tomatoes | Tomato Worm, Asparagus Beetles, others |
| Pyrethrums | Use dried flower heads as a general insect repellent. | |
| Rosemary | Cabbage, Beans Carrots, Sage | Cabbage Moth, Bean Beetle, Carrot Fly |
| Rue | Roses and Raspberries Dislikes Sweet Basil |
Japanese Beetles |
| Sage | Rosemary, Cabbage, Carrots Dislikes Cucumbers |
Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly, Flea Beetle, Slugs |
| Southernwood | Cabbages | Cabbage Moth |
| Sowthistle | Tomatoes, Onion, Corn Plant in moderation |
|
| Summer Savory | Beans | Bean Beetles |
| Tansy | Fruit Trees, Roses, Raspberries | Flying Insects, Japanese Beetles, Striped Cucumber Beetles, Squash Bugs, Ants, Flies |
| Thyme | Cabbage | Cabbage Worm |
| Wormwood | Plant as a border to keep animals out of the garden. | |
| Yarrow | Plant near aromatic herbs to enhance production of essential oils. |
This is the outline presented at the 3/1/06 PPO meeting, for those who did not get a copy or were unable to attend. If enough people are interested, I am willing to do a follow-up where we do "hands on" and actually PLANT some containers. Please indicate your interest in a response to this post so all the answers will be in one place, thanks! : ) Carla
Criteria
- Productive - good harvest
- Easy cultivation
- Most available as plants (rather than seed)
- Amenable to pot culture (mostly)
Growing conditions of participants
- Experience gardening?
- Garden space available?
- Sun exposure?
- Indoor only?
Growing techniques
- Pot
- Pot w/trellis
- Raised bed (see Organic Gardening magazine for more details)
- Ground (w/trellis if needed)
- Indoor lights
Pots
- Size
- Material (clay, plastic, wood, etc.)-
- Color (light v. dark)
- Temperature issues
- Watering issues
- Planting medium
Making your plant choices
- What do you like to eat?
- Sun requirements
- Water requirements
- Space requirements
- Pollination requirements
- Trellis
- Ornamental value
- Seeds v. starts
- Annual v. perennial
Recommended plants
Fruits
- Fig Negronne (OGW)
- Goumi (OGW, PDX NURS?)
- Blueberry Sunshine Blue (OGW)
- Strawberry Tristar (OGW, PDX NURS?)
Veggies
- Green bean bush-type Nugget, Dragon Tongue, Dwarf Bees (TER), Derby, Oregon 54 (seed NIC)
- Cucumber Armenian (many sources, needs trellis), Salad Bush (NIC), Marketmore 86 (TER, trellis?)
- Radish (seed only) Cherry Belle (TER, NIC) or other quick variety (less than 30 days to maturity)
- Pepper sweet Jingle Bells (seed TG), PDX?, various, Miniature Bell Red/Yellow/Chocolate (TER)
- Pepper hot - Early Jalapeno (various), Aji Colorado (seed only SC), Thai Hot Ornamental (seed TG)
- Tomato Stupice (trellis, various), Principe Borghese (trellis), Oregon Cherry (TER), Gardener’s Delight (trellis), Patio F Hybrid, Micro-Tom (all seed only, TG)
- Zucchini Sun Green (TER), Eight Ball (trellis?, NIC)
- Kale (various)
- Lettuce/mesclun/greens “mesclun” mixes, any “looseleaf” lettuce variety (various)
Herbs
- Oregano Greek (various)
- Mint peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, pineapple mint (best kept in pot)
- Basil Genovese, Sweet, Mammoth or Lettuce Leaf, Thai (various)
- Chives (various)
- Parsley Italian (flat leaved), Moss Curled (various)
- Sage Dwarf (various)
- Rosemary (esp. prostrate for pots)
- Thyme English (or just “Thymus vulgaris”) - check variety for hardiness
- Stevia (various)
Edible flowers
- Nasturtium
- Violet/Viola/Johnny Jump-up
- Sweet William (Dianthus)
Also flowers from strawberry, Dwarf Bees, radish, zucchini/squash, kale, mint, chives
Other
- Tea plant (yes, real tea! OGW, TER, NIC, various)
- Sprouts (many types, TER or local sources)
Plant preferences
Full Sun
Basil
Beans
Blueberry
Cucumber
Fig
Nasturtium
Oregano
Pepper
Tomato
Thyme (can take some shade)
Rosemary
Sage
Stevia
Strawberry
Zucchini
Part sun
Dwarf Bees ok
Chives
Kale
Goumi (needs at least ½ day sun)
Lettuce/greens
Mint
Parsley
Radish
Sweet William
Tea
Violet
Window sill or fluorescent light
Sprouts
Needs moister soil
Beans
Blueberry
Lettuce/greens
Mint
Radish
Stevia
Violet
Does not play well with others
Larger beans
Larger blueberries
Cucumber if not trellised
Goumi (room for groundcover only w/o pruning)
Fig (room for groundcover only w/o pruning)
Mint
Oregano
Tea (room for groundcover only w/o pruning)
Tomato (except Micro Tom, possibly Patio)
Zucchini
Sample pots
Salad pot - ½ whiskey barrel with assorted greens, chives, parsley, and violets (Eastern exposure w/afternoon shade good for this pot.)
Mediterranean pot - ½ whiskey barrel with fig (lowest branches pruned), dwarf sage, prostrate rosemary and thyme trailing over sides, could add red nasturtium for color. Place attractive 12" or larger pot of oregano nearby. (South or west exposure for this pot.)
“Tea” pot - 24" or larger pot with tea plant (lower branches pruned) with stevia and frequently harvested mints. Tea plant will give partial shade for mints. (6 hrs or more of sun good for this pot. Decrease afternoon sun if mints start to get crispy!)
References
Books/Magazines
Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon
The Maritime Nortwest Garden Guide by Seattle Tilth
The Bountiful Container by Rose Marie Nichols McGee & Maggie Stuckey
Herbal Remedies in Pots by Effie Romain & Sue Hawkey
Organic Gardening Magazine by Rodale
Seed/plant catalogues
Territorial Seed Company (TER) www.territorial-seeds.com
Nichols Garden Nursery (NIC) www.nicholsgardennursery.com
Seeds of Change (SC) www.seedsofchange.com
Tomato Growers Supply Company (TG) www.tomatogrowers.com
One Green World (OGW) www.onegreenworld.com (located in Mollala, open Fri. & Sat.)
Local nurseries
Portland Nursery (2 locations)
Buffalo Gardens Nursery (NE 30th & Alberta)
Network
Portland Permaculture Guild www.pdxpermaculture.org has many knowledgeable people and monthly informational meetings on all aspects of sustainability, including gardening