Companion planting...how near is "near"?

wife1mom2 4/1/2014, 6:50 pm

I am new to square foot gardening and new to companion planting. My question is this...when it says (for example) not to plant onions "near" beans...well how near is "near"? Does that mean I cannot plant them in the same box, period, or would it be okay to plant the beans in a square on the north side and the onion in a square on the south side of the box?

bonnie0128 4/1/2014, 7:48 pm

LOL, I don't know the answer but I've been wondering the reverse! Like when a plant is beneficial to another plant...how close should they be for best benefit. Companion planting...how near is "near"? 3170584802

Companion planting...how near is "near"? 3170584802

boffer 4/1/2014, 7:55 pm

I wondered that myself, so I tried a simple experiment a couple years ago. A 1x4 box; one row of green beans and one row of onions.

June
Companion planting...how near is "near"? Dscn0511

Companion planting...how near is "near"? Dscn0511

August

Companion planting...how near is "near"? Dscn0910

The beans did not pick up onion flavor. The beans and onions both produced a good harvest.

You can't get any closer than that. You decide!

wife1mom2 4/1/2014, 8:21 pm

boffer, thank you for the pics and reply.

**sanderson** 4/2/2014, 12:37 am

Boffer, Thanks for the testimony and supporting evidence.

alanlu 4/2/2014, 6:01 am

I've been practicing "companion gardening" for years now.
companion plants are used to help plants to grow better enriching the soil (ex beans and peas fix some nutrients deep in the soil) and/or avoiding bad insects.
I don't have SFG experience yet but in my row gardening, near ment near row ... so in SFG near should be next square.
I've just built my new SFGarden respecting companion rules .... as soon as something will rise I'll tell you if my ideas are right!

**AtlantaMarie** 4/2/2014, 9:20 am

Wife1Mom2 - most of the research I've done says 4 feet minimum separation for foes.

I've got some beans planted near onions. We'll see what happens...

Bonnie - I've got onions inter-planted with my lettuce & cabbage, so they're right next to each other.

**sanderson** 4/2/2014, 12:26 pm

Alanlu, In SFG, the enrichment of the mix is by the compost. This helps relax the rules of good and bad neighbors.

alanlu 4/3/2014, 2:28 am

@sanderson
WOW!! good neighbors, good soil....this year my tomatoes will be gorgeous!!!

**sanderson** 4/3/2014, 3:34 am

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Companion planting...how near is "near"?

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