From sunflowers to edible bean , many associate plants for maize aid deter pests and advance your harvesting .
Bob Stefko
While you’re able to buy fresh corn at the grocery store , store - bought clavus ca n’t hold a candle to a homegrown ear of perfumed Zea mays . Corn is a relativelyeasy plant life to growin dwelling gardens , but it can be cunning to have near other plants because it ’s a heavy confluent and its height can easily dominate brusk veggies . However , there are a few maize companion plant that can develop happily beside tall cornstalk and even keep pest insect off too .
Credit:Bob Stefko
Some of these companion works are well - jazz for their ability to repel an assortment of pests , while other plants can enhance the development of corn whiskey crops in other ways . No matter which familiar plants you take , you ’ll be capable to grow a healthier and moreabundant harvest of cornwith the assistance ofcompanion planting .
Winter Squash
Winter squashis often plant with Zea mays as part of the “ Three Sisters ” companion planting method acting , which was first develop by the mass of the First Nations . In this industrial plant partnership , tall cornstalk supply some tint to lower - grow winter squash rackets . In recurrence , the declamatory leave of wintertime squash shield the soil around cornstalks , suppressing weedsand conserving filth moisture so the corn does n’t require to be watered as often . Even better , winter squelch varieties with briery base and leaves can also aid keep cuss like raccoons from invading your corn patch . Beans are the third Sister in this companion method .
Stagger planting times by growing corn first , allow it to reach about 6 inches tall before imbed noodle and crush .
Pole Beans
Dana Gallagher
Along with wintertime squash , pole beansare grown with corn as part of the Three Sisters planting method . In this instance , perch edible bean fix nitrogen in the soil , which helps maize plants farm quicker and beneficial . celestial pole beans can also use cornstalks as a natural trellis , thereby egest the indigence to install cattle panels or bamboo pole tosupport climb bean industrial plant .
Peas
Kindra Clineff
Some of the ripe corn whiskey companion plant admit atomic number 7 - fixing legumes . Peas fix nitrogen into the soil , which will promote the ontogenesis of maize plant . Like magnetic pole dome , climbing types of peascan use corn stalk as innate treillage andgrowing these two plants togethercan save space in your garden . you could get even more purpose out of pea industrial plant by till them into your garden after they begin to die back or you could set flying field peas as a cover crop to enrich the territory before planting corn .
A cover craw is uprise to protect and improve soil rather than for harvest . It helpssuppress weeds , subjugate compaction , andattract pollinator .
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Melons
Carson Downing
Melonsare another good companion flora for corn as they leave a lot of the same benefits as winter squash . As with winter squash racquets , large melon leave can shield the soil around corn plants , keeping weeds at bay and slow up evaporation rates so you wo n’t need to irrigate as much . In exchange , melon will gain from the ghost cast by tall cornstalks .
Since melon and corn are both heavy feeders , you canfertilize them togetherto save time and cut down on gardening tasks .
Credit:Dana Gallagher
Marigolds
Marigoldsare one of the most commonly used associate plants for a broad variety of eatable crops , include maize . This is largely due to the fact that marigolds canrepel an potpourri of garden plague , let in Indian corn earworms and aphids , and marigolds can also appeal good louse to your garden that will prey on corn pests .
Anise Hyssop
Deer can be some of the most destructive pestis in garden bed and just a few deer can tread a garden or speckle of maize to the priming coat in the span of a unmarried even . While fencing is an good way tokeep deer awayfrom your veg , growing Zea mays companion works extend a more affordable answer to discourage them . Since deer do n’t like the fragrance ofanise Hyssopus officinalis , grow this plant near your corn or as a border around your vegetable layer may keep deer from browsing in your garden .
Anise Hyssopus officinalis also attractsbeneficial pollinators , making it a threefold - purpose gain to your garden .
Mint
Like anise Hyssopus officinalis , mess is a powerfully sweet-smelling herb that can repel a phone number of cornpests , including aphidsand deer . Additionally , if mint is allowed to bloom , it will draw predatory insects and pollinators to your garden that will also predate on veg pests . However , mint grows vigorouslyand can become invading in some areas , so you may want to keep your mess plant in pots and place the pots throughout your garden bed to keep pestis out . Alternatively , crushing mint leaves and placing them near vulnerable plants or arena can unloose their impregnable aroma , which fight off insects .
Steep mint leaves in water supply and use the mixture as a born insect nebuliser .
Sunflowers
Keeping corn in vegetable beds can be tricksy because corn uprise so tall and it easy overshadows lower growing plants . But mostsunflowersgrow as improbable as Indian corn ( or even marvellous ! ) , so you wo n’t postulate to interest about these plant outcompeting each other if you grow them as companion . In smaller garden spaces , you may usedwarf helianthus plantsas a border around corn patch to draw in beneficial insects that will keep Indian corn pests in handicap .
Radishes
Blaine fosse
Growing radishesamong corn works is an sluttish way to put empty soil to honorable utilisation and get more food out of your garden . Radishes are rapid agriculturist and they can accomplish maturity much faster than corn whiskey plants . So , if you plant radish around corn , you could usually glean a craw or two before your corn receive improbable enough to block out the light from your radishes . What ’s more , if you reserve radish plants to flower , they can act as a trap crop and repel Zea mays pests , includingflea beetlesand clavus borer .
For a uninterrupted harvest , plant in sequence by inseminate new radish seed every 2 weeks throughout the growing season .
Credit:Kindra Clineff
Nasturtiums
As with marigold , nasturtiumsare one of the best corn companion plant to grow for natural pest control as they will help shelter edible corn from a blanket variety of pests . Among other pests , Nasturtium can keep the populations of aphids , whiteflies , and flea beetle in check and they will also drawbeneficial insectsto your yard . Not to mention , nasturtiums are striking edible plants and grow them near your corn will add a pretty tonic of colouration .
Credit:Carson Downing
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Credit:Bob Stefko
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