Companion planting (in general)

[Michaelangelica]

I am surprised not to find a recent thread on this.
It seems to add a whole new level of complexity to Permaculture Design

I found this excellent article on the subject while browsing the web looking for stuff on pumpkins
https://we.riseup.net/assets/5012/versi ... mplant.pdf (https://we.riseup.net/assets/5012/versions/1/attra%20complant.pdf)
Page 3 was especially good i thought

The Scientific Foundations for
Companion Planting
While conventional agriculturalists and BD
practitioners may disagree over the validity of
sensitive crystallization research, there is
general agreement today on the validity of
several mechanisms that create beneficial plant
associations:
? Trap cropping.
? Symbiotic nitrogen fixation. .
? Biochemical pest suppression.
? Physical spatial interactions.
? Beneficial habitats.
? Security through diversity
.
and this comment on p4

Options For System Design
Agronomists use the term “intercropping” to
describe the spatial arrangements of companion
planting systems. Intercropping systems
range from mixed intercropping to large-scale
strip intercropping. . . .
etc

[dymonite]

This comes with no surprise. Mollinson was an empiricist not a mysticist.

“”As I have often been accused of lacking that set of credulity, mystification, modern myth and hogwash that passes today for New Age Spirituality, I cheerfully plead guilty. Unqualified belief, of any breed, dis-empowers any individuals by restricting their information.

Thus, permaculture is not biodynamics, nor does it deal in fairies, devas, elves, after-life, apparitions or phenomena not verifiable by every person from their own experience, or making their own experiments. we permaculture teachers seek to empower any person by practical model-making and applied work, or data based on verifiable investigations. This scepticism of mine extends to religious and political party ideologies”.

Bill Mollison, co-founder of Permaculture, Travels in Dreams (1996)

[hozzy]

Not that there is anything wrong with using BD in a permaculture design. It works, we don't know why, and it is when we think we know about something is when we get into problems. I agree, it is weird, adding valarium flower to a compost heap just because it has some connection with the planet Saturn??

That set aside (and BD), there is a lot about companion planting in the design Manual. However if you check out Edible Forest Gardens, you will find that Dave Jacke talks about it in more detail. There are so many different combinations of plants possible, there are bound to be beneficial combinations out there. I think the relationships of plants is for the most part unknown and there are a lot of efficiencies and benefits to be gained.

You are right when you say that it adds a whole new complexity to Permaculture design.

[eco4560]

But companion planting doesn't have to be all spooky and magical and about crystals though does it? Some plants just work well together to give a better outcome than if you'd used them in separate places. I'm still learning what those combinations are, but it makes sense to me. Like corn, beans and cucurbits sharing a bed.

[dymonite]

There are so many different combinations of plants possible, there are bound to be beneficial combinations out there. I think the relationships of plants is for the most part unknown and there are a lot of efficiencies and benefits to be gained.

That's the point. Our only source for this knowledge is agricultural tradition - but that doesn't mean it is correct all the time. Some combination may works, some may be detrimental, some are just a waste of time and some yet discovered. It would be worthwhile to research this area more.