Allotments 4 All

I have been reading that beetroot and onions/leeks are bad companions. :'(

What distance is considered to be too close for a bad companion? :-\

Equally what distance should a good companion be planted do you think? :)

And WHY are beets and onions bad companions? ???

Actually, I've read the opposite that onions and beetroot are good companions. Bad for beetroot are cabbage and lettuce, apparently. Don't know why, though

Beets and Onions are ok I think !  ;)

See:

http://www.mylot.org/Garden/gardening04.htm

I have onions interplanted with beetroot. OK the first batch failed, but this was more the weather than bad companionship. The second batch I sowed are doing fine.

PS just looked at that website. Cant say i agree with the bit about lettuce and bean crops (legumes) I grew loose leaf lettuce in between my runners as a ground cover last year. No ill effects thoughin time the beans did shade out the lettuce, but by that time I'd had a decent crop from the lettce anyway!  I would also think that the nitrogen fixed by the beans would actualy benefit a leafy crop such as lettuce.

I do the same Richard and I get better lettuce in the shade of the growing beans than I do out on the sun parched plot!

Me too.  I have lovely lettuces growing beneath my beans.  No beans on yet though  :)  I have sunflower Sonja growing all the way round too and they'll flower soon.  Squash in the centre.  Oh it looks sooo pretty.  Will take a pic when the sunflowers flower  :)  The lettuces are purple frilly jobs given to me by the bloke on the next plot  :)  I've not eaten any as I don't want to spoil the pattern  ;D

SO glad to hear that my beetroot are safe! :)  they are only 1/2 inch tall! 

I have my french beans in the 'shade' of my sweet corn (if only they would grow a bit taller)!  And courgettes and nasturtiums in between.

Thanks for the tip about the lettuce, I'll try the next row beneath the runners.

Do you think it's too late for parsnips?  don't mind them small

Flowerlady - I know its late for parsnips, but I asked on here (somewhere, honest!) if it was too late and was advised that I could but try and it may just result in smaller parsnips.  I love them (roasted especially!) so couldn't resist putting some in.  Sown 2 weeks ago and starting to peep through - so here's hoping!  :)

Tsk i just tried hopefully parsnips for xmas dinner and i put some potatoes in for xmas too !!!

what the hell if you dont try youll never know and if people hadnt tried youd not be writing it on the internet now

carl

have a goooooooo

So glad you feel that way too, nothing ventured nothing gained. :D

Re my beetroot - apparantly its runner beans they don't like!

Still want to know :-

How close is too close?   Anyone? :-\

Hres something i found :- pole bean no but bush bean yes

http://colleenscorner.com/Cplants.html

and then a little conflict for the old pole bean

http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/EAP55.htm

http://www.the-organic-gardener.com/companion-plants.html

so i think as long as there not climbing beans then Beetroot are ok !!!

hope it helps

carl

ps no mention of how close isnt good ! but at the end of the day as long as they dont fight it shouldnt be to bad !