Plant With Pals

Alright, fellow zone 5b survivors! We made it! The overnight frost has packed its bags (for now) and it's time to get our hands dirty. Literally. But before you just put a tomato seedling into the ground and pray, let's talk about making your garden a thriving party.

Because let's be honest, gardening is great and all, but nobody wants to nurture a plant for weeks only for that little guy to die. That's where the magic of companion planting comes in.

Tomatoes. The gateway drug of gardening. They're relatively chill, they give you delicious red goodness, but do the bugs love them.

You can give your tomato babies some muscle. Introduce them to Marigolds or Basil.

• Marigolds: These guys are great bug repellant of the garden. Their strong smell keeps pests away from above and below ground. Plus, they attract the good bugs – the ones who actually eat the bad bugs, and even some pollinators. I'm obsessed with marigolds this year – I grew them from seed and they're basically my garden's security system.

• Basil: This is the cool, fragrant friend. It also deters pests with its scent, but bonus? You get delicious basil for caprese salads or pesto. Win-win!

  
  

Cucumbers! The perfect summer snack, especially when you're pretending you're being healthy while secretly reaching for the ranch dip. To keep those cukes coming, introduce them to their pals:

• Dill: It helps keep those pesky bugs away. Plus, fresh dill is amazing in pickles or on fish. Multi-tasking plants are the best plants.

• Beans: Now, if you've got the space, beans are the soil's secret weapon. They're like little nitrogen factories, enriching the soil for your cucumbers. It's a beautiful, symbiotic relationship: beans make the soil happy, happy soil makes cucumbers happy, and happy cucumbers make you happy (because snacks).

Okay, so you've got your plant pairings sorted. Now, where do you put them? Especially in small, raised beds like mine, spacing is CRUCIAL. You want to get as much deliciousness as possible without turning your garden into an overcrowded area.

While the "recommended" spacing might feel a bit like you're giving your plants a ton of room to thrive, I've found a slightly cozier approach works wonders. I plant my tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans about 10-12 inches apart. This gives them enough room to stretch their leafy limbs and produce fruit without feeling like they're fighting for elbow room. Then, the trusty marigolds go on the edges, standing guard. It's all about finding that sweet spot for your specific garden.

Finally, let's talk support. While your plants could just sprawl all over the ground, giving them something to climb on is a game-changer.

• Tomato Cages: These are essential. As those big, juicy tomatoes start forming, your plant is going to need some serious support. Cages also help promote airflow. Good airflow is like good hygiene for your plants – it helps prevent diseases.

• Trellises: For your vining friends like cucumbers and pole beans, trellises are their personal staircases to success. You know those little curly things on vining plants? Those are tendrils, and they're basically tiny hands that grab onto anything they can. A good trellis gives them something to grab onto, keeping your plants off the ground and making harvesting easier. Just make sure your trellis is tall and strong enough to support the weight.

Embrace the companion planting, play around with your spacing, and give your plants some support. Happy planting (and happy snacking!)!