Vegetables to grow together?

Question

I know about the South American "3 sisters" arrangement. I'm wondering if there are any other tried and true groupings like this.

I know about companion planting, I am curious as to whether there are any other tried and true groupings like the "3 sisters."

Answer 1

I tried searching for things like "symbiotic plantings" and didn't find much in the way of a blueprint for pairings. I too know of companion planting, but as far as something like the Native American's "3 sisters," well, I can't find something like that. I did however find this really cool article on modern Native peoples trying to revitalize the land through "symbiotic planting." Here is a qoute from the article and the URL for the source:

"For example, erythrina, a tree with a straight, slim trunk, is used as a living post to support bean vines; it is also a nitrogen-fixer, contributing to the fertility of the soil. Neem, a member of the mahogany family, helps eliminate pests; insect eggs deposited on its leaves are rendered infertile and never develop. Fruit trees are interspersed among the tomatoes, beans, yucca, and corn; and the mini-forests the Indians have planted yield organic material that is added as needed to the vegetable beds." - http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1016/is_n11-12_v96/ai_9162890

I don't know how much this helps or answers your question, but I think a lot of it comes from frame of mind and goals. I try to find natural ways to get rid of insects and other pests feeding on my tomatoes and I also try to find natural alternatives to fertilizer. I build a cylinder out of chicken wire, about 2-3' in diameter, and put compost in it and continual refill it with organic matter from the garden. Then, all around it I plant 3 tomatoes, 6 marigolds, 24 or so garlics. The center compost is how I do the majority of the watering, all the nutrients from it leach into the soil and feed the tomatoes. The marigolds and garlic are natural pest deterrants. If I want to make salsa I have my garlic and tomatoes right there together. My tomatoes go crazy too. I had a branch break off of one at one point in the season and it fell in the compost and continued to grow! I have a full grown plant in there now with fruit!

Anyway, I think that it isn't so much the set "arrangements" that are important, but the mindset. A book that touches on this if I remember correctly is "Square Foot Gardening," here's a link with more info:

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

Well, I know that isn't quite what you were looking for, but I hope that it helps!

P.S. Come to think of it, I think that this is such a good question I am going to post this on the NHGC site and see if we can get you some better responses!

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A friend of mine, when I posed this question, said to check out the book "Buffalo Bird Woman" as it is about Native American gardening.

Answer 2

It's called "companion planting"

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=companion+planting&fr=ush-ans

You can also research "organic gardening"