Companionship Can Help Your Garden Grow

Geoffrey Neal's garden at the Logan Trading Company in Raleigh is packed with a variety of different flowers and vegetables. And for good reason.

"Nature doesn't plant a single plant in straight rows out in the fields. Nature mixes plants up," he says.

In gardening, it is called companion planting.

The concept is simple: If you just plant one type of flower or vegetable, plants may not do well because they will fight for the same nutrients in the soil and provide a large target for their enemies.

"Cabbage moths are much more likely to come in and ravage your crop if all you have planted are those cabbages," says Neal.

That is why gardens love a variety. For example:

Good Companions:

There are some combinations are not good. For example, Neal says pole beans shouldnotbe planted near beets, cabbages onions or sunflowers.

For the most part, gardening experts say variety is the spice of life in the garden.

If you are looking for good combinations of plants, ask an expert at your favorite garden center.

You can also try keeping a garden journal to determine what works best for you.