The combination of crops is considered one of the essential keys to creating a harmonious ecosystem in a permaculture garden. In this approach, we see each plant as an actor in an interconnected system, contributing to the overall balance and health of our garden.
We try to understand the interactions between the plants and carefully observe the results. From our experiences at Kerbeleg and the specific knowledge adapted to our own garden will come an approach of continuous experimentation and adaptation.
We will observe the effects of different crop combinations on plant health, vigour, pest resistance and productivity. We will try to keep an open mind and experiment with new combinations to find out what works best in the specific context of our soil, our region of South Finistère, the orientation of the land, the exposure to winds, the sunshine.
We will mix different species of plants, both vegetables, herbs and flowers, to try to create a resilient and balanced ecosystem. This diversity should encourage the presence of beneficial insects, attract pollinators and reduce the risk of spreading disease.
Here is a list of tests that we will try, progressively, at Kerbeleg:
Trios tests
- Dill, carrot, lettuce
- Artemisia, beans, tomatoes
- Artichoke, beans, radish
- Aubergine, beans, peppers
- Basil, tomatoes, peppers
- Beetroot, beans, lettuce
- Chard, radish, leek
- Nasturtium, cucumbers, squash
- Carrot, onions, tomatoes
- Chervil, radish, lettuce
- Chicory, beans, lettuce
- Cabbage, beetroot, celery
- Cauliflower, beans, spinach
- Chives, carrots, tomatoes
- Cucumber, beans, corn
- Cilantro, radish, carrots
- Gherkin, beans, lettuce
- Squash, corn, radish
- Courgette, beans, tomatoes
- Cress, radish, lettuce
- Spinach, strawberries, cabbage
- Escholzia, root vegetables
- Bean, cabbage, potato
- Beans, corn, squash
- Lettuce, carrots, radishes
- Lavender, carrots, squash
- Lupine, squash, peas
- Lamb’s lettuce, radishes, leeks
- Maize, beans, radishes
- Melon, radish, corn
- Mint, cabbage, tomatoes
- Snapdragon, tomatoes, peppers
- Carnation, carrots, cabbage
- Carnations, potatoes, tomatoes
- Onions, carrots, salads
- Poppy, root vegetables
- Pansy, tomatoes, salads
- Parsley, tomatoes, peppers
- Petunia, tomatoes, peppers
- Peas, carrots, cabbage
- Pepper, tomatoes, aubergine
- Pumpkin, corn, beans
- Pumpkin, corn, beans
- Radish, carrots, lettuce
- Meadowsweet, root vegetables
- Rocket, tomatoes, cabbage
- Skullcap, root vegetables
- Statice, tomato, cabbage
- Stevia, root vegetables
- Tomato, carrot, basil
- Sunflower, cucumber, squash
- Withania, root vegetables
- Zinnia, tomatoes, cabbage
Possible associations
- Dill: Good with carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, squash.
- Artemisia (Mugwort): Good with beans, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes.
- Artichoke: Favourable with beans, peas, radishes, lettuce.
- Aubergine: Favourable with beans, peppers, tomatoes.
- Basil: Good with tomatoes, peppers, aubergines.
- Beetroot: Good with beans, lettuce, kohlrabi.
- Chard: Favourable with radishes, cabbage, leeks.
- Nasturtium: Good with cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, cabbage.
- Carrot: Good with onions, lettuce, leeks, radishes, tomatoes.
- Chervil: Good with radishes, lettuce, spinach.
- Chicory: Good with beans, peas, radishes, lettuce.
- Cabbage: Favourable with beetroot, celery, spinach, radishes, carrots.
- Cauliflower: Favourable with beans, celery, spinach, radishes, carrots.
- Chives: Good with carrots, tomatoes, strawberries.
- Cucumber: Favourable with beans, corn, radishes, lettuce.
- Coriander: Favourable with radishes, carrots, lettuce.
- Gherkin: Favourable with beans, corn, radishes, lettuce.
- Squash: Favourable with corn, beans, radishes, lettuce.
- Courgette: Favourable with beans, corn, radish, lettuce.
- Watercress: Favourable with radishes, lettuce, spinach.
- Spinach: Favourable with strawberries, cabbage, leeks, beetroot, carrots.
- Escholzia (California poppy): Favourable with root vegetables.
- Bean: Favourable with cabbage, corn, potatoes, squash.
- Beans: Good with corn, squash, carrots, cabbage, potatoes.
- Lettuce: Favourable with carrots, radishes, cucumbers, beans, beets.
- Lavender: Favourable with carrots, squash, cabbage, leeks, herbs.
- Lupine: Good with squash, potatoes, cabbage, peas.
- Lamb’s lettuce: Favourable with radishes, cabbage, leeks, beetroot.
- Maize: Favourable with beans, squash, cucumbers, potatoes.
- Melon: Favourable with radishes, corn, beans, lettuce.
- Mint: Good with cabbage, tomatoes, peppers.
- Snapdragon: Good with tomatoes, peppers, aubergines.
- Carnation: Favourable with carrots, cabbage, lettuce, radishes.
- Carnation: Good with potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, beans, cabbage.
- Onion: Favourable with carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot.
- Poppy: Favourable with root vegetables.
- Pansy: Favourable with tomatoes, salads, radishes.
- Parsley: Good with tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, carrots.
- Petunia: Good with tomatoes, peppers, aubergines.
- Pea: Favourable with carrots, cabbage, radishes, lettuce, spinach.
- Pepper: Favourable with tomatoes, aubergines, beans, basil.
- Pumpkin: Favourable with corn, beans, lettuce, radishes.
- Pumpkin: Favourable with corn, beans, lettuce, radishes.
- Radish: Good with carrots, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, leeks.
- Meadowsweet: Favourable with root vegetables.
- Rocket (Arugula): Favourable with tomatoes, cabbage, radishes, lettuce.
- Skullcap: Favourable with root vegetables.
- Statice: Favourable with tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, radishes.
- Stevia : Favourable with root vegetables.
- Tomato: Good with carrots, basil, celery, onions, peppers.
- Sunflower: Good with cucumbers, squash, corn.
- Withania: Favourable with root vegetables.
- Zinnia: Good with tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, radishes.
