Enhance Your Watermelon Yield with These 10 Ideal Plant Partners (Take Care to Avoid These 3)
Cracking the Code on Watermelon Pals
Growing watermelons ain't always a piece of cake, but these sprawling vines can be tamed with the right companions. Here are 10 plants that'll keep the party going in your garden while making watermelons thrive:
- Sunflowers - With their towering stems and pollinator magnetism, sunflowers make fantastic watermelon buddies. They share the sun and offer a home to beneficial insects that'll help your melons grow strong.
Did You Know? Sunflowers carry a ton of benefits for watermelons, supporting healthy growth and boosting yields.
- Culinary Herbs - Basil, dill, catnip, sage, and oregano are every watermelon's dream team. They not only enrich the soil and attract beneficial insects but also act as natural pest control for unwanted invaders like cucumber beetles.
- Corn - Bring the Three Sisters planting method to the modern age by replacing winter squash with watermelons. The large leaves of corn act as a living mulch, keeping weeds at bay and giving watermelons the perfect space to sprawl out.
- Borage - This unsung hero is a pollinator magnet, and its flowers have even been reported to make neighboring plants more resistant to pests. Plus, you can snack on its leaves and flowers at outdoor gatherings.
- Beans and Peas - Like corn, beans, peas, and other legumes are nitrogen fixers that boost the soil quality for watermelons. Grow pole-type varieties on a trellis to avoid competition for space.
- Radishes - Watermelons love it hot, and cold-tolerant radishes let you make the most of your garden during chilly spells. Plant these peppery root veggies first, and they'll be ready to make room for melon vines when warm weather arrives.
- Mint - Notorious for being a space hog, mint should be given a wide berth. Yet its strong scent repels flea beetles and aphids, making it a perfect companion for watermelons. Plus, it complements watermelon flavors beautifully in summer salads.
- Marigolds - Their vibrant flowers are a beacon for pollinators while keeping pesky insects at bay. Marigolds pair perfectly with watermelons, offering mutual benefits for both plants.
- Alliums - Garlic, onions, leeks, and chives are powerhouse defenders against aphids, slugs, and other pests. They take up minimal space and are easy to slip between your watermelon vines.
- Nasturtiums - Acting as a magnetic force for pollinators, nasturtiums also double as pest traps, drawing away unwanted intruders from watermelon plants.
Watermelon companions to shun:
- Other Cucurbits - Squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and other melons are fellow heavy feeders that may steal valuable nutrients from your watermelons.
- Potatoes - Spuds are also heavy feeders and may struggle to share resources with watermelons.
- Fennel - Its allelopathic compounds may inhibit watermelons' growth, so it's best to keep them far apart for healthy plants and bumper harvests.
Edible gardening, as exemplified by the Watermelon Pals portrayed here, is a popular lifestyle choice, with many home-and-garden enthusiasts embracing Bhg's guidance on growing fruit such as watermelons. By planting sunflowers, culinary herbs, corn, borage, beans and peas, radishes, mint, marigolds, alliums, and nasturtiums, watermelon growth can be optimized while also contributing to a diverse and attractive garden. Conversely, it's recommended to avoid planting other cucurbits, potatoes, and fennel near watermelon patches as they may compete for resources and potentially hinder growth.
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