Companion Garden Project
APes 2008/2009
Introduction:
Symbiotic plant companionship is when one plant aids another plant’s growth either by making nutrients more available underground (legumes and nitrogen) or by providing a micro-climate above ground (tall, sun-loving plants can provide shade for lower growing cool loving plants). Companion plants even have the capacity to ward off insects says gardening expert Yvonne Savio. When gardening companion planting tries to take advantage of these relationships to increase plant performance. North Americans used companion planting when they planted beans, squash and corn together.
Purpose:
In this experiment we will plant radishes and beets together (D block) and radishes and carrots together (A block). We will observe how the plants grow and develop. Radishes mature in 28 days whereas beets and carrots mature in 55 days and 60 days respectively. We will therefore test the theory that the presence of the radish plant in the companion garden beds may provide added nutrients in the soil for biotic life and extra room for their “buddy/companion plants” carrots and beets to spread out and grow over their last month of development. At the end of 60 days or maturation we will measure the biomass of the vegetables in the companion bed and compare these results with the biomass of the plants in the control beds.
Method:
Control BedA block |
Companion Bed |
Control BedD block |
|
C C C C A A A A R R R R R R R R O O O O T T T T S S S S
|
Radishes Carrots and and Beets Radishes
Radishes Carrots and and Beets Radishes |
B B B B E E E E E E E E T T T T S S S S |
Observations:
11/13/09: D block plants Radishes & Beets in Companion Bed (2 rows) and 4 rows of Beets in Control Bed.
11/14/09: A block plants Radishes & Carrots in Companion Bed (2 rows) and 4 rows of Carrots in Control Bed
E E E E
E E E E
T T T T
S S S S
R R R R
R R R R
O O O O
T T T T
S S S S
C C B R
R R B R
C R R B
C C R B
R C B R