Plant compatibility: what to plant basil next to and why it is important
Basil is an annual heat-loving plant native to Asia and a favorite spice for many. Suitable for growing in open ground and at home - for example, in pots. It coexists friendly with many crops, protecting them from pests and diseases.
What plants are it planted next to, as well as what are the features of growing the spice - read our article.
Crop rotation rules
In total, there are about seventy varieties of basil of early, medium and late ripening. They differ in taste, most of them are used for salads and as a seasoning.
To obtain a high yield for the spice, it is necessary to create conditions close to its usual growing conditions.
Important! It is not recommended to plant basil in the same place every year, as this increases the risk of fusarium. Planting in the same place is possible in a few years.
In regions with warm climates, the plant is planted directly in open ground. In colder areas, it is grown in greenhouses or seedlings with further replanting in open ground.
Compliance with the rules of planting and crop rotation greatly facilitates its care and increases the likelihood of obtaining a good harvest.
What plants are best to plant with?
It is not necessary to allocate a separate bed for basil; it is permissible to plant it in beds with other crops, but on the south side.
Important! Low and medium-sized varieties cannot be planted together with tall plants that will shade the light-loving crop.
It is recommended to plant the spice next to plants that are richly fertilized with minerals, as well as crops that have a shallow but developed root system.
Plants that are good for the neighborhood
The best bed neighbors for fragrant grass are:
- Pepper. Its trunks will not block sunlight, which is important for good basil growth. These crops must be planted at a distance of at least 15 cm.
- Carrot. Its developed root system provides moisture to the roots of neighboring plants. You need to sow fragrant grass in rows along the carrot bed, keeping a distance of about 20 cm.
- Cabbage and basil consume different microelements from the soil, so their proximity is favorable. It is recommended to plant the plant 2-3 seedlings between heads of cabbage.
- Legumes. They have the property of attracting moisture from the soil, which is important for the quality growth of the spice. Crops should grow at a distance of at least 20 cm.
- Salad. Its developed root system drains the soil, which enhances the growth of basil. When planting, it is necessary to take into account that lettuce grows strongly, so it is necessary to plant crops at a distance of at least 30 cm.
- Onion does not take a lot of moisture from the soil, which has a positive effect on the taste of the spice. These crops can be planted in a checkerboard pattern.
- Corn. It needs fertile soil, so such a neighborhood is beneficial. It tends to grow strongly, so it is necessary to sow the spice at a distance of at least 25-30 cm.
- Zucchini. The proximity is favorable, since crops take various microelements from the soil, but you should not plant them close - keep a distance of at least 30 cm.
- Celery. Its root system is able to attract additional moisture into the soil, which basil needs. These crops must be sown in parallel rows, maintaining a distance of at least 20 cm.
Planting basil to repel insects from other plants
The spice has a specific smell that pests do not like. Therefore, the plant has established itself as an effective remedy for combating the following insects:
- aphid;
- spider mite;
- greenhouse whitefly;
- thrips;
- whitefly;
- carrot aphid;
- psyllid;
- codling moth;
- bean moth;
- bean grain;
- chickpea fly.
Planting to protect against disease
Basil is able to protect neighboring crops from the following diseases:
- Alternaria blight;
- fusarium;
- black, gray and white rot;
- anthracnose;
- powdery mildew;
- dropsy;
- spotting;
- viral mosaic.
Compatibility with tomatoes in the garden and in the greenhouse
Basil is the best neighbor for tomatoes in the garden and in the greenhouse. The spice protects tomatoes from the Colorado potato beetle, powdery mildew, and hornworm, and also improves the taste of the tomato. Both crops require abundant watering and frequent loosening of the soil.
Sow the fragrant herb between the trunks of the tomatoes, keeping a distance of 15-20 cm. When growing basil and tomatoes together in a greenhouse, avoid darkening the spice. To do this, the tomatoes are tied up and their lower branches are removed.
With cucumbers
Their neighborhood is also favorable. Basil protects them from powdery mildew and whiteflies, and cucumber prevents acidification of the soil and shields its neighbor from sunlight, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of the latter.Both crops require intensive soil moisture, which also makes their proximity mutually beneficial.
Important! Basil must be sown between cucumbers, keeping a distance of 10-15 cm.
Bad neighborhood for basil
It is not recommended to plant the spice together with other representatives of the Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae) family. They have common pests, they take the same minerals from the soil - all this leads to low yields. It is necessary to plant Lamiaceae on opposite sides of the site, at least 1-2 beds apart from each other.
Worst Neighbors:
- Marjoram. These crops are representatives of the same family, require the same microelements, and are susceptible to the same diseases. Both plants have roots of equal length, which prevents them from absorbing moisture from the soil - this negatively affects their growth, flowering and taste. Basil and marjoram should grow at a distance of at least 3-4 m.
- Dill. This plant is considered unpretentious, but dill flies and aphids, which like to spoil dill, easily transfer to basil. In addition, growing crops together makes them taste bitter. They must be planted at a distance of at least 5 m.
- Ruta. It negatively affects the growth of basil, taking all the nutrients from the soil and gradually displacing it from the garden bed. It is necessary to sow rue and basil at a distance of 5-7 m.
The best and worst predecessors
The spice will grow best in the place of crops for the development of which the soil was generously fertilized with minerals:
- legumes;
- zucchini;
- strawberry;
- cucumbers;
- nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants).
What to plant after basil
The following will grow best after it:
- garlic;
- onion;
- zucchini;
- parsley;
- pumpkin;
- squash;
- potato.
Conclusion
Now you know what you can plant basil next to in your dacha, what its compatibility is with other plants and what it goes best with.
Basil is unpretentious and gets along well with many garden plants. With the right approach, its joint cultivation with other crops will increase the yield and improve the taste of the spice. Thanks to its special aroma, basil protects its neighbors from many diseases and pests.