Some Plants Grow Well Together, Some Don't
2022-06-07
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2People who grow fruit and vegetables in their gardens may worry about which plants to plant near each other.
3Some plants grow well together while others do not.
4Studying which plants grow best together in nature can reduce the need for fertilizers and chemicals used to kill harmful insects and unwanted plants, or weeds.
5Jessica Damiano is a gardening expert.
6She often writes about the subject for The Associated Press.
7Damiano said Native Americans knew about companion planting hundreds of years ago.
8The Native American method of growing corn, beans, and squash together is a well-known example.
9They are called "the three sisters."
10Companion planting puts plants together that help each other grow - like, corn, beans, and squash do.
11For those three, this is how it works.
12As the squash grows, its large, prickly leaves cover the ground.
13They block the sun to keep roots cool.
14They also keep out weeds and animals.
15Corn grows tall to support the vines of the beans.
16And the beans help bring nitrogen into the soil to fertilize all three plants.
17Damiano added that other members of the bean family, such as peas and lentils, take nitrogen from the air.
18They then change it into a form that nourishes the soil and the plants growing in it.
19At the end of a growing season, alfalfa or clover can be planted in cleared-out vegetable fields.
20This adds valuable nutrients to the soil.
21With those nutrients you may not need fertilizer during the next growing season.
22Some plants repel, or keep away, insects.
23Some plants also can protect against disease.
24For example, basil repels these insects: mites, aphids, mosquitoes, and tomato hornworms.
25So, growing basil next to tomato plants is a good idea. Basil also has anti-fungal qualities.
26Tomatoes, in turn, protect asparagus from beetles.
27Tomatoes also can protect roses from black spot, an often-deadly fungal disease.
28French and African marigolds give off a chemical that repels many insects and kills some kinds of worms.
29Eelworms, for example, can damage the roots of vegetable and fruit crops.
30Chrysanthemums produce natural chemicals that repel ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, and other insects.
31The chemicals, known as pyrethrins, do their job so well that they have been copied to create manufactured insect repellents.
32Damiano asked: Why treat your plants with laboratory-made chemicals when they come from something naturally available and safe?
33If your garden has slugs, Damiano suggests growing lavender.
34Similarly, chives keep aphids from lettuce and roses.
35Sage repels cabbage moths.
36Oregano and radishes protect against squash beetles and cucumber beetles.
37Damiano says, zinnias and parsnips draw ladybugs to your garden.
38Ladybugs eat many aphids and cabbage flies.
39Parsley and dill also draw ladybugs.
40But choose one or the other.
41They do not grow well together.
42You also want to keep tomatoes away from potatoes, cabbage, and fennel.
43Tomatoes might make it hard for those plants to grow.
44On the other hand, you do want to grow nasturtiums near tomatoes and squash.
45This edible flower improves the flavor of these vegetables growing nearby.
46Be careful with sunflowers.
47They can stop the growth of beans and potatoes.
48Also be careful with onions and garlic.
49They will hurt the growth of your asparagus, beans, leeks, and parsley.
50But, onions and garlic help beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, sage, strawberries, and tomatoes.
51Onion and garlic protect them against insects and diseases.
52Cabbage and cauliflower are in the same vegetable family.
53But Damiano says not to plant them next to each other.
54Like family members who argue, they should be seated separately at the dinner table.
55Damiano reminds us to plant friends with friends, and everyone will get along. Your garden will thank you.
56And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2People who grow fruit and vegetables in their gardens may worry about which plants to plant near each other. Some plants grow well together while others do not. 3Studying which plants grow best together in nature can reduce the need for fertilizers and chemicals used to kill harmful insects and unwanted plants, or weeds. 4Jessica Damiano is a gardening expert. She often writes about the subject for The Associated Press. 5Damiano said Native Americans knew about companion planting hundreds of years ago. The Native American method of growing corn, beans, and squash together is a well-known example. They are called "the three sisters." 6Companion planting puts plants together that help each other grow - like, corn, beans, and squash do. 7For those three, this is how it works. As the squash grows, its large, prickly leaves cover the ground. They block the sun to keep roots cool. They also keep out weeds and animals. Corn grows tall to support the vines of the beans. And the beans help bring nitrogen into the soil to fertilize all three plants. 8Damiano added that other members of the bean family, such as peas and lentils, take nitrogen from the air. They then change it into a form that nourishes the soil and the plants growing in it. 9At the end of a growing season, alfalfa or clover can be planted in cleared-out vegetable fields. This adds valuable nutrients to the soil. With those nutrients you may not need fertilizer during the next growing season. 10Keeps bad insects and disease away 11Some plants repel, or keep away, insects. Some plants also can protect against disease. 12For example, basil repels these insects: mites, aphids, mosquitoes, and tomato hornworms. So, growing basil next to tomato plants is a good idea. Basil also has anti-fungal qualities. 13Tomatoes, in turn, protect asparagus from beetles. Tomatoes also can protect roses from black spot, an often-deadly fungal disease. 14French and African marigolds give off a chemical that repels many insects and kills some kinds of worms. Eelworms, for example, can damage the roots of vegetable and fruit crops. 15Chrysanthemums produce natural chemicals that repel ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, and other insects. The chemicals, known as pyrethrins, do their job so well that they have been copied to create manufactured insect repellents. Damiano asked: Why treat your plants with laboratory-made chemicals when they come from something naturally available and safe? 16If your garden has slugs, Damiano suggests growing lavender. 17Similarly, chives keep aphids from lettuce and roses. Sage repels cabbage moths. Oregano and radishes protect against squash beetles and cucumber beetles. 18Damiano says, zinnias and parsnips draw ladybugs to your garden. Ladybugs eat many aphids and cabbage flies. Parsley and dill also draw ladybugs. But choose one or the other. They do not grow well together. 19You also want to keep tomatoes away from potatoes, cabbage, and fennel. Tomatoes might make it hard for those plants to grow. 20On the other hand, you do want to grow nasturtiums near tomatoes and squash. This edible flower improves the flavor of these vegetables growing nearby. 21Be careful with sunflowers. They can stop the growth of beans and potatoes. 22Also be careful with onions and garlic. They will hurt the growth of your asparagus, beans, leeks, and parsley. But, onions and garlic help beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, sage, strawberries, and tomatoes. Onion and garlic protect them against insects and diseases. 23Cabbage and cauliflower are in the same vegetable family. But Damiano says not to plant them next to each other. Like family members who argue, they should be seated separately at the dinner table. 24Damiano reminds us to plant friends with friends, and everyone will get along. Your garden will thank you. 25And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 26Jessica Damiano wrote this story for The Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted this story for VOA Learning English. 27___________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29garden -n. a piece of ground in which fruits, flowers, or vegetables are grown 30companion planting -n. growing different kinds of plants (especially vegetables) close together in an effort to get results that help all of them, such as keeping insects away 31prickly -adj. having many sharp points 32vine -n. a plant with a very long stem that grows along the ground or climbs up other plants 33anti-fungal -adj. having a quality that prevents fungus from growing 34slug -n. a soft-bodied creature like a snail without a shell that is a kind of mollusk 35edible -adj. able to be eaten 36flavor -n. the quality of something that affects the sense of taste