Zucchini is the squash of summer. This green, mild vegetable often leaves people with a plentiful harvest that has them trying everything from zucchini bread to zucchini panzanella before they end up offering zucchini to any neighbor or friend that will take it.
Yet despite its reputation as a vegetable that grows easily and abundantly, zucchini can actually fall victim to a range of diseases and pests, including leaf blight, bacterial wilt, squash bugs, aphids, and squash vine borer. That's why companion plants are a key ingredient in a successful zucchini crop to help keep threats in check, add nutrients to the soil, and keep zucchini plants healthy.
How Companion Planting Helps Zucchini Thrive
Companion planting is the strategic placement of two or more vegetables, fruits, or herbs to help each plant thrive. In some cases, planting a companion plant near zucchini will help deter some of its most concerning pests. In other situations, the companion plants will help prevent weed growth or add specific nutrients into the soil, like nitrogen, that can boost zucchini growth. And some companion plants will actually enhance the flavor of zucchini, which is mild, but can take on a more robust flavor when grown around other plants with strong notes.
Best Companion Plants for Zucchini
Eager to give your zucchini an edge in squash production and keep pesky bugs away from your garden bed? Here are 11 companion plants to help bring out the best in your zucchini this summer.
01 of 11 Nasturtiums
Botanical Name: Tropaeolum spp.
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline
The green, peppery notes of nasturtium lures in some of zucchini's biggest threats, including aphids, squash
The website greengrove.cc is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Whether you’re frightened or fascinated by them, snakes have important roles in your garden, eating insects and keepingmice,vole, andrabbit populations in check. They also serve as prey for other predators, such as hawks. But probably the most important thing to know is that they’renot at all interested in you.
As the summer months arrive, temperatures rise, and gardens dry out more quickly. To ensure your garden remains fresh and healthy, a few smart watering tips are crucial. In this article, we share practical summer watering advice to help you care for your plants, even during the hottest days.
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Has this ever happened to you? You purchase a gorgeous hanging basket overflowing with colorful blooms in late May, only to find that come midsummer it’s looking a bit... droopy and sad, with far too many leaves and not enough flowers? There are many reasons why a hanging basket might not be performing as well as it did earlier in the season, as they have several needs that should be met on a consistent basis. Typically, hanging baskets are made up of annuals or tender perennials. In the confines of such small containers as hanging baskets, these plants are much more demanding than they would be in a larger container or in the ground. But never fear: as long as you provide them with the right amount of sunlight, water, fertilizer, and pruning in the form of deadheading and pinching, you have the greatest chance possible to keep your basket a blooming powerhouse until the first frost. But first, you have to start with the most ideal plant material possible.
No matter what you’re growing, companion planting matters. From hydrangeas to hostas, roses to radicchio, setting your plants up for success starts with finding the appropriate garden fellows. While you might think sturdy broccoli is fine to go it alone, even this hardy veggie can benefit from some well-selected friends. Here two experts share the best plants for growing alongside broccoli, plus a few that are best to avoid.
It’s late-July and we’re officially HOT. And so are our gardens. Now is the time that we start to truly sit up and take notice of the plants that seem to be gliding through summer’s worst without skipping a beat. Today’s episode pays tribute to all those perennials and shrubs that take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. We found some stars that thrive in heat, lean soil, and even some selections for the most dreaded of conditions: dry shade. If these plants do well in awful situations, think how much better they might do in slightly better ones?
You may recognize those unsightly raised ridges and bumps all over your lawn as the handiwork ofmoles digging around for their dinners. But some types of tunneling are caused by a different small mammal called a vole. While moles typically make a mess of lawns, voles can be destructive throughout your garden.