Companion planting is a form of cultivation of plants whereby two or more plants are cultivated side by side to improve growth, repel pests and increase production. Gardeners can therefore combine the plants in such a way that will lead to a more productive and efficient garden environment. For instance, growing marigolds near vegetables will keep off undesirable bugs while beans are known to enrich the soil with nitrogen which is good for corn and squash plants.
The next good example is tomatoes and basil; basil makes tomatoes taste better and also keeps pests away. Also, planting carrots with onions repels carrot flies while the smell of onions confuse these insects.
Companion planting not only enhances the health of the plants but also increases the number of species in the garden which in turn increases the garden’s ability to withstand disease and pests. In this way, gardeners can establish proper connections between different plants, and so, achieve the optimal yield, decrease the usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and increase the general health of the garden.