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companion planting
Stronger
Together
Cold Weather Companion Planting
BY BRYAN TRAFICANTE AND WILEY GEREN
Winter doesn’t have
to be cold and lonely.
Planting certain fruits,
vegetables, and flowers
together is a natural
way to improve plant
production and protect
them from dangers.
F
ruits and vegetables contain unique characteristics such as resistance to pests,
nutrient sharing, climbing structure, and more. When paired with good neigh-
bors, these traits can be beneficial to a garden’s overall vigor. The close planting
of different fruits and vegetables in a garden to provide mutual benefits of growth
and protection from pests and disease is called “companion planting.”
Companion planting, while applicable to any garden type, typically sees the best
results in densely planted areas like raised garden beds due to the proximity of the
plants to each other. It is not, however, specific to warm-weather gardens. Growers
can take advantage of companion planting in the colder months too.
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