Is there really no one but Steve & I interested in this? I was really happy to find it and thought others would be too.

Maybe the old fans of gardening just haven't made the site switch yet. It seems to many made the pledge of loyalty to Dave but now aren't going to keep their word. So sad.

I'm here, just don't have much to say at the moment.

I just found you. Been hiding???

My chickens dislike basil, if that has anything to do with companions!

Did you send any invites?

Melissa

Will have to look into sending "invitations". so much to learn still. i'm a bit of a computer dummy though.

I'm not even sure where we are listed....... Steve? I've been away for a few weeks but want to get up to speed on what's happening.

Hi coconut! I think chickens are a great companion for the garden LOL they will take care of all your pesty bug problems AND turn up the soil AND fertilize! I really want some chickens!!

Oh, yes, the chickens will peck to shreds any plant, and have a great time scratching big holes in the mulch and compost. Very destructive!

Well that's just not the pretty picture of chickens I was thinking of LOL

I'm thinking of what is called a 'chicken tractor' to place the chickens where I want them, instead of them just running all over... we have too much wildlife.

ladyleaf, I hope more people will find this topic of interest! Especially since we didn't have a companion planting forum over at DG!

Yes, lol, chickens and veggie gardens don't mix. My patch of garlic disappeared in about 1/2 hour, it was growing so nicely, sigh.

A tractor is a wonderful invention, and can be really cute and ornamental, also. Chickens need to be protected, also. There are some breeds that should not be confined to tractors, do your research.

I'm planting some Chard just behind some pole beans, I hope that works. I have a lot of seeds! Not today, tho, have to wait until Monday evening, the 15th so the Moon will be right. I haven't found chard plus beans yet, but beets, yes, and chard is leafy beets, no?

And I still need something for between the two short rows of okra. Since the garlic "disappeared" last week. There are feral chickens in my neighborhood. I plan a screen house for the veggie patch. Maybe lettuce, or bok choi. Wheee, chickkies really love those!

Interesting. Even the garlic that repels most pests but NOT the chickens!! Grrr.. I bet you were disappointed! Feral chickens sound as bad as feral hogs!

I also will be planting by the moon, the 15th and 16th are good days for above ground crops.

But today, the 11th and 12th are good days to plant any root crops.

Hmm, moon's in Aquarius, the water carrier, an Air sign.

I think I'll prepare a bed for something along my driveway.

That is why I like bantum chickens. They don't dig as furiously as larger breeds most of the time. Note I said most of the time. Mine have access to the compost pile which is really an old hay ring as well as being free range some of the time. I use to volunteer at a botanical garden and got to bring home plants, plant trimmings, 'spent' potting soil, etc. I would put that under my rabbit cages and the chicken would mix everything together for 'black gold' in just a couple or 3 weeks.

Yes, chickkies scratch. Sometimes I feel so happy that I don't have to keep my hands to my sides, peck my food with my mouth, and dig it around with my feet.

Forks and spoons are wonderful inventions.

Cocoanut, I agree. I hadn't thought of it that way, but you are right. However they probably are glad they don't have to use forks, spoons, and knives. As tho they know what those are besides something non eatable in the compost pile.

Hi all. I guess I should have seen this thread but seem to have missed it.......

I'm looking at the stats and it seems the highest usage for this topic was in March and its taken quite a dip in April but has started to go back up in the last couple days. Anyone have ideas to bring in more members? Maybe we should hold a companion planting photo contest this summer? Where everyone enters a picture of their favorite companion plants growing together? Just an idea.

Good idea, Steven. I only have some yardlong beans in the ground right now. Hmm.

How's this? Dill and peas

I do have an unconventional companion planting. I am growing Desert Roses, and they hate to be over watered. They rot if so. I left a little weed in the pot. When the weed is wilted, I water. i have over watered my Desert Roses terribly before now!

Thats a very interesting idea Melissa! I would never have thought of using another plant as a water gauge!

Stephanie, so the peas fix the nitrogen to make the dill grow? Would that also work with lettuce?

You know, I've known about companion planting for many years, and haven't gone "Whole Hog" with it in my gardening. And I haven't met anyone who has been 'into' it to the point they had a fully integrated garden. Hmm, many books written.

I read someplace that legumes do fix nitrogen in nodules on their roots but it's not available to other plants until the legume has died. Kind of makes sense, once you think about it. The companions would have to be parasites to get their sustenance from a living plant.

The nitrogen fixing will enrich the soil in the next season, as those roots break down.

There are other ways that those plants can be beneficial to each other.

Steven, I have no idea! LOL I really was trying to repel bugs, but it seems I should be trying to repel the BIRDS! They keep eating the seedlings.

If you have straw, not hay, fluff some over the row to just barely cover.

And this time of year is tough for birds. Not much in the way of bugs or seeds for them to eat, and people stop feeding. I feed them year-around.