Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi,
I recently moved in to a new house and have been v happy to begin a veggie patch. I've been keen to get whatever possible in at this time of the year and hence have planted garlic and broad beans just this weekend only then to read they are incompatible! I treated garlic as onions thinking that was sensible!
Why are they so unhappy bed fellows and what is likely to happen? Will one sap the others strength?
Should I dig up the beans and plant elsewhere or take my chances?

I'd be v glad of some enlightenment.

Myrtle.

I'm afraid I can't help with your dilema (though I shall be interested to hear the outcome, as this isn't something I've heard before - and whilst I haven't planted mine together this year, it was more by luck than judgement.)

However, I did just want to say 'hi' and welcome you to this great site. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to offer words of wisdom!

Don't know much about this either but I'd be tempted to leave them be this year (yes I know this is the lazy approach) and see what happens. Just cos books tell you that you shouldn't do things doesn't necessarily mean they won't work.

Oh yeah and welcome to the vine.

thanks you guys, i have a feeling i'll be visiting here fairly regularly over the coming years. i'm v excited about my new (small) veggie beds!

i actually read it in this month's GYO... under the garlic article there's a small box on top right with details on incompatibility...shame i didn't read it first! I'll try to contact the journalist and enlighten us all.

My mother said the same as you Alison - leave them alone for now. may do. i think I'll also plant some other rows and play spot the difference!

Thanks again for your lovely welcomes

Myrtle
x

Don't know about growing together but they are nice together in a pan tossed in butter!

It's not for me to go against whats in GYO (must have missed that btw) but.... Garlic tends to disguise plants smell so aphids get disorientated, might help keep the blackfly away from beans? Just a thought!

Hi Myrtle and welcome to the vine! Theres a lovely bunch of likeminded grapes on here, some of whom have loads of experience and share it willingly, so usually someone will come up with an answer for you!

I'm afraid as a fellow newbie I cant add much to whats already been said, I think the incompatability comes from the nutrients that both plants need, if they both are seeking the same food, then they will be in competition, so wont do as well as they would separately, I'm sure thats what my Old Dad told me many years ago! I may well be wrong tho, so dont take it as gospel!

__________________
Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 12th September 2008 - updated balance sheet!

I am very interested in companion planting and will definately be using it's rules for my 1st season with a new allotment. According to my list of what does well with what Beans and (peas) dislike onions and fennel but like celery and cucumber if that helps.

Myrtle
Hi and welcome
As a complete beginner I didn't know about compatability and happily planted garlic and broad beans in the same raised bed last winter. I couldn't see any problems -hope you will be as lucky.
Sue

Been thinkimg about this one (well eating Fish & chips relly - Doh sorry LJ ) I imagine it's like this.

Onions (& Garlic) I tend to put after the Tatties to use up the remains of the goodness from the Manure that is put in the ground - not much Nitrogen as you don't want too much for Onion family, Beans being Legumes synthasize there own Nitrogen in the nodules on their roots so if they are planted together they may aquire a bit too much Nitrogen from the beans.

As your veggie plot is new this year I wouldn't worry too much & you can always give the Garlic a hi-potash feed around may/june time to help harden the bulbs up so they store better.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

hello all, thanks for that.
I've done quiet a bit of research on the web and there's plenty of info on what to companion plant with what and why, a little on what's incompatible but very little on why....
I've come to more or less the same conclusion - i think the beans may encourage the onion family to produce too much top and not enough bottom!
But, as you say Nick, it's their first year in the bed so hopefully the nitrogen won't be travelling too far.
I'll let you know how i get on.

Many thanks to you all again.

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Myrtle
x

Welcome Myrtle good luck with the planting,was my first year this time and didn't do anything too horrific but i think its a case of you can always improve. i have to drip feed my brain slowly or else nothing sticks so will try and improve slowly rather than go for immediate perfection, I know my boundaries!!!!

My advice (for what it's worth) is if you've already planted leave it alone and see what happens. If it dies or looks really poorly pull it out.

Plants are a bit like children - they can't read the books so they tend to do their own thing.

Hi Myrtle & welcome.
As everyone else says I wouldn't worry too much about planting them next to each other for now, you may just find you get a smaller yield from one or the other. They are listed as not being good companions in the book I have on companion planting but it does also point out that these are not all cast iron proven rules but only anecdotal theories. Good luck with your growing.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Mine are neighbours too - the garlic went in as an afterthought and the best looking space was behind a row of beans where I had half a row of something else.

Hi fellow growers, I have grown broad beans and garlic in same patch and had no problams, just leave them and see what happens.

Hi Raisedbed!! Welcome to the mad house!!

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Hi RB,

Welcome to the Vine. Good advise that. As with all these things I think they are more to be regarded as guidlines rather than hard & fast rules.

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Hello all,
just a wee update for all you helpful folk.
The unhappy bedfellows garlic and broad beans all have their little heads above the soill line so seem to be happy! So far, so good...
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for next year's produce.

Many thanks to all.

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Myrtle
x

Nice one Myrtle! Hope they do well for you! Keep us posted with an update or two as they get growing!

__________________
Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 12th September 2008 - updated balance sheet!

Glad to hear it Myrtle. Long may they stay happy.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.