Intercropping

**Two_Sheds** · 12-03-2011, 08:32 AM

You can pop fast growing crops (salads) in between any slower ones, eg. brassicas, kidney beans. Just make sure everything receives enough water as they'll be competing to a certain extent

**VirginVegGrower** · 12-03-2011, 09:14 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

You can pop fast growing crops (salads) in between any slower ones, eg. brassicas, kidney beans. Just make sure everything receives enough water as they'll be competing to a certain extent

Great Two Sheds - thank you. I have never tried this before as I planted in long rows in the past but now the beds are in, shorter multiple rows dictate some space saving ways. Just wasn't sure what and with what.
Much appreciated.

**Two_Sheds** · 13-03-2011, 08:13 AM

I grew black kale inside my runner bean wigwams one year - they didn't grow huge, but were saved from the pigeons who couldn't see them

Look out Snadger's posts too, he's the master of pocket planting - everything is slotted in just where it can

**Jono** · 13-03-2011, 09:49 AM

Spring onions are another good one. I've grown them between my kale, but I'm sure they'd go in between lots of slower growing veg.

**VirginVegGrower** · 13-03-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

I grew black kale inside my runner bean wigwams one year - they didn't grow huge, but were saved from the pigeons who couldn't see them

Look out Snadger's posts too, he's the master of pocket planting - everything is slotted in just where it can

OK I 'll look for Snadger does he have a blog do you know?

**VirginVegGrower** · 13-03-2011, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by Jono View Post

Spring onions are another good one. I've grown them between my kale, but I'm sure they'd go in between lots of slower growing veg.

I tend not to grow spring onions

might try it though.

**VirginVegGrower** · 13-03-2011, 12:50 PM

OK - found some spring onion seed bought two years ago, I think. Off to sow seed...

**Florence Fennel** · 13-03-2011, 07:38 PM

I put radishes everywhere! They're so quick to grow you can pop them in wherever you can. I also grew mixed lettuce and chard around my runner bean wigwam.

**VirginVegGrower** · 13-03-2011, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by Florence Fennel View Post

I put radishes everywhere! They're so quick to grow you can pop them in wherever you can. I also grew mixed lettuce and chard around my runner bean wigwam.

I have never grown chard. What does it taste like and do you cook it like cabbage? I thought about popping radish hither and thither as they don't interfere with my crop rotation in the beds. Will give the lettuce a go too although dog trampled my last lettuce sowings in his efforts to get to our new hens...grrrr!

Am intrigued by chard.

**Two_Sheds** · 14-03-2011, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by VirginVegGrower View Post

OK I 'll look for Snadger does he have a blog do you know?

I don't think so,

but he does post a lot: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...archid=1676732

Originally posted by VirginVegGrower View Post

I have never grown chard. What does it taste like and do you cook it like cabbage?

It's more like spinach. It just needs wilting in the steamer or stir fried is good too. It's a very easy, hardy veg to grow, no bother at all

Originally posted by VirginVegGrower View Post

radish ... don't interfere with my crop rotation in the beds.

Sorry - they are technically brassicas

**VirginVegGrower** · 14-03-2011, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

I don't think so,

but he does post a lot: Grow Your Own - Growing, How To Grow Tomatoes Growing Fruit & Veg - Recipe Advice, Organic food Gardening, Chickens, Seeds for Sale

It's more like spinach. It just needs wilting in the steamer or stir fried is good too. It's a very easy, hardy veg to grow, no bother at all

Sorry - they are technically brassicas

No! So they will interfere?! If other people plant between here and there does it really matter or should I just interplant them around kale?

Might try chard then - I am right in thinking it is the rainbow stemmed stuff I see at the lottie site?

Thanks TS!

**mrpaulbradley** · 14-03-2011, 10:28 AM

Slightly off-topic but a wee safety thing; Swiss chard kinda looks like rhubarb, at least to kids.
If you have any on site, make sure they know the difference as you can only eat stems of the rhubarb as leaves are poisonous. Sorry maybe being a wee bit over the top here but better safe than sorry. I encourage my kids to graze the veg plot but well informed. Chard is delicious.

**Shadylane** · 14-03-2011, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by VirginVegGrower View Post

No! So they will interfere?! If other people plant between here and there does it really matter or should I just interplant them around kale?

Might try chard then - I am right in thinking it is the rainbow stemmed stuff I see at the lottie site?

Thanks TS!

They are a brassica, but I think most people don't worry because they are so quick growing and don't stay in the ground long enough to cause a problem.

**Alison** · 14-03-2011, 10:57 AM

I grew raddish between my parsnips a couple of years ago but to be honest although very good for radish production, they were a bit of a pain in that when my then lottie partner's kids pulled up the radish they often ended up damaging the parsnips which was a bit of a pain as I ended up with bald patches. I tend to now sow in the same bed as my cabbages / caulis etc before they need all the space.

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