Companion planting

Companion planting is the age-old practice of planting different plants in close proximity so that they can help one another in some way. These plants complement each other by giving off scent or chemicals that repel insects, or they may attract beneficial insects that are predators to harmful insects. Some plants return micro-nutrients to the soil that can be used by other plants. The author has practised companion planting for many decades and in this title she shares her vast knowledge of the topic, gleaned from years of practical experience. She describes more than 100 herbs, food plants and medicinal plants and their companions, with information on how, when and where to plant, harvest and use them. Interspersed with the text are recipes for natural fertilisers and insect sprays and snippets of advice on how to use plants medicinally and in the home. In an age where global warming and climate change are no longer distant warnings, this title urges a return to gardening practices that will help heal our broken planet.