The main benefits that your golden kernels receive from corn companion plants. Beautiful natural enemies to come feed on the pests and supply vital nutrients to the main crop, this alliance of garden maestros serves as a living barrier against any possible invasion.
While several plants can improve the growth of corn crops in different ways, certain of these companion plants are well-known for their capacity to ward off a wide variety of pests. You can cultivate a more plentiful and healthy crop of corn by using companion planting, regardless of the partner plants you choose.
1. Garden peas
Garden peas and beans both fix nitrogen in the soil, which is good for corn. Corn is a summer crop, but it benefits the peas as well because peas are planted in the spring, as soon as the land can be worked. Early summer corn brings much-needed cover to the established pea plants on hot, sunny days.
2. Cucumber
Cucumber is another member of the cucurbit family that blends well with your corn crop. This cool summer vegetable increases yield potential while protecting the primary crop from several pests, like fruit borers. In exchange, it receives a living stalk to cling to, and the presence of maize provides a free insect repellent.
3. Lettuce
Most types of lettuce struggle in the summer heat; however, if you plant them next to corn, where they receive much-needed shade, you can grow lettuce all summer without it bolting or coming out bitter.
4. Nasturtium
Nasturtium attracts a wide variety of pollinators that will help your maize, and it will also add a vibrant flash of colour to your food garden. Aphids find this blossom useful as a trap crop as well.
Plant it near enough to the corn so that the aphids will discover it, but far enough away that they can’t readily move between the two. Let the plant become a food source for insects rather than your corn. Neaturites will appreciate a similar watering regimen to that of corn, as they require approximately 1 inch of water each week.
5. Potatoes
Potatoes grow best in loose soil that has a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. Their dense foliage and tuber development are nourished by full sunlight and steady moisture. When allowed to break down naturally, potatoes improve soil structure, inhibit weed growth, and replenish the soil with nutrients that are extremely beneficial to nearby plants.
6. Dill
Dill is a fragrant herb that attracts butterflies and honey bees, two helpful pollinators. In addition to attracting beneficial insects like hoverflies and wasps, planting dill will help control insect pest populations in your sweet corn area.
7. Melons
Melons offer many of the same advantages as winter squash, making them an excellent companion plant for maize. Large melon leaves can protect the soil surrounding maize plants, much like they do for winter squash. This will prevent weeds and slow down the rate of evaporation, reducing the amount of water required.
Tall cornstalks will provide shade for melons in return. Additionally, since both of these plants require a lot of fertilizer, you can frequently fertilize them together to reduce the amount of gardening work you need to perform.
8. Winter Squash
The type of squash that is most effective with the Three Sisters approach is winter squash. Winter squash comes in several varieties, including delicate, spaghetti, butternut, and acorn. Despite its name, winter squash requires a long summer to develop and an autumn harvest, so you should sow it around the same time as corn.
Thick squash leaves shield delicate roots and keep weeds from growing in between plants. Your plants’ roots will keep them happy and healthy by preventing erosion and water runoff.
9. Marigolds
In many gardens, marigolds are a mainstay for battling pests. It is said that they deter a variety of pests, including hornworms, squash bugs, and beetles. Additionally, they repel nematodes known to cause knotting in roots, which can harm any garden plant.
Marigolds are a plant that can be grown in almost any place because of their compact stature and shallow roots. If they are growing near to your maize, it should not be a problem.
10. Basil
Great companions for maize are basil plants. The herb will assist in deterring the maize weevil from feeding on your corn crop. It is well known that weevils consume corn, both in storage and in the garden.
You can either use torn or chopped basil leaves or spread them around the base of your corn plants, or you can plant basil around the periphery of your corn bed. The oils in the basil that aid in weevil repellent will eventually deteriorates, so if you choose to utilize this strategy, use it frequently.
11. Borage
A gorgeous flowering herb with a cucumber-like flavour is called borage. It is an excellent neighbour to corn because several helpful insects that prey on corn are drawn to its blooms, and its aroma is thought to repel various worms that enjoy eating corn. Since worms are one of the most troublesome pests for maize, you should definitely plant a lot of borage.
A gorgeous flowering herb with a cucumber-like flavour is called borage. It is an excellent neighbour to corn because several helpful insects that prey on corn are drawn to its blooms, and its aroma is thought to repel various worms that enjoy eating corn. Since worms are one of the most troublesome pests for maize, you should definitely plant a lot of borage.
12. Mint
Mint plants make excellent companion plants for corn. Rabbits and deer are discouraged by the strong aroma of mint. Sweet corn is a favourite food of deer and rabbits, so everything you can do to keep them away will help you gather more corn overall.
Since most varieties of mint are regrettably extremely invasive, you should either build a barrier or plant the mint in a container that is buried in the ground before adding it to your garden area. Its ability to spread will be hindered by this.
13. Radishes
Radishes are a simple way to use up leftover soil and increase the amount of food you harvest from your garden when planted among corn plants. Since radishes grow quickly, they can mature considerably quicker than corn plants.
Thus, if you plant radishes next to corn, you can typically harvest a few before the corn grows to a height where it blocks the radishes’ light source. Furthermore, if you let radish plants bloom, they can serve as a trap crop and keep pests like flea beetles and corn borers away.
14. Spinach
Spinach, like lettuce, will benefit from the shade that the corn provides. Sow spinach near the base of corn or in alternate rows with it to help prevent bolting in the early summer. When there’s no longer a chance of frost, plant maize in your spinach beds.
These leafy greens will get along nicely in the same garden bed as maize seedlings since they both enjoy plenty of water. You can plant another heat-resistant crop in place of spinach when the summer warms up too much for it!
15. Thyme
One of the best gardening rules of thumb is to never grow something in your garden that you would not eat. Include herbs.
Because of its strong perfume, planting thyme in your garden may require a bit more motivation. It can also be used to make syrup infused with thyme, in addition to its reputation for keeping maize earworms away.