Come and talk to me about interplanting?

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

I'm currently planning my veg planting and determined to be more organised and efficient to get the most out of my plot this year. I always think intercropping looks like a good idea but then get bogged down looking at details of planting distances, and probably over complicate it ending up confused and not managing to do it.

Just wondering if anyone has any tried and tested interplanting/intercropping plan or successions of plants they'd like to share? I don't like radish, which seems to feature heavily in the interplanting ideas I have found by googling.

Is it just vegetables you are planning on planting? I have bought seeds from a company called Sow Seeds and I know you have already googled it but on their website is a companion planting guide which is very helpful and tells you which plants compliment each other and which don't. I have a tiny veg plot so I tend to cram it all in. I had success with planting sweet corn with squash trailing underneath, but they were very thirsty and needed watering all the time. I interspersed with nasturtiums and marigolds which helped shade the ground a bit and conserve some moisture. I also planted mint in the shade of blackcurrant and redcurrant bushes. I grew peas up a wire wigwam to save space. and planted three large pots with climbing French beans trailing up a trellis but they needed a lot of water too. Tomatoes did not like being crowded into the plot and they were all green (but went in a chutney).

There are no rules really - just fill a hole when it becomes vacant and water often.

sowseeds.co.uk. companion planting guide.

I have overwintered garlic, spring onions and shallots and then I sow quick growing crops like rocket and lettuce between the rows when the soil warms up. I will plant rainbow chard to make some shade for the lettuce. This year I am going to try chillies and tomatillo in the plan but not sure how yet. I might try morning glory on the trellis with beans just to make it look pretty.
I don't like radish either.

Your plot sounds ace! Thanks for the link and the ideas 💡

I always have problems shoehorning in all the tall things trying not to shade out other things that want sun. It is mostly veg, but I do put some nasturtium and marigold around the place, and have self seeding poached egg plants and nigella around as well.

I don't get on very well with it. The things that you're supposed to sow and crop while the bigger thing is getting going never seem to grow fast enough. Might be a result of being in the frozen north.