Mixing edibles and flowers together? Hi all, I've heard anecdotal comments on mixing certain veggies and flowers, and am trying to plan my garden this year to get the most benefit out of both. For example, I've read that lavender near fruit trees helps attract bees, while mixing carrots and onions up in the same row keeps out certain pests, and chamomile should be mixed in with some veggies (not sure which). Can anyone confirm and add to this anecdotal list? I'd love to use as many "natural" methods for keeping my crops healthy and pest free as possible. I'm not too worried about deer, the dogs should keep them away (as long as I can keep the dogs out of the garden proper!). Thanks much!
Re: Mixing edibles and flowers together? There are two resources for you to look at in some google searching. Edible landscaping - there are a few good resources online and at least a couple of good books. Rosalind Creasy is the author of one of them. Companion Planting - It seems like you touched on this topic as well. Much can be found online in this area. A good chunk of it will be veggie specific but not all.
Re: Mixing edibles and flowers together? The Creasy book is "The Complete Book Of Edible Landscaping" (1982) Sierra Club Books. Another book you may be interested in is "Gaia's Garden A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture" by Toby Hemenway (2000) Chelsea Green Publishing. The latter described on the back cover: "...is neither manifesto nor eco-romance, but practical science for making your yard produce food as well as beauty, pulling together vegetable lots, flower gardens, and wildlife-friendly fragments into one thriving ecosystem." A fascinating book.
