Organic Gardening Intercropping
Intercropping is the agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time (Andrews & Kassam 1976). A practice often associated with sustainable agriculture and organic farming, it is one form of polyculture. Intercropping may benefit crop yield or the control of some kind of pest, or may have other agronomic benefits.
- Wikiopedia The bottom line, this type of organic gardening plant integration allows for greater plant diversity for increased crop production and pest control. Benefits of Organic Gardening Intercropping 
Examples of Organic Gardening Intercopping - Vertical spacing. When you intercrop your vegetables consider the vertical spacing available in your garden. Vegetables species have different verticle requirements and can be grown on trellises. Squash, beans, cucumbers, peas, melons and tomatoes are just a few examples.
- Direct Sun. During the main growing period, usually May through August the sun is at its brightest. The sun’s location governs where you might locate low growing or tall growing plants. Locate tall plants on the north (south in the southern hemisphere) side of the garden. The sun will heat the south part of the garden for heat loving plants. Alternately, if you locate tall plants on the south side of the garden there will be light shade on the north side to include shade-loving plants. Shade-loving plants that can be intercropped with sun-loving plants include beans, beets, chard, leeks, lettuce, peas, radishes, and turnips.
- Structure and foliage. Intercropping also involves using plants with opposite structure and foliage. Plants that have large structures or leaves, such as corn and squash, can provide a shelter and filtered sun for lower, larger leaved plants such as lettuce. Corn stalks also provide support for vegetable vines.
- Timing. If you time your plantings correctly this will also help to inter-plant your vegetables. Lettuce can handle the light sun of spring and fall, but requires protection during the heat of summer. When lettuce receives too much heat they tend to bolt (go to seed). Also keep in mind the length of time it takes a vegetable species to mature; radishes for example are super fast maturing, while peppers may take the entire summer. Try to intercrop slow growing vegetables with fast growing vegetables.
- Inserted vegetables. Many narrow leafed plants such as onions, leeks, shallots, and garlic can easily fit between many leafy vegetables. But, consider the plant's feeding requirements. Plants placed close together will compete for nutrients in the root zone. Select plants that have different feeding requirements.
Intercropping Combinations I've taken the liberty of combining the intercropping with a tradition approach called companion planting for simplicity sake. I believe in keeping it simple. Companion planting in my opinion is not an exact science, but it points to some very interesting combinations and many oraganic gardeners swear by it. The table below was compiled from traditional literature on companion planting, which to me is intercropping. Crop | Intercrop With | Asparagus | Tomato, Parsley, Basil | Bush Beans | Potato, Cucumber, Corn, Strawberry, Celery, Summer Savory | Pole Beans | Corn, Summer Savory, Radish | Cabbage Family | Aromatic Herbs, Celery, Beets, Onion Family, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard | | Carrots | Radishes, Lettuce, Rosemary, Onion Family, Sage, Tomato | Celery | Onion, Cabbage Families, Tomato, Bush Beans, Nasturtium | Corn | Potato, Beans, Pumpkins, Cucumber, Squash | Eggplant | Beans, Marigold | Lettuce | Carrots, Radish, Strawberry, Cucumber | Onion Family | Beets, Carrots, Lettuce, Cabbage Family, Summer Savory | Parsley | Tomato, Asparagus | Potato | Beans, Corn, Cabbage Family, Marigolds, Horseradish | Pumpkins | Beans, Corn, Marigold | Radish | Carrots, Nasturtium, Lettuce, Cucumber | Spinach | Strawberry, Beans | Squash | Nasturtium, Corn, Marigold | Tomato | Onion Family, Nasturtium, Marigold, Asparagus, Carrots, Parsley, Cucumber | Turnip | Aromatic Herbs, Celery, Beets, Onion Family, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard | Intercropping for Pest ControlIntercropping reduces pests in a variety of ways, including: Chemical Repellent - These plants provide odors that confuse and ward off pests. This works best in intensive intercropping. Parasitic Wasp Host Plant - These plants provide food and shelter for parasitic wasps as they search for pests. Parasitic Wasp Increase - Intercropping plants attract parasitic wasps as a food source from either the plant or the pests. Physical Interference - These plants "get in the way" of the pest as either a physical barrier or life cycle interference. Predator Increase - These plants act as a food source or breeding ground for beneficial insects as they search out for pests. Trap Crop - Another form of Intercropping is Trap cropping. Trap cropping encourages pests to congregate, which makes it easier for beneficial insects to prey and for handpicking. Visual Masking - These plants provide a visual mask that confuses the pest or concealed the main crop. Pest Control Intercropping Matrix Pest Reduced | Crop | Intercrop With | Function Of Intercrop | Aphids |
|
| Bean Aphid | Apple | Eryngium sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Green Peach Aphid |
| Phacelia sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Pea Aphid | Barley | Alfalfa | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Woolly Apple Aphid | Red Clover | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Brussels Sprouts | White Clover | Visual Masking |
| Clover | Physical Interference | Visual Masking |
|
| French Beans | Physical Interference |
| Cabbage | Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Cauliflower | Corn Spurry | Predator Increase |
|
| Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Collards | Weedy groundcover | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| French Beans | Weedy groundcover | Physical Interference |
| General Organic Garden Crops | Queen Anne's Lace | Trap Crop |
|
|
| Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Lamb's Quarter | Trap Crop |
|
| Annual Sow thistle | Trap Crop |
| Kale | Kale | Visual Masking |
|
| Red Clover | Predator Increase |
| Squash | Catnip | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tansy | Chemical Repellent | Asparagus Beetle |
| Asparagus | Tomato | Chemical Repellent | Blue Sharpshooter |
| Grapes | Blackberry | Parasitic Wasp Host Plant | Cabbage Lopper |
| Cole Crops | Similar Sized Crops | Chemical Repellent |
|
|
| Predator Increase |
| Cauliflower | Corn Spurry | Predator Increase | Cabbage Maggot |
| Cole Crops | Similar Sized Crops | Chemical Repellent |
|
|
| Predator Increase |
| Turnip | White Clover | Chemical Repellent |
| Brussels Sprouts | White Clover | Visual Masking |
| Cabbage | Clover | Predator Increase | Carrots Rust Fly |
| Carrots | Onion | Chemical Repellent | Codling Moth |
| Apple | Weedy groundcover | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Colorado Potato Beetle |
|
|
|
| Potato | Catnip | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Nasturtium | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tansy | Chemical Repellent | Corn Earworm |
| Soybean | Cassia sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Croton sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Desmodium sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Soybean | Corn | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Weedy ground cover | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Corn | Soybean | Predator Increase | Cutworms |
| Corn | Wild Parsnip | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Chickweed | Wild Parsnip | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Lady's Thumb Smartweed | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Shepherds Purse | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Wild Mustard | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Wild Parsnip | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Diamondback Moth |
| Cabbage | Hawthorn | Trap Crop |
|
| Tomato | Physical Interference | European Corn Borer |
| Corn | Giant Ragweed | Trap Crop |
|
| Peanuts | Visual Masking | Fall Armyworm |
| Corn | Beans | Predator Increase |
|
| Physical Interference | Predator Increase |
|
| Beggertick | Predator Increase |
|
| Goldenrod | Predator Increase |
|
| Mexican Tea | Predator Increase |
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| Pigweed | Predator Increase |
|
| Pigweed | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Flea Beetles |
| Collards | Weedy ground cover | Visual Masking |
| Cauliflower | Corn Spurry | Predator Increase |
|
| Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Cabbage | White Clover | Chemical Repellent |
| Tomato | Cabbage | Chemical Repellent |
| Collards | Tobacco | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tomato | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Wild Mustard | Predator Increase |
|
| Ragweed | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Tomato | Chemical Repellent |
| Cole Crops | Candytuft | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Shepherds Purse | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Wormseed Mustard | Chemical Repellent | Green Peach Aphid |
| Peppers | Catnip | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Nasturtium | Chemical Repellent |
| General Organic Garden Crops | Broccoli | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Radish | Broccoli | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Collards | Lamb's Quarter | Predator Increase |
|
| Pigweed | Predator Increase |
|
| Xanthium stramonium | Predator Increase | Greenhouse Whitefly |
| General Organic Garden Crops | Queen Anne's Lace | Trap Crop |
|
| Parasitic Wasp Increase | Trap Crop |
|
| Rose Geraniums | Trap Crop | Harlequin Bug |
| Cabbage | Mustard | Trap Crop | Imported Cabbageworm |
| Cole Crops | Similar Sized Crops | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Predator Increase | Chemical Repellent |
| Cauliflower | Red Clover | Physical Interference |
|
| White Clover | Predator Increase |
| Broccoli | Catnip | Predator Increase |
|
| Tansy | Predator Increase |
| Brussels Sprouts | Weedy ground cover | Predator Increase |
| Cabbage | Green Manure Crop | Visual Masking |
|
| Anise | Chemical Repellent |
| Cauliflower | Lamb's Quarter | Predator Increase |
| Brussels Sprouts | White Clover | Visual Masking | Japanese Beetles |
| General Organic Garden Crops | Queen Anne's Lace | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
| Orchard Crops | Knotweed | Trap Crop |
|
| Marigolds | Trap Crop |
|
| Roses (White) | Trap Crop |
|
| Soybean | Trap Crop |
|
| Zinnias | Trap Crop | Leaf Beetles |
| Corn | Beans | Predator Increase |
|
| Physical Interference | Predator Increase |
| Soybean | Barley | Predator Increase |
|
| Wheat | Predator Increase |
| Peas | Sorghum | Chemical Repellent |
| Corn | Sweet Potatoes | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Leafhoppers |
| Corn | Beans | Predator Increase |
|
| Physical Interference | Predator Increase |
| Beans | Goosegrass | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Red Spragletop | Chemical Repellent | Mexican Bean Beetle |
| Soybean | Beans | Trap Crop | Mites |
| Grapes | Johnson Grass | Predator Increase |
|
| Kale | Predator Increase |
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| Sudan Grass | Predator Increase |
| Fruit Trees | Alder | Predator Increase |
|
| Rye | Predator Increase |
|
| Sorghum mulch | Predator Increase |
|
| Wheat | Predator Increase | Oriental Fruit Moth |
| Peach | Strawberry | Predator Increase |
|
| Goldenrod | Predator Increase |
|
| Lamb's Quarter | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Ragweed | Chemical Repellent |
|
| Smartweed | Chemical Repellent | San Jose Scale |
| Apple | Eryngium sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase |
|
| Phacelia sp. | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Southern Green Stink Bug |
| Soybean | Sicklepod | Trap Crop | Southwestern Corn Borer |
| Corn | Clover | Physical Interference | Spotted Cucumber Beetle |
| Squash | Corn | Physical Interference | Striped Cucumber Beetle |
| Squash | Corn | Physical Interference |
| Cucumber | Broccoli | Physical Interference |
|
| Corn | Physical Interference | Tent Caterpillars |
| Apple | Weedy ground cover | Parasitic Wasp Increase | Thrips | Avocado Thrip | Squash | Corn | Predator Increase | Citrus Thrips |
| Pea | Predator Increase |
| Onions | Carrots | Visual Masking | Tomato Hornworm |
| Tomato | Borage | Trap Crop |
|
| Dill | Trap Crop | Woolly Apple Aphid |
| Fruit Trees | Nasturtium | Chemical Repellent |
Retun to the top of Intercropping
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