M

elbourne-based gardening author

and keen cook Fabian Capomolla,

aka “The hungry gardener”, spent

a year in Italy learning traditional ways

to grow food at home. While he’d grown

up in an Italian family, Fabian couldn’t

speak a word of the language when he

moved his wife Beck and kids Jack and

Olive to Lucca to get back to his roots.

He soon picked it up – along with lots

of practical tips – by working alongside

the locals at the community garden.

Now he’s back in Australia and adapting

those ideas for anyone with a vegie

patch (or a few pots on the balcony).

Here, Fabian explains companion

planting which plays a major role in

growing food Italian-style: “It’s about

providing for your family and creating

a community... and doing it with gusto!”

What’s it all about?

Companion planting is the principle

that some plants, when grown together,

have beneficial effects on one another.

To some gardeners this is hearsay, but

others swear by it.

Common

GRO

For the healthiest homegrown vegetables, try companion planting like the Italians do...

Which plants are friends?

Some plants, such as nasturtiums,

marigolds, petunias and tansy, are used

as a means of deterring harmful pests.

Lemon balm and parsley both attract

caterpillar parasites, so they make great

companions if you have a caterpillar

issue. Dill and fennel will attract the

ladybirds, which love to feast on aphids.

In other instances, the plants aid others

by adding nutrients, such as nitrogen, to

the soil via green manures.

Rosemary, lavender and dogbane

attract pollinators; borage is especially

good as it deters caterpillars and

attracts valuable pollinating insects.

Sometimes plants are paired simply

because they taste so good together

• tomato and basil are a case in point.
  However, just as some plants might be
  said to be friends, others really just
  don’t like one another and shouldn’t be
  planted side by side, such as sunflowers
  and beans. The principle of companion
  planting is a holistic approach.

How does it work?

In my view, many of these sorts of

recommendations are made on the

basis of observation, rather than

scientific trial. I see the strength of

companion planting in the fact that it

encourages biodiversity, which is the

variety of living things – different plants,

animals and micro-organisms – that

together make up a healthy habitat.

For example, planting just one type

of vegetable en masse – creating

a monoculture – can cause problems

with pests and disease in the future.

In an edible garden, ornamentals and

even weeds can play a role, as many

flowering plants bring pollinators and

beneficial insects to the patch. During

my time in the community garden in

Italy this became more apparent to me

• much of the space around the garden
  was left to run wild to encourage insects
  and wildlife to thrive and prosper.
  I often wondered whether this was
  done on purpose or out of laziness.
  Riding along the riverbed to get to the
  garden, it seemed that the weeds were
  out of hand, but it was interesting to see
  just six months on how nature had done
  its bit and all seemed lush and healthy.
  I believe that biodiversity is the key to
  a successful vegie patch, but it’s about
  trying to achieve a balance between
  what you can control and what you allow
  naturetodoforyou.
  As in life, good company makes for
  happy times. Ultimately, the aim is
  to increase crop productivity, so just
  experiment to find what works for you.

GARDENS

... tomatoes – so simpatico in

the garden and on the plate

What’s a good plant to grow

alongside basil? Why not try...