How to correctly place different plants in the "neighborhood"

Neighborhood of plants. Selection of varieties and breeds for garden plot. 

One of the difficult, but no less interesting and entertaining stages in the development of a new plot by a gardener is the selection of varieties and breeds of those plants, crops that will be grown in the future on this territory. The choice of the neighborhood of plants should be approached responsibly, taking into account many different factors - otherwise, many crops will either not be able to adapt to the environment and conditions, or will conflict with each other. How to be? Let's take a closer look.

Particular attention should be paid to the proximity of plants to such points as the resistance of crops to environmental influences - this is drought and cold, temperature drops, recurrent frosts, the risk of dangerous diseases, including a viral one. The rate of ripening of fruits also plays a role, the moment at which fruiting begins, their overall level of yield, of course, as well as the quality of the final product. There are a lot of nuances.

First of all, you yourself must answer the question of whether your site is suitable for growing a particular crop - to analyze the level of humidity, the characteristic air temperature in different seasons, taking into account the ratio of crops and soil, the degree of content in it of the required amount of nutrients, and also the level of aridity of the site. If we talk about the latter, then in terms of resistance to this unfavorable factor, plants such as gooseberries and cherries are in the lead, followed by an apple tree and a pear. High moisture consumption is typical for berry bushes - sea buckthorn, currant, plum, and so on.

Be sure to find out how deep the groundwater lies under the site. The permissible proximity to the soil should not be less than 2 meters for crops such as pear and apple trees and, say, about one and a half meters in the case of plums and cherries. If the groundwater is too close to the soil, it can contribute to the disruption of the water and air regimes due to the accumulation of excess moisture, which can lead to massive death of the planted plants.

If, nevertheless, a situation arises that the microrelief of your site is not suitable for growing fruit crops, you can allocate more territory for berries, flowers and vegetable crops - there is always a suitable place for everyone. It is not recommended to over-plant the territory with both shrubs and trees, since, firstly, the soil will be under the threat of depletion - the vegetation consumes a large amount of nutrients and in the event of such an overload they may simply not be enough for everyone, and secondly, the thickening of the foliage of developing plants affects, which in turn prevents the penetration of sunlight to those that grow close to the ground - consequently, the process of photosynthesis slows down and the uniformity of growth is disturbed. Do not allow such conditions, competently and rationally plan the location of the landings. In the same way, mixed and random planting of shrubs with trees and vegetables has negative consequences - do not forget about a favorable or unfavorable neighborhood. It also significantly complicates the care, as well as the elimination of diseases and pests, because in fact, each plant needs its own, unique approach. Don't create a lot of problems for yourself.The most optimal placement is based on the principle of grouping the planned plantings, based on a particular breed. It is also advisable to have a certain set of varieties that differ in different periods of ripening and collection - from early to late. This applies to fruit and berry crops for the most part.

As a rule, a balanced ratio of fruit and berry crops is recommended, which is characterized by the following numbers: about 10 or 12 apple trees, from 2 to 3 pears, 3 or 4 cherries, plums - no more than 4 trees, currants - from 6 to 8 bushes, gooseberries should there should be no more than 3 bushes, in the case of sea buckthorn, 2 or 3 bushes are considered normal. If you select first of all, say, an apple tree, then the main assortment should be rationally made up of winter varieties, and only then those that belong to the autumn and summer seasons.

Preparing for planting crops should start, first of all, with planning. Start from the location of residential and other buildings of an economic type, the territory set aside for beds and plantings. Be sure to take into account the fall of the sun's rays, since many crops require regular lighting in large quantities, so buildings and other obstacles in this case are unacceptable. Before you start planting anything, you have to work hard and expose all the soil in the area to plowing or digging. On especially dense chernozem soils, it may be necessary to deepen to 70 centimeters in order to create comfortable conditions for most plants. As for directly cultivating the soil and applying fertilizers, the summer resident simply needs to familiarize himself with all the necessary materials and recommendations to get started.

The choice of this or that variety, culture, one way or another, depends mostly on your preferences and determination to grow “just that”. If your site is located in an area with an unstable climate, where temperature changes are observed, it is still better to refuse to grow those especially sensitive plants that do not tolerate such conditions. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the nuances of sowing seeds, growing seedlings of those crops that still have the ability to adapt to the conditions - after all, this does not mean that they will do everything themselves. There is a problem of pests and diseases, which also needs to be prevented and addressed in a timely manner. You are in luck if the site is located in a relatively warm region, where you can get a high quality crop without any hassle, sometimes even more than once. The owners of the territories in the areas to the north will have to work hard if they want to grow the same on their site. And yet it is possible, just do not forget about the general rules for plant protection for the winter, hilling, processing, fertilization and watering. Choose the crops you need wisely and take care of them so that they meet all your expectations at the final stage and the neighborhood of plants is successful! Good luck!