The practice of growing two or more crops in proximity. Companion planting is when intercropping leads to mutually beneficial impacts on the crops planted near each other. It is an essential component of sustainable agriculture.

The practice also reduces pests, weeds, and disease while providing nutrients for the neighboring plants.

One important example of companion planting is The Three Sisters method, a Native American practice in which corn, beans, and squash are planted in one area to benefit all three crops.

pathways:

16.08.2016 / Permaculture Research Institute / Intercropping: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why We Do It