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Companion planting techniques have been used for centuries to facilitate better, more nutritious, and more abundant crops. Did you know that carrots will grow better if surrounded by lettuce, onions and beets, but beans should not be planted near onions? Your tomatoes will be happier if they're far away from potatoes, but peppers and marigolds make a terrific garden pair. Aromatic herbs help protect some vegetables from pests, and many flowers - including calendula, zinnias and yarrow - will attract beneficial insects to your garden beds. It's a lot to think about, but there's no reason to feel overwhelmed. With Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener, you'll have all the information you need in clear, concise terms and with charts and garden plans you can copy or modify to suit your family's needs.Starting with the basics of organic gardening, such as how to prepare quality soil and the importance of cover crops and organic fertilizer, author Allison Greer explain the principles of companion planting, how plants interact, and how you can use that information to your garden's benefit. There is an entire chapter devoted to many of the most popular vegetables, with charts, diagrams, and descriptions of each--a treasure for gardeners with busy lives who want an easy reference guide for planning their ideal kitchen garden. Full of gorgeous, full-color photographs and easy-to-follow diagrams, this is a beautiful, useful guide for the home organic gardener.