Having just sown some chives in small pots, to be planted out under roses, why not do that if you grow roses @LG_ ? Another beneficial relationship as the smell of the chives (or garlic) deters aphids! Garlic and strawberries is another classic beneficial combo.
Chives don’t have as bad an effect on peas and beans as the rest of the allium family, but still, best away from the peas...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Funnily enough, the chives are where they are for that reason, as I always get aphids on my beans early on - but I had completely forgotten about the allium-legume thing when I made that decision! However, I may move the row to in front of the blackcurrant and gooseberries. That would still be fairly near the beans but on the other side of a path.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Well. I didn't get round to moving them - thought that as they were there last year and bean growth was fine I would move the chives later in the year. Bad idea! The beans look healthy enough but growth is minimal and SO slow in comparison to previous years. The chives were small last year but large and established this year and I can't help thinking they're having an impact. I'm hoping that moving them this weekend and giving the beans some replenishing food will ameliorate the situation.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Sorry for your beans, @LG_ but fascinating to see an actual allelopathic reaction in action! Of course, it could be other factors, but it does seem compelling. If your beans have not flowered/set fruit yet, a high nitrogen feed might alleviate the suppression of bean nitrogen fixing by the chives. If they have already flowered, maybe use a general, balanced fertiliser. Hope they pick up.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Nowhere near flowering yet - just wee baby plants really. But there is a definite - and quite extreme - lack of growth in comparison to previous years. The chives are now out of their former home and the gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes are making room. I have given the bean bed some lawn feed (don't worry, not weed and feed!) as it's high in Nitrogen. Fingers crossed - and interesting to see if the chives *were* the problem.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
This thread is SO interesting! And quite timely for me as I too have been wondering about crop rotation and whether it really is that important when you are only growing a few things in a limited space. I only have three veg growing areas so this year I am growing potatoes in the same bed as last year, only at the other end, hopefully far enough away, but then who knows how far things spread in the soil? I haven't had blight though I may have had one potato plant succumb to black leg last year, and this year I've had some odd volunteer potatoes appear where I have now planted onions, so I lifted them (no idea how I missed one MASSIVE potato at harvest last year!) and moved them along in the bed.
I'm not growing brassicas this year, just sticking with onions, shallots and potatoes on the basis they require the least attention, though I might grow some leeks at some point if I get my act together. On the rotation front though, I wouldn't be able to grow brassicas as I don't have anywhere they haven't been in the last two years. Super interesting though, so thanks to all contributors. Oh, and be careful with chives in the ground - you'll never get rid of them! We have loads and loads and loads, they even seed in between the slabs on the patio and you cannot dig them out! I might now be transplanting some to the front garden where my roses are infested with greenfly though!!
No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.
If they are that small, LG, it may be the damage is done if the plants have been unable to fix nitrogen in the critical early stages of growth so if they don’t thrive after removing the chives its still likely the chive’s fault. No idea how long the antibiotic compounds live on in the soil for either...
Good point about chives spreading, Stephanie. Once your roses already have aphids I’m not sure if even waving chives under their noses will then work, that horse may have already bolted. I have been known to kidnap ladybirds and rehouse them on rose stems, but for some reason they object to this, despite the feast laid out before them. No pleasing some
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
hi talking about crop rotation I have just pulled my leeks and need the space as got small garden to, and have raised beds can I put my marrow plants were they was. or what can I put in instead. t5hanks.
Hi @Pondman, you should be fine to follow leeks with marrows, but the latter are hungry and thirsty plants and the leeks, with their long growing season, will have depleted the soil a little. I would work some compost and maybe some bagged, rotted horse manure, or whatever you have really, to beef up the soil a bit. Then, if you can, let the soil rest and settle for a week or so (and ideally get some rainfall) before planting. The last bit is not essential if you are a hurry, just mix any organic material in well, rake, firm the soil a little with the back of the rake, plant, firm the plants in and water well.
If you have grown them before you will know already that they will need some support to hold the fruits off the ground, some shade and loads of water but not on the crown or leaves...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
Chives don’t have as bad an effect on peas and beans as the rest of the allium family, but still, best away from the peas...
I haven't had blight though I may have had one potato plant succumb to black leg last year, and this year I've had some odd volunteer potatoes appear where I have now planted onions, so I lifted them (no idea how I missed one MASSIVE potato at harvest last year!) and moved them along in the bed.
I'm not growing brassicas this year, just sticking with onions, shallots and potatoes on the basis they require the least attention, though I might grow some leeks at some point if I get my act together.
On the rotation front though, I wouldn't be able to grow brassicas as I don't have anywhere they haven't been in the last two years.
Super interesting though, so thanks to all contributors.
Oh, and be careful with chives in the ground - you'll never get rid of them! We have loads and loads and loads, they even seed in between the slabs on the patio and you cannot dig them out! I might now be transplanting some to the front garden where my roses are infested with greenfly though!!
Good point about chives spreading, Stephanie. Once your roses already have aphids I’m not sure if even waving chives under their noses will then work, that horse may have already bolted. I have been known to kidnap ladybirds and rehouse them on rose stems, but for some reason they object to this, despite the feast laid out before them. No pleasing some
If you have grown them before you will know already that they will need some support to hold the fruits off the ground, some shade and loads of water but not on the crown or leaves...