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June 4, 2004 There is nothing so sad in the autumn as an empty canning kettle, dust-covered mason jars, and a barren, cobwebbed root cellar--all because a bunch of vegetables couldn’t get along with each other. Turf Wars The average mixed vegetable garden can be the scene of a love-in or a pitched battle. Which depends on how the turf is divvied amongst the different vegetables. Some vegetables will blissfully share common territory with others, but not all others. They form coalitions against common enemies, providing mutual support. Yet, a few seem to be genuinely antisocial. These go out of their way to make life miserable for their neighbours in the next row. They steal nutrients, spread themselves out and grab more than their fair share of sunlight, or, worse, attract insects that prefer eating the neighbours. The Spud’s The Thug Potatoes and onions are definitely the toughest kids on the block. Between them, plant against plant, potatoes probably rule the garden, both above and below the ground. They have absolutely no fear when it comes to taking on cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, and turnips. Ever wily, potatoes form alliances too. For example, they help out pole beans by beating off bean beetles. In return, the beans assault Swiss chard, cabbages, and beets, all of which are supported by the onions. Beans must also pay tribute to the potato by deterring Colorado potato beetles. More directly, the beans are also obliged to go after the onions, stalk to stalk, not easy in early Summer because onions grow faster. Going It Alone When potatoes duke it out with pumpkins, spinach, squash, and turnips, they don’t waste time looking for help. They push right on in, and it’s aggressive confrontation all the way. Except against turnips, much of this is surface combat; the squash and spinach families are notorious space gobblers. Crying In The Wilderness Onions are more likely than potatoes to seek help, and they have rounded up some very unlikely allies. In their battles with peas, the onions always welcome a few gladiolas. They also like to have the gladiolas along when they move against beans, preferably backed up with a reinforcing line of fennel. Both Ends Against The Middle Among the onion and potato factions are some allies that actually manage to work both sides of the street. For example, beans may seem to be a potato’s best friend but they have no qualms about helping out cucumbers by supplying them nutrients. Also, carrots get a lot of aid from onions but are quick to turn against them if the onions dare to mess with the peas--peas and carrots being best buds, well known to even consort in the same can. Treading Softly Despite a dislike for each other, corn and tomatoes manage to walk the fine line and coexist with many other vegetables. Of the two, tomatoes are the most standoffish. Rather like a neutral country, they offer other vegetables almost no help at all. They will put the run on asparagus beetles, but that’s the sum of it. Corn is somewhat more hail-fellow-well-met, happy to help out the squash family, melons, and beans. Tomatoes are about all corn can’t abide, perhaps because both demand lots of nutrients. Sowing Seeds Of Peace The gardener must be the ultimate peacekeeper, something like the UN’s Director General. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to bring to the negotiation table. Probably peace in the garden can only be achieved in only two ways. First is to keep the combatants separated. Most vegetables know their place. Carrots and radishes, for example, won’t wander about the garden. The arrogant squash family, however, has the knack for spreading itself across the ground, brashly presuming what’s theirs is theirs, and everyone else’s space is theirs, too. Even when they team up with corn, a couple of rows of sturdy potatoes can hold them at bay, a comeuppance the rampant rascals sometimes richly deserve. As an alternative, perhaps the most harmonious garden is comprised only of melons, lettuce, and eggplants, for among the vegetables they seem to have no enemies. Of course, that Elysian balance can be quickly tipped if the peacekeeper plants a force of other vegetables to repel various destructive insects. Care must then be taken; back to Solution One. Mischief Makers And Instigators Some vegetables have enemies that seem trivial-- mere gadflies in the garden. Fennel is one such enemy. It has a particular enmity toward peppers and beans. Then, there’s dill. As unrelated a duo as carrots and peppers are on its hit list, although, to be said, the carrots will come to the aid of the peppers. The Battle Of The Bugs The wild card in any vegetable garden is often not warring neighbors as much as invasive, astoundingly hungry bugs. In defense against these, many vegetables help each other. Onions put the run on bugs that have an appetite for beets. Celery and onions will stave off cabbageworms and maggots. Cabbage, in turn, chases celery fanciers. Corn and potatoes chase each other’s crawly enemies. Weeds At War Some truly brave gardeners actually plant some weeds among their vegetables to discourage insects and other creatures. Moths that normally feed on cabbage much prefer stinging nettles. That doesn’t make harvesting the cabbage much fun, but at least a few will be left to harvest. Wild mustard works too, a gourmet delight for bugs accustomed to the fast food they find in broccoli. A third line of defence: those weeds that are so noxious they repel enemy creatures. Cases in point: ants can’t stand spearmint; rats and mice can’t stand catnip. That said, the catnip should be planted with caution. The price for chasing out a few mice may be a full-blown assault on the vegetable patch by all of the neighbourhood cats. Nipping It Before The Bud Obviously, the wise vegetable garden strategist has to start planning before the first seed is sown in spring. There are no truces in the garden patch. The topography and its constituent vegetables must be mapped so that the worst enemies can do is wave their leaves threateningly at each other from distant unreachable corners, with lots of peacekeeper vegetables separating them. ------------ About the author: Canadian Art Montague has published feature articles, lighthearted essays, and crime fiction in print publications and anthologies, and on the Internet. He is a professional member of Crime Writers of Canada and the Periodical Writers Association of Canada. Website: http://www.artmontague.com Most recent publication: "Canada's Rumrunners", Amazing Stories series, Altitude Publishing (April 2004) Book Info at http://www.artmontague.com/rumrunners.html Email: artmontague@canada.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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