Paprika (Capsicum), the nightshade plant from South America, is cultivated in around 25 varieties in this country. From hot chillies to mild sweet peppers, everything is represented. The colorful pods contain the highest vitamin C content of all vegetables. Paprika is quite easy to cultivate and is therefore already present in almost every home garden. In order to reduce the space consumption and also the effort, this vegetable is very popular in mixed cultures.
Mixed culture of peppers
In a mixed culture, the varieties are planted mixed within a row. For this purpose, such vegetables are selected that complement each other in their properties and can support each other in growth, such as:
- Production of nutrients that others need
- Keeping away from weeds, pests and diseases
- Improvement of the aroma and taste of the neighboring plants
- Clever combination makes maintenance work easier
- Creation of a favorable microclimate through balanced plant density
- Increase in harvest yield by observing the ripening time of different varieties
tip: When combining different types of vegetables with pepper plants, the nutrient requirements of the individual plants (heavy or weak consumers), the height of the plants and the length of the roots (deep or shallow) must always be taken into account.
Pepper plants are medium feeders
The classification of plants as weak, medium or heavy consumers provides information on how much nitrogen a plant needs for healthy growth. The combination of the plants in mixed culture with peppers also depends on this. Cultivation with weak consumers such as herbs can be done at any time without any problems. Planting with moderately heavy feeders, such as lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, is also possible. However, it is essential to check the different nutrient requirements. On the other hand, problems arise when planting together with heavy feeders, such as potatoes or beetroot. The soil would be very depleted in the process. Such a combination should be avoided as much as possible.
The pH of the soil should also be taken into account. Pepper plants love a slightly acidic to neutral environment, values from 6.2 to 7.0. Of course, it then makes sense to choose neighboring plants that have a similar acid requirement on the soil. In addition, it is also advisable to combine low pepper plants with tall neighbors or vice versa. In this way, competition for sunlight can be avoided. Paprika is a real sun worshiper. Therefore, plants with a preference for semi-shade, such as lettuce, are particularly suitable for it.
Not to be forgotten in a mixed culture with peppers is the combination of plants with different growing seasons. In this way, smaller garden areas can be better utilized. The growth phase of the peppers usually begins outdoors in May with planting and ends in September/October with harvesting. For a good pre-culture, early-ripening fruits such as leeks, various types of radishes or asparagus can also be used. Various types of cabbage with a late growth phase that last well into the winter are usually used for post-cultivation, such as kale, Brussels sprouts or late varieties of red and white cabbage.
tip: Although the stinging nettle normally has no place in the vegetable patch, some hobby gardeners like to leave a few specimens under control. They protect plants from aphids.
Good neighbors
Not all plants are compatible with pepper plants. Thrive in a good neighborhood
- All types of cabbage such as kale, white and red cabbage, Brussels sprouts or pointed cabbage
- salads
- carrots
- beans
- Parsely
- cucumbers
- Nasturtium
- marigold
When it comes to tomatoes, opinions differ. These are also heavy feeders. Normally they would compete for nutrients. However, both plants are often placed next to each other. This requires an appropriate distance and the additional administration of 30 to 50 g horn meal per square meter at the beginning of June. This way, every vegetable gets the nutrients it needs.
In addition, planting different herbs and annual flowers in addition to pepper plants is very popular:
- Borage and marigolds attract insects for pollination
- also release saponins to the soil
- Basil and onions drive away pests like whitefly and cabbage white
- Lavender and thyme repel ants and savory repels aphids
- Garlic prevents fungal diseases through ethereal vapors
pepper plant
Bad neighbors
Pepper plants do not get along with these neighbors at all. A combination of these is not recommended:
- peas
- fennel
- Beetroot
- aubergine
- potatoes
- celery
notice: Fruit or other trees in the immediate vicinity do not compete with peppers or other vegetable plants, as the roots extend deeper into the earth. Only the walnut can cause problems.
Observe crop rotation
When growing peppers in mixed cultures, however, the location must also be changed annually. It should then take at least four years before new cultivation takes place on the same site. Because especially with the mixed culture in the garden, a crop rotation is necessary. This means the order in which crops are grown on a bed each year. This change has a number of advantages:
- long-term securing of good crop yields
- optimal supply of nutrients to the plants
- Increased resistance to diseases and pests
- low accumulation of pollutants in the soil
- no one-sided leaching of the soil
- Nutrient deprivation is declining annually
- with correct crop rotation, no mineral fertilizers are necessary on poorer soils
The crop rotation usually takes place every four years.
1 year: green manure and compost
2 years: Planting heavy feeders such as cabbage, eggplant, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, beetroot
3rd year: Planting of medium consumers such as peas, beans, fennel, peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, pumpkin, chard
4th year: Planting of weak consumers such as garden cress, herbs
tip: You should also not ignore the family relationships of the vegetable plants. Never plant plants from one plant family in the same spot for two consecutive years.
After four years, the cycle starts all over again. In between, there is always fertilization with compost. If there are any free spaces after the harvest, mulching can take place or green manure can be sown. This surface composting replenishes the nutrient supply in the soil during the fallow year. Excellent as green manure
- canola
- oil radish
- lupins
- clover or
- sunflowers
All green manure crops quickly replenish the soil with nitrogen. They are either plowed under in the fall or remain standing over the winter. The plant remains are then worked in together with the addition of mature compost in spring.
notice: Every three to four years, the nutrient content of the soil should be examined if organic fertilization is used.